Just as our hometown Valga-Valka is special, so is the joint representation book of the twin cities. The motto of Valga and Valka “1 city, 2 states” is reflected in the unique design of the book – the linen covers are common, but there are two different books hidden between them.
The coats of arms of the cities on the cover give the reader a hint that one side of the book is dedicated to Valga and the other to Valka. You can open and browse the two sides of the book together or separately. Through photographs and texts, the two sisters – symbolically Valga and Valka – tell the story of the emergence and development, separation and growth of the city. All texts are in four languages - Estonian, Latvian, English and Russian.
The book was compiled by the local government’s officials. It took more than a year from the first working meeting to the completion of the book. The author of the original design idea is Maruta Stabulniece, a teacher at the Valka Art School. Gatis Poikāns, the creative director of SIA “Bumbierkoks”, formed all the components into a single whole. The book is printed and bound in Jelgava printing house.
The book uses photos by Ragnar Vutt, Rain Aunapu, Roberts Johansons and SIA “Bumbierkoks”, as well as photos from the archives of Valka municipality. Historical photographs come from the collections of the Valga and the Valka Museums.
The authors of the book are especially grateful to the models Loore Surri and Maria Sikk from Valga and Annika Anta Stepiņa and Stefanija and Sindija Šaldere from Valka. Many thanks to Priit Riemann, a researcher at the Valga Museum, and Ligita Drubiņa and Aija Priedīte, specialists at the Valka Museum.
The book was printed in only 500 copies and is intended as a representative gift to the outstanding citizens and important guests of Valga and Valka.
An electronic version of the book is available on the joint website of the two cities visitvalgavalka.com.
The joint photo book of the two cities was completed within the framework of the INTERREG Estonian-Latvian cross-border cooperation program project “Development of the Valga-Valka Twin Town Centre” and is part of the project’s marketing activities.
This article reflects the views of the author. The managing authority of the programme is not liable for how this information may be used.
