Events

<< July 2009 >>

Vilnius as Northern Beacon

07 / 01 2009 - 07 / 31 2009

Vilnius as Northern Beacon is the theme and concept of Kristupas Summer Festival in 2009. The aim of the project is to show the capital in different light such as the unique city of northern mentality strongly influenced by art ideas disseminated and upheld by the intelligentsia of Polish, Scandinavian and Russian capital cities. Vilnius will be revealed as an important centre of culture not only of the West Europe, but also of Northern Europe that has outlived a huge upsurge at the end of the 19th c. - beginning of the 20th century. The premiere of symphonic poem Prometheus composed by A. Skriabinas, M.K. Èiurlionis' contemporary, including the original colour score arranged by the means of the latest modern computer technologies, will become the highlight of the programme. The impressive event will be realised by St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra. The score of lasers, light effects and 3D visual projections will be developed exclusively for this concert based on the composer’s music philosophy.

Programme of major events celebrating the Millennium of Lithuania

07 / 01 2009 - 07 / 06 2009

Continuing our country’s significant cultural tradition dating back to the memorable 1924, the Millennium Song Festival of Lithuania in Vilnius and Kaunas Cities is being arranged. That will be one of the most prominent events in celebration of the Millennium of Lithuania. The traditions and symbolism of three Baltic States’ song and dance festivals was proclaimed by UNESCO as the masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity. The totality of the Millennium Song Festival of Lithuania 2009 will consist of the following programmes: the Professional Creation Night (the territory of Castles, the Cathedral Square), the Choral Music Night (the Congress Concert Hall), the Kanklės Afternoons (the Church of the Resurrection), the Modern Folklore Programme (Kalnų Park), the Folklore Days (Sereikiškių Park), the Brass Orchestra Concerts (Kalnų Park, City Hall Square), the Ensembles Night (Kaunas Dainų Valley), the Dance Day (Žalgiris Stadium), the School Children Song Day and the Great Song Day (Vingio Park). The parade of participants, the folk art exhibition, concerts of artistic collectives, the joint performance of amateur theatres “Amerika pirtyje” and many other events will take place. About 40,000 performers from Lithuania and emigrants from all over the world will take part in different programmes.

Exhibition Cycle "Abstraction and Expressionism: Two Traditions of Vilnius Painting"

07 / 04 2009 - 07 / 31 2009

Vilnius guests and residents will be invited into a long promenade in Vilnius Centre and Old Town. The painting works of over sixty Lithuanian artists will be displayed in twenty art galleries and exhibition halls. Survey Exhibition Abstraction and Expressionism: Two Traditions of Vilnius Painting is to be displayed in ARKA Gallery. This and other exhibitions are going to reveal how these two traditions were developing in Lithuania from 1960 till today. Besides the prevailing abstraction and expressionist themes, the exhibition cycle will also cover the trends of realism, neoromantism and conceptualism. The visitors will be provided with an opportunity to see the paintings, unveiling the vast panorama of contemporary Lithuanian painting, by the following painters: A. Gudaitis, J. Ðvaþas, V. Geèas, A. Stasiulevièius, S. Dþiaukðtas, L. Surgailis, K. Dereðkevièius, A. Ðaltenis, V. Kisarauskas, S. Kisarauskienë, P. R. Vaitiekûnas, A. Martinaitis, K. Paliokas, M. Ðalkauskas, K. Zimblytë, A. E. Cukermanas, L. Katinas, L. Drazdauskaitë, R. Katiliûtë, D. Kasèiûnaitë, H. Natalevièius, R. Jankauskas-Kampas, A. Vaitkûnas, V. Paukðtë, A. Petraðiûnaitë, Ð. Sauka and the young artists E. Ridikaitë, P. Juðka, A. Zakarauskas and D. Noreika.

Exhibition VYTIS: HISTORY AND ART

07 / 04 2009 - 12 / 31 2011

The tradition of imaging the coat of arms of Lithuania Vytis (“the Chaser”) from the most ancient images found on ancient seals and coins of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to the works of our days will be presented at the exhibition – the comprehensive history of Vytis imaging will be shown, as well as images of Vytis in the art of Lithuanian emigrants of the end of 19th – beginning of 20th century. The versions of Vytis images created by Juozas Zikaras, Adomas Galdikas, Antanas Žmuidzinavičius, Mstislavas Dobužinskis, Petras Rimša and other professional and folk artists before the Second World War will be exhibited. Coins, medals, awards, phaleristics, flags, documents, books and other pieces of applied arts with Vytis images from the museums and private collections will be exhibited.

11th International Festival of Experimental Archaeology Days of Live Archaeology in Kernavė

07 / 04 2009 - 07 / 06 2009

The event for commemoration of the coronation day of King Mindaugas will be held on 4-6 July. Prehistoric and early medieval crafts, lifestyle, medieval fights will be demonstrated during the event, archaic music ensembles will perform. The archaic craft processes and fights will be presented and demonstrated on the festival by more than 300 craftsmen (about 50%-60% of them form other European countries) of experimental archaeology, representing different scientific, cultural, institutions, museums, clubs of archaeology and fighting, also single craftsmen, personnel of the Administration of the State Cultural Reserve of Kernavė. Arrangement of the event in Kernavė, the old capital of Lithuania that remembers the outflows and the beginning of our nationhood, will have a great cultural-cognitive and educative significance. A historic and cultural heritage of Lithuania and other European countries from prehistoric to late medieval times will be presented during the event, through the methods of experiment and archaeological reconstruction. A large part of reconstructions and production processes will be presented based on the data of archaeological investigations of Kernavė. The festival is of educational character. 20,000 - 30,000 of visitors are expected. Disclosure of the archaic archaeological heritage of the country, the headwaters of material and spiritual culture before the name of Lithuania was mentioned in the chronicles for the first time, and during establishment of the state, introduction of cultural coherency between Lithuania and other European countries, will make the commemoration of the Millennium of Lithuania a significant event in the history of European civilization.

Opera Festivals, the closing performance – Amilcare Ponchielli’s opera I LITUANI

07 / 05 2009 - 07 / 06 2009

The Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, taking an active part in the events of “Vilnius – European Capital of Culture 2009”, organises the first international opera festival in Lithuania in June 2009, which will introduce the opera art of European and other countries in different dimensions. One of the accents of this festival will be A. Ponchielli’s opera “I Lituani”, produced specially for this festival by one of the most famous Lithuanian directors Jonas Jurašas. The opera will be performed in Trakai Castle. The venue and the opera were selected on purpose, specially for celebration of the Millennium of Lithuania in 2009, as the opera depicts one of the most significant periods in the history of Lithuania, and the venue, Trakai Castle, is one of the most important historic monuments. We hope that the opera will attract a crowd of spectators and will be accepted favourably.

A solemn official opening of the restored Palace of the Grand

07 / 06 2009

Rebuilding of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania is the most important and the biggest project in the programme of Millennium of Lithuania. The restored Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania is the integral and very bright part of the Lower Castle ensemble. The National Museum of historic residence was settled in the restored Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, it will continue the traditions of this residence in new forms. Permanent museum expositions are presented there, exhibitions are arranged, state representation events are held, educational, cultural, tourism information activities are performed.

Lithuania in ancient historical sources

07 / 06 2009 - 10 / 04 2009

The art of Balts

07 / 06 2009 - 10 / 04 2009

Wawel in Vilnius. From the Jagiellonian Dynasty to the end of the Republic

07 / 06 2009 - 10 / 04 2009

The exhibition dedicated for the restoration and opening of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania introduces the cultural heritage of the twin of this residence – the Krakow Royal Wawel Palace. The same sovereigns of Lithuania and Poland, the same artists were creating the residences in Vilnius and Krakow, they have the same history of prosperity and decline. The chronology of the exhibition encompasses the 14th – 18th centuries, it introduces development of Wawel Palace, its hosts from the first Gediminas-Jagiello sovereigns to downfall of the Republic of the Two Nations. The history of Wawel, the significance of the residence, its relations with Vilnius palace, its current collections are presented by more than 100 authentic exhibits, small architecture, plastic casting items, photographs. The most valuable exhibits are Sigismund Augustus’ tapestry collection items famous all over the world, in the 16th – 17th centuries some of them decorated Vilnius palace too. The collection of Lithuanian and Polish sovereigns and noblemen, the collection of medals, treasures, hearths, weapons, different findings, other pieces of applied arts and unique Lithuanian values will also be shown at the exhibition.

Sculpture Vienybės medis (“The Tree of Unity”) by Tadas Gutauskas in Vingio Park in Vilnius

07 / 06 2009

The sculpture would become the symbol of the world Lithuanians unity, based on the Lithuanian ethnic culture, harmoniously composed in the Lithuanian landscape, demonstrating the Lithuanians’ aspiration to be together, to live and work for the sake of Lithuania. The sculpture will be about 9 meters high, sculpted of stone. Its one side will resemble the look of authentic distaff, and the other side, like today’s reflection, will be ornamented following the principle of distaffs’ decoration, ant the names of all cities in the world where Lithuanians live will be chiselled in the circle resembling the sun. Other two little “suns” will memorialize the most famous heroes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the most outstanding personalities of the independent Lithuania: its presidents, prime ministers, people of culture and art, etc. The sculpture “Vienybės medis” will be mounted in Vilnius, Vingio Park, as this place has always united all Lithuanians, it was the venue of the World Lithuanians Song Festival, the meetings of Sąjūdis.

Europeade festival

07 / 22 2009 - 07 / 26 2009

The initiator of Europeade was Mon De Clopper (1922-1998), a Fleming, the founding chairman of the Movement for Flemish Folk Culture (the Vlaamse Volkskunstbeweging). He organized the first Europeade in Antwerp (Belgium) in 1964, bringing together Flemings, Dutch, English, French and Germans as well as Ukrainian, Yugoslavian and Polish emigrants. First motto for Europeade “For the Youth of Europe” clearly disclosed Mon De Clopper’s aim to spread peace among European youth. He also believed that, after the horror of two world wars, youth has to concentrate on the creation of free and peaceful Europe. Today’s motto of the festival is “Free and Peaceful Europe”, where all different cultures of different nations get along. Up to 4000-5000 participants from different European countries take part in this 5-days event, which attracts the flow of several times greater number of spectators.

Young Europe, Young Lithuania!

07 / 27 2009 - 08 / 01 2009

By gathering together under the umbrella of the Lithuanian and European youth organisations, public institutions of art, cultural initiatives and informal groups, the young will create and implement their unusual concepts through projects reflecting the values, identity, uniqueness and openness of Vilnius. The project participants in Vilnius will constitute a bridge that joins a unified, young Europe, disseminate positive message about Vilnius and Lithuania, and become true ambassadors of Vilnius in their own countries. More than fifteen hundred young Europeans from all European countries will gather in one place to understand their European identities and European values better and to discover new opportunities to begin long-term cooperation in order to enhance artistic, cultural, ecological and social knowledge.

The Tall Ships’ Races Baltic 2009 Klaipėda

07 / 31 2009 - 08 / 03 2009

Klaipėda will arrange the greatest world Tall Ships’ Races for the first time. The first historic regatta of tall ships was arranged more than 50 years ago. 20 ships took part in that regatta, and today the greatest in the world race of historic ships collects more than 100 sailing vessels and marine yachts. The main purpose of the regatta is to bring up young people of different nations, religions and social origin through sailing, to provide them with new experiences of the team work in the sea. Starting in Gdynia (Poland), “The Tall Ships’ Races Baltic 2009” regatta is going to visit St. Petersburg (Russia), Turku (Finland), and finish in Klaipėda. The regatta and its welcoming events will coincide with the traditional Sea Festival. More that 100 vessels will moor at the embankments of Klaipėda, 10 of them are more than 40 meters long. Klaipėda will be visited by about 4000 crew members, more than half of them are young people from 15 to 25 years of age. Klaipėda will celebrate the regatta for 4 days and nights – parades, visiting of the ships, concerts, the award ceremony, sports competitions and other events will be held. The regatta events will be highlighted by the parade of the crews along the city streets and the Parade of Sails leaving the port and sailing to the open sea.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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