Persons visiting Dome Square will be greeted with 149 United Buddy Bears, which symbolizes tolerance between peoples. With such a motto, these two-meter high bears have been travelling the world since they were first exhibited in Berlin in 2002. The bears have already greeted over 40 million persons in 30 cities all over the world.

Every one of the 143 bear figures are painted individually by a known artist from the respective country. The Latvian bear figure is painted by Kaspars Zariņš, and symbolizes happiness and optimism. Furthermore, there are also five special bears, and this exhibition will also feature a Riga Bear, which will remain in the Latvian capital. The Riga Bear will be painted from sketches by children.

This will be the bears' first visit to the Baltics, which is Germany's gift to Latvian residents on the country's centenary. The exhibition is organized by the German Embassy in Riga in cooperation with the Riga City Council.

The exhibition of bears at Dome square will take place until August 22.