Latvian National Museum of History has a new director – Toms Ķikuts

At the end of 2025, the Latvian National Museum of History will be in new hands: long-time museum director Dr. hist. Arnis Radiņš is stepping down, and his former deputy, Dr. hist. Toms Ķikuts, is taking over. We would like to thank Arnis Radiņš for his decades of service and contribution to the museum! We congratulate Toms Ķikuts on the beginning of a new and challenging stage in his professional life!

Toms Ķikuts studied at the University of Latvia and holds a doctorate in history. He began working at the LNMH in 2008 and has been deputy director for research since 2020. He has led many museum exhibition projects and working groups: “Satversme 100+” (Constitution 100+), “Airis, Mozus un radio. Koks Latvijas vēsturē” (Moses, Oars and the Radio. Wood in the History of Latvia), “Tuvplāni. Kā darbojas Latvijas Nacionālais vēstures muzejs?” (Closeups. How the Latvian National Museum of History works). He was the content development and exhibition project manager for the joint exhibition of 68 Latvian museums “Latvijas gadsimts” (Latvia’s Century), initiated the creation of the LNMH digital resource platform eMuzejs (eMuseum), the annual international conference “History and Architecture of Riga Castle,” etc.

Under the leadership of Toms Ķikuts, the following museum publications have been prepared and released: “History and Architecture of Riga Castle,” “Vainagošanās” (Power and Love. Archaeological, Ethnographic and Contemporary Crowns), “Ancient Jewelery and Ornaments in Latvia,” “The 13th-14th Century Cemetery of Dundaga Laukmuiža,” “LNMH Scientific Readings 2017–2020,” etc.

He speaks pragmatically and decisively about his new position: “I see taking on the duties of director of the LNMH as an opportunity to continue the museum’s development path, to create a strong National History Museum that is recognized in Latvia and the surrounding region, with an outstanding collection, modern exhibitions, strong research potential, and a desire to explain our history and culture to the public. The museum’s most visible achievements in the next five years will be the exhibitions set up in the renovated part of Riga Castle and the related offerings, as well as the completion of the Dauderi permanent exhibition. At the same time, in cooperation with other institutions involved, a solution must be found for the creation of a temporary exhibition hall in the castle, and deadlines must be set for the restoration of the parts of the castle that have not yet been restored. However, these results can only be achieved through the work of knowledgeable and enthusiastic museum specialists in various fields, such as research, collection preservation, restoration, education, communication, and other areas, focusing on common goals.”