Latvian National Museum of Art — Attraction in Riga

It didn't start well. Having walked round to the main entrance we found it was a building site and were directed back around the building to the rear entrance, which turned out to be an unmarked door (an initiative test, maybe?) Eventually found our way inside and set off to see the sights. Actually, we wanted to start with a cool drink, but the cafe didn't open until 11 and there was nowhere else to get water. So a quick trip around the erotic art exhibition, which was quite sedate. After refreshments we toured the rest of the building. "Take the lift" they said, so I pressed the button and waited about 3 minutes for it to arrive. Pressed the button for the top floor (5). Lift went up to 1, then 2, then back to 0, then down to -1 where a staff member was waiting with... a lawn mower. No room for him, so we wrnt up, 0, 1, and finally 5. Roof terrace with a nice view. Lots of art, of course, and a range of attendants from friendly to surly....

This "museum" allowed itself to be rented out by Audi. I arrived to find out that every single floor of THE Latvian National Museum of Art had been rented out and that the museum was closed for the entire day. Oh, but I could still pay 3.50 euros to visit the special 1 floor exhibition in the basement! Only a little more than half the price of actual admission to the entire Museum (what a steal!) I fail to see why a national museum of Art full of national treasures for the purpose of being viewed by the public has allowed itself to be turned into some sort of low class banquet hall for a rich corporation to taste wine. Aren't there actual banquet halls for this purpose? Shame on the museum for this and shame on them for still charging admission to the exhibition downstairs. Absolutely uncouth, unbecoming and disgusting. Let banquet halls and hotels host events, let...

The collection is fine. The problem was with the staff. We arrived late but still had about an hour before the advertised closing time of 18.00. We were rudely refused entrance to a small section of the exhibition we had paid for at 17.42. Several minutes later we heard an announcement that the museum was closing at 18.00 despite being told to leave at 17.42. We were polite, but dealt with in a rude manner. The employee clearly understood every thing we said but refused to communicate. Late entrants should be warned that the museum closes well before the advertised time before they pay for entrance. We were trying to enter the final wing of our visit about 15 seconds from the exit so could have comfortably seen the collection and exited in good time. Sad that a national gallery should have so little interest in the experience of...