Events

<< June 2009 >>

Urban Stories. 10th International Art Triennial of the Baltics

06 / 01 2009 - 11 / 30 2009

Forty Lithuanian and foreign contemporary artists and city researchers will stay in the peripheral Vilnius districts of Pilaitë, Ðeðkinë, Naujininkai and Naujoji Vilnia for two weeks. European artists will map everyday life of Vilnius with innovation by enriching traditional image of the old city with the feel of modern reality. The artists and theorists will be invited to leave behind stereotypical tourist and representative Vilnius images and explore more varied social and physical geographies of the city. On the base of this research the city atmosphere, the stories of its current residents will be merged into a new complex narrative about Vilnius with the help of modern art means (such as dimensional installations, cinema and video films, different art campaigns and mass media interventions). The artist research and communication with the residents of the peripheral Vilnius districts will translate into the exposition that will take place in September-November and a two-week programme of temporary events and different projects throughout the city. Vilnius will acquire project chronicles that can be turned into a newspaper, magazine, community radio station or TV channel.

Artist Festival: Monmartre Convention in Uzupis

06 / 01 2009 - 08 / 31 2009

Having only premiered in 2008, this festival will now be in full swing. The Uzupis National Philharmonic will open its doors and will feature jazz and funk music concert, a Fluxus retrospective performed by the international actor troupe, and a programme by fire brigade brass and percussion orchestra. One will be able to stroll down an alley of kinetic sculptures, participate in a Georgian feast and listen to a Monmartre choir, as well as marvel at the works of expressionist painters of Germany, Denmark, Finland and Lithuania (Nida). Passers-by will be entertained by Fluxus activities, street provocations, grand processions and parades, pictures flying and sailing by, hovering bridges and floating sculptures. The existing or historical European and world artist colonies and quarters will be presented in the language of fine arts, music, theatre and dance. For guests from all over the world (England, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Greece, Georgia, Latvia, Poland, Holland, France, Russia, Finland, Switzerland and Germany), residents of Vilnius and other cities in Lithuania, or simply anyone full of spontaneity, Uzupis has been and will always be the best place to get together.

Exhibition “Vilno / Vilnius and Belarusian Painters of the XXth century”

06 / 01 2009 - 06 / 30 2009

The exhibition will demonstrate the works of Belarusian artists whose life and creation is linked with Vilnius. The aim is to disclose the advantages of the development of the Lithuanian and Belarusian visual art of the XXth century. Authors whose works will be exhibited in Vilnius are part of the cultural history of both countries because all of them have lived, studied and worked in Vilnius during certain period of their lives. The works of P. Sergijewicz, M. Sevruk, S. Gerus and other painters will be demonstrated during the exhibition. The great majority of the painters’ works will be brought from private collections and museums of Belarus. Artistic campaigns of students of the European Humanitarian University will add diversity to the exhibition.

Live Tourist Routes

06 / 05 2009 - 09 / 06 2009

For several centuries since its establishment to today, Vilnius has been a city whose multi-faceted culture has been enriched by the contributions of Belorussians, Jews, Poles, Russians, and people of other nationalities. Newly mapped cultural and tourist routes will reveal the diversity of these cultures. Cultural events and artistic activities that reflect the past and the present of all Vilnius’ ethnic communities will take place at important historical and geographical points along this route. During the project, tour guides will accompany participants and acquaint them with the culture and history of various ethnic communities of Vilnius. The excursions will be enlivened by theatrical performances, artistic events, and live performances by actors, artists and musicians. This will allow one not only to learn about history, but to get to know it as well.

Fashion weekends

06 / 05 2009 - 06 / 13 2009

Two summer weekends in the heart of Vilnius will be dedicated to fashion. Gediminas Avenue will turn into a fashion centre during the implementation of the Longest Catwalk in Europe project. The catwalk, extending from the Municipal Square to the Cathedral Square, will host a grand show of fashion, music and light effects. The catwalk will stage presentations of works by famous Lithuanian and foreign fashion designers and fashion design students. City residents will be able to visit designer shops following specially designed maps and become acquainted with the designer works during the Boutique Boulevard project. The Tunnel of Beauty will assuredly transform the appearances and styles of strollers with a designer touch. And during the Become a Model project, the passers-by will create their desired costumes from the elements of cardboard clothing and attend lessons in fashion and design history at various locations throughout the city.

Vilnius Opera Festival

06 / 09 2009 - 07 / 04 2009

The programme of the first International Vilnius Opera Festival will include established opera classics and authentic baroque opera performances, experimental theatre and new Lithuanian opera. The plans also include the tour of the legendary St Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre and internationally acclaimed Israel Opera Theatre, experimental spectacular programme of Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica chamber orchestra, as well as the new production of Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre featuring foreign stage masters.

Cinema in the City, City in the Cinema

06 / 10 2009 - 08 / 16 2009

The project “Cinema in the City, City in the Cinema” is aimed at actualising forgotten places of Vilnius City which have historic relationships with other countries of Europe. Film reviews will take place under the open sky – in the yards of Lithuanian Theatre, Music and Cinema Museum, churches, theatres and near the Sport Palace. The programme will introduce different schools of the European cinematography – Lithuanian, Italian, French, German, Polish, Russian and other countries’ cinema, vanguard films and films representing the culture of ethnic minorities living in Lithuania. Youth will also benefit from a special educational programme.

Colour and Sound Dialogues. Music composed by M.K. Ciurlionis and his contemporaries

06 / 19 2009 - 08 / 24 2009

The International Art Exhibition will present the idea of symbolism and modernism, the search for the touchpoints of fine arts and music that excited the intellects of the artists at the beginning of the 20th c., the Silver Age of Europe. It will disclose artistic ideas and spiritual ties that connected the great Lithuanian artist M. K. Ciurlionis (1875-1911) and his contemporaries from the West and Central Europe. The art works displayed in the exhibition will cover the period of the most active development of modernist movements in Europe. From the 19th century, the variety synthesis solutions of painting and music developed and spread in the European art through the sparkling art centres in Paris to St Petersburg, from Oslo to Vienna. The artists of different countries were united by the common idea of art affinity, while the variety of its solutions was immense. Today, we may call it meaningful artistic dialogue of the European artists. The exhibition will display the art works of Lithuanian, Polish, Latvian, Czech, Scandinavian, Russian, German, Austrian and French artists. The content of the exhibition includes not only the art works of fine arts but also the documents (such as letters, sketches, music and photographs) and the music composed by M. K. Ciurlionis and his contemporaries composers A. Schönberg, A. Berg, etc.

The Oak Mystery

06 / 19 2009

“The Oak Mystery” is a unique performance of theatre and music delivered in unique space with multiple allegoric meanings. The first part of the Mystery is devoted to the history of the tree – the action begins with wood felling works, trimming of trees and pulling them out to cuttings. Later the work moves to sawmill, where cut wood is loaded into trucks and carried through Lithuania to the selected Oak-tree. The wood brought is used to construct scaffolding around the oak. After being “dressed” the oak reminds of a fantastic castle or a huge straw “garden”. The second part of the Mystery – concert at the foot of the oak with participation of “Ąžuoliukas” Choir, sawmill saws, choir, orchestra, actors, and amateur performers, who will perform works of music from bird nesting-boxes erected in the scaffolding.

G. Verdi REQUIEM with WORLD FESTIVAL CHOIR

06 / 21 2009

More than 300 singers from USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Scandinavian countries, Germany, and Switzerland will come to Vilnius together with Kaunas State Choir and Vilnius Choir will form the joint choir “World Festival Choir”. The National Orchestra of Lithuania and Kaunas Symphony Orchestra directed by Modestas Pitrėnas, soloists from Lithuania, Norway, Latvia, Sweden and Estonia will give concerts with this choir. “World Music Choir” – is a group gathering on special occasions from the whole world, which has performed on the most outstanding stages of the world and sung with such prominent artists as L.Pavaroti, etc. In 2008, the Choir gave concert programmes in Russia with Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, in 2009 it is coming to Vilnius and in 2010 they are invited to sing at the World Football Championship.

Terno Vilna (Young Vilnius)

06 / 23 2009 - 06 / 28 2009

Terno Vilna project features creative workshops, a seminar Contemporary Creative Initiatives and Dialogue Between Ethnic Communities and a music event in the Roma community of Vilnius. An audiovisual project based on the synthesis of Roma ethnic music and electronic music will be produced during the workshop. The tasks for workshop participants will be selected with regard to the hot issues of today’s Roma encampment, as well as its environment, mythology, traditions and even the stereotypes ingrained in public opinion. The seminar will be aimed at sharing local and international experiences in order to understand various ethnic communities and involve them into creative processes. The project will culminate in the concert.

International Scientific Conference DIVISION OF VILNIUS IN THE AGE OF NATIONALISM AND POSTMODERNISM

06 / 25 2009 - 06 / 27 2009

Since Middle Ages until present Vilnius likewise the great majority of cities of the Central and Eastern Europe has been and remains a multicultural (multiethnic and multi-confessional) city. The national tradition has been looking in the past only for traces of its “own” ethnical group in the history of the city. Also, the alternative story about Vilnius as an ideal place for multicultural life has developed gradually. Situation in modern society and continuing academic discussions already allow to understand these several relatively distinguished historic narratives introducing the most complicated problem of this theme – relationship between community of the city and the grand narratives created by local and foreign elites and symbols existing in the city which give meaning to such narratives.

The 8th World Lithuanians Sport Games 2009

06 / 25 2009 - 06 / 28 2009

The World Lithuanians Sport Games have deep traditions. The 1st Lithuanian National Sports Games took place in Kaunas in 1938. When Lithuania was occupied by Soviets, the games were not arranged for a long time, and then were revived in emigration. The old traditions were restored 40 years later, when the 1st World Lithuanians Sport Games were held in Toronto (Canada) in 1978 on the initiative of the Lithuanian Athletic Union of North America. 1101 sportsmen participated in these games. The 2nd World Lithuanians Sport Games (hereinafter the WLSG) were held in Chicago (USA) in 1983, and the 3rd WLSG in Adelaide (Australia) in 1988. The 4th WLSG took place in Lithuania in 1991, with participation of about 3000 sportsmen of Lithuanian origin from 12 countries of the world. In the 5th WLSG held in Lithuania in 1995, 4870 sportsmen competed in thirty sports. The 2nd Lithuanian National Sports Games and the 6th WLSG were held in Lithuania in 1998. The 7th WLSG took place in Vilnius in 2005 with participation of 5134 sportsmen from 18 countries. The World Lithuanians Forum was held in the Department of Physical Education and Sports on 30 June 2005, which enacted to hold the World Lithuanians Sports Games every 4 years in Lithuania, and to arrange the 8th World Lithuanians Sport Games on 25-28 June 2009, dedicating them to the commemoration of the Millennium of Lithuania. The World Lithuanians Sports Games are aimed at uniting the Lithuanians spread all over the world on the sports grounds of their motherland. The purpose of the Games is to continue the tradition of national cooperation, preservation of the Lithuanian character among the Lithuanians of young generation. 8th World Lithuanians Sport Games will also commemorate the Millennium of Lithuania and the events of “Vilnius – European Capital of Culture 2009”.

Sacral Music Festival

05 / 01 2009 - 12 / 31 2009

The project will introduce Vilnius, which has been open to ideas, languages and religions in all periods, to the residents and guests of the European Capital of Culture. Art programme of the festival will not be limited only to the influence of Latin culture but instead will take an extensive look at the sacral nature of music. It will present sacral music composed by the authors of different epochs and beliefs. Plainsong, Taize, Corsican folk songs, gospel music, Ukrainian cants, sacral music of Russian classics, Tartar and Karaite songs, Jewish music, Lithuanian songs and A. Scarlatti oratorio for the Lithuanian patron St Casimir as well as monastic musical compositions and organ music cycles will be played in the concerts. Groups from Lithuania, Austria, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Israel, the USA, Poland, France, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine and Germany promoting sacral music will participate in the festival. The events will take place in the most picturesque Vilnius temples.

MEETINGS ON CROSSROADS

05 / 06 2009 - 12 / 05 2009

“Meetings on Crossroads” is a period of cooperation between Linz and Vilnius Music Schools giving rise to strong interaction of musical art. Concert repertoire of musicians from Linz and Vilnius Music Schools comprises musical compositions and their instrumentations of both countries. The concert and series of musical events will enable the performers and audience to get acquainted with music of each country which celebrates the year of the European Capital of Culture. Concert programmes will be developed and prepared getting deep into the heart of the Austrian and Lithuanian music, folklore and other events of culture which reveal specifics and uniqueness of the country.

KULTFLUX Platform of Culture near the Neris

05 / 15 2009 - 10 / 31 2009

The Platform of Culture “KultFlux” on embankment of the Neris was initiated by a team of artists, architects, art critics and exhibition curators. This initiative is aimed at diversifying cultural life of Vilnius, reviving the embankment the relief, panorama and geographical dislocation of which from the downtown perspective is ideal for cultural activities contributing to the discussion which is already under way about turning the face of the city to the river. The programme of “KultFlux” events focuses on three areas – urban, design and visual arts. With the help of designers and artists working at the cross-border level a functional, unusual and intensive platform of culture near the water will be developed inviting people to joint it – to exhibit, show, cooperate and propose different ways how to use the embankment of the rive in Vilnius. International design workshops initiated by “KultFlux” will be used by students constructing floating objects; as well as for regional discussions on city and water themes, regular music events, DIY markets, fashion and film presentations and exhibitions of visual arts which people will be invited to examine from amphitheatres near the water.

Virtual Historic Vilnius

04 / 01 2009 - 12 / 31 2009

The purpose of this museum is to create a “visiting card” of Vilnius or an “ABC-book” for getting acquainted with Vilnius. It will comprise the most important objects of history and culture of Vilnius and introduce the following themes: Vilnius – the capital located on the boundary of West and East, Vilnius – the city of communism and anti-communism from mounds to modern and post-modern, Vilnius – the city of 10 confessions, etc. The project does not aim at covering a multifaceted cultural life of Vilnius today – it will introduce the history and heritage of Vilnius emphasising their role in today's life. This virtual museum will introduce the history of Vilnius, historical capital of the Lithuanian State and one of the metropolis in Central and Eastern Europe of exclusive ethno-religious, cultural, social and political value. Incoming tourism will be promoted and an appealing image of Lithuania and Vilnius will be created by presenting the history of Vilnius City to different target groups (Vilnius residents, other residents of Lithuania and foreigners) in interactive format. The virtual museum of history will not only promote knowledge of the past, but also provide inbound tourists with the opportunity to plan their own routes of places to visit.

On Site

04 / 09 2009 - 12 / 06 2009

The project of Linz artist Anja Westerfrölke distinguishes historic exposures and meeting of different cultures in Vilnius. Textile and audiovisual technologies are used to reveal historic layers of prison, monastery and church and their original architecture in Visiting the Sacred Heart of St. Jesus Church. From the outside the church still looks as imprisoned between the walls of the former prison: stairs inside the church connect several floors on which rooms, closets and public premises are located. The project consists of three parts: 1. Installations, exhibition and performances Installation of textiles, audio and vide projections will symbolically reveal historic layers of the church and monastery. To disclose architectural and cultural specifics of the sacral interior selected fragments of interior will be covered with material used by restaurateurs. In 2008, creative workshops of Austrian and Lithuanian students “Textile and sacral architecture” were organised alongside the seminar “Art and representation” and presentation of installations “Local policy” and “Stories of light”. 2. Visiting and history of the monastery Art events linking the historic place and traditions of social and economic activities of monks. Tracing the monastery garden. Seminar “Herbal plants, pharmacology and nursing”. Lecture “St. Mary visiting St. Elizabeth. Stories of the pictures of saints”. Symposium “Women and spiritualism”. 3. Works and items made in prison As part of this project the exhibition of the works of art created in prison and creative workshops with the convicts’ families will be organised.

European Jazz

02 / 01 2009 - 11 / 30 2009

Three concert cycles of European jazz masters will draw together artists of different nationalities and art traditions. The concerts are to reflect the variety of contemporary European jazz, diverse world music cultures and art phenomena. Contemporary European jazz legends and performers from Austria, France, Poland and other European states will participate in the programme.

European Café

01 / 01 2009 - 12 / 31 2009

Each month the all-year-round discussion club will invite the residents and guests of the capital to join discussions on hot topics of culture, economics and policies related to the presentation and perception of contemporary culture. The debates in cafés with the participation of various cultural figures from architects and film-makers to poets will provide a fine opportunity to discuss contemporary culture and today’s art live.

New City Face. 2nd Quadrennial of Contemporary Lithuanian Fine Arts

01 / 01 2009 - 12 / 31 2009

This interdisciplinary project is going to pinpoint the unique cultural heritage of Vilnius and its modern apparel, introduce the latest art works of fine art in an extraordinary way, and seek impressive union of theatrical and cinematographic effects. At nights, the façades and interiors of the main buildings of Vilnius Railway Station, Vilnius Airport and Vilnius Bus Station will be transformed with the help of light and video projections containing the compositions of art works. The new looks of the familiar architectural shapes will provide the city with different, mystified and intriguing face. In daytime, the approaches of these Vilnius “City gates” will become open-air galleries. Lithuanian and foreign artists will display their latest art works, dedicated for the public sites, here. The art works demonstrated in the transit areas will meet the incoming flow of passengers surprising, engaging and inviting them to get involved into the cultural city life.

Film Marathon “52 weeks”

01 / 01 2009 - 12 / 31 2009

All 52 weeks of 2009 will be dedicated to the important stage of evolution in cinema. Fifty-two best-known films of the world that had the greatest influence on the language of cinema and its development will be screened. The films will be selected according to two different viewpoints - classical and experimental. The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), representing the classical approach, will select the most significant films from this perspective, while the experimental perspective will be shaped and presented by the Film Department of New York’s Museum of Modern Art, together with Anthology Film Archives. The new trends in cinema have interacted with various social, political and economic phenomena, therefore, each week will feature additional films intertextual with the main 52 films. These supplementary films will portray the evolution of genres in cinema and how it influenced public opinion. Thus, we will see the first cinematic derivatives of political propaganda, advertising and musicals.

Handicraft Heritage of Vilnius

01 / 01 2009 - 12 / 31 2009

The heritage of crafts in the city is relevant to the Vilnius of today in its struggle to revive old handicraft traditions as an expression of urban culture of the Lithuanian Grand Duchy (LGD). The revival of olden craft customs in Vilnius is also important to the development of cultural tourism and the endeavour to present Vilnius as a city upholding old European traditions. Once per month, educational events will be organised in the original sites of craft workshops in order to revive the old tradition of Vilnius handicrafts. During the Bartholomew Fair, fine, crude and ethnographic handicrafts using old technologies, will be demonstrated by Vilnius craftsmen. The fair is expected to attract the members of ethnic minorities (Karaites, Tartar, Jewish) and, thus, to disclose the historical multi-cultural characteristics of both Vilnius City and its old crafts. The educational, entertainment, cultural and social influences of the project will allow Vilnius to be portrayed as a modern and dynamic city in which creative people design the future by reconstructing the past.

1984. Survival drama

01 / 01 2009 - 12 / 30 2009

1984 is the best-known twentieth-century dystopia, written by George Orwell while Stalin was still in power. The book ponders what life would be like in a future totalitarian society in the far-off year of 1984. What if we, children of the twenty-first century, took a look at the past, to the real 1984 in the Soviet Union? Perhaps you simply forgot or cannot even imagine what it looked like? Well, now you are presented with a unique opportunity to experience the historical setting of the Soviet regime. An underground bunker located in Vilnius District, built in the ‘80s as an alternative television station in the event of nuclear war, will provide a venue for the authentic survival drama of 1984. This survival drama in the bunker is set in the Soviet era in Lithuania during the 50 years of occupation which ended on 11 March 1990. The project will strive to portray the impact of the totalitarian regime not only on political, economic and cultural life, but on the daily lives of people as well. The authentic atmosphere of 1984 will cast participants of the project into the grim reality of those times. 1984. Survival Drama will have no stage or viewing hall, no actors or audience. All those who go down to the bunker of their own free will become its actors.

Baroque Dialogues

01 / 01 2009 - 12 / 31 2009

This is a special programme of baroque art (architecture, music, theatre, literature and dance) which will take place in the baroque churches and chapels of Vilnius, the Royal Palace, and other locations in Vilnius suited for concerts. The aim of the project is to present Europe’s heritage of baroque art through relevant means and interpret it in a contemporary light, a heritage which created Vilnius, one of the most beautiful baroque cultural centres of the Old Continent. An interaction of Europe’s seventeenth and eighteenth-century common cultural heritage and twenty-first century ideas of artists will build new bridges in the present for the creation of the future. The programme, which will consist of concerts, operas and publishing events, will feature performers, interpreters and artists from a number of European countries.

Haiku to Vilnius

01 / 01 2009 - 12 / 31 2009

Haiku to Vilnius is a public creativity action: we invite every Lithuanian to create a haiku poem dedicated to Vilnius. Awards for the best three-line poems will include special prizes and publicity through outdoor advertising, newspapers, television, radio, and unusual sites of the cities. From now on, public areas of Vilnius will be directly open to poetry. Everyone is invited to give a sense to their impressions of Vilnius in a delicate literary form, thus, contributing to the development of the open city together.

Lithuanian Capital of Culture

01 / 01 2009 - 12 / 31 2009

National Competition Lithuanian Capital of Culture should enliven the cultural processes not only of Vilnius but of the entire Lithuania. Artists and cultural institutions of the cities and towns prepare cultural projects representing their cities. The winning city or town for the best project submitted will be awarded the exclusive title of the Lithuanian Capital of Culture for a period of one year.

Public Spaces Animation Programme

01 / 01 2009 - 12 / 31 2009

The Public Spaces Animation (PSA) programme consists of: 1) permanent works of art in public spaces; 2) temporary projects of art in public spaces; 3) discussion platform “Alternative vision of the city”; 4) projects in transit spaces (airport, railway and bus station); 5) living environment animation projects based ion cooperation of artists, architects and communities (contest “My Yard / Art Yard”). Permanent works of art in public space reveal the perception of the most outstanding Lithuanian masters of sculpture of the last decade of the urban space. Their aim is to develop an alternative for the époque-making monumental thinking and encourage more creatively insight of inhabitants and guest of the city to the environment surrounding them. Temporary projects in public spaces aim at distinguishing historic and cultural transformations and revealing specifics of a particular location. Selected semantic areas are different: sacral (St. Jesus’ Heart Church and the Monastery of Visitation), disappearing public (former House of Culture of Railway Employees) and institutional (“Talking Doors”) space. Approaches to the Sport Palace also represent potential space for the participants in this project. Discussion platform is designated for theoretic, critical and artistic analysis of public spaces. The public space of the city is disappearing because it is more and more occupied by signs of commercial culture. One of potential ways of artistic/critical analysis of public spaces is a specially created film about disappearing public spaces of Vilnius and demonstration of this film in unexpected places. The final event of the discussion platform – exhibition of projects submitted for PSA pending in end-2009. The purpose of LAA project “New face of the city” is to provide an innovative interpretation of transit spaces – airport, railway and bus stations and their approaches. As a rule, these spaces are occupied by people for a short time; they are intended for quick “use” and often are visited by accidental visitors. But at the same time they are like a visiting card of the city which might be introduced each time from a different perspective. Living environment animation contest “My Yard/Art Yard” is devoted for giving artistic and functional meaning to remote living spaces of downtown and places of entertainment. The title of the contest denotes the principal aim – to create the public space available to all giving to it creative meaning just as if you were creating in your own yard and for our family. The contest seeks to involve into the creative process different social groups actualising the network of avenues, streets, squares, unused buildings as the space suitable for creation and discussions.

PEOPLE Programme Foundation Projects

01 / 01 2009 - 12 / 31 2009

Creative initiatives of Vilnius communities in the City of Vilnius. The Foundation has been set up exclusively for culture / art / social community initiatives. The community in this case means people permanently residing in a respective territory and connected by common public needs and interests. For the purposes of this contest communities will also include groups of people formed for sports, religion, entertainment and other purposes. The contest of this Foundation which has been lasting for two and half years already provides the opportunity to implement projects focusing on community needs.

<< June 2009 >>