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16 Successful Projects in the Regions: International Programme Contributes Significantly to Their Cultural Revival
The European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism’s "Culture" programme, which ran for four years, has concluded with impressive results. The programme supported 16 projects that significantly contributed to the cultural revival of Lithuania’s regions. The closing event took place at the "Pragiedruliai" Creativity Center in Panevėžys, one of the EEA-funded sites.
In his speech, Vice Minister of Culture Rimantas Mikaitis highlighted that many important cultural sites are now opening across Lithuania, shaping the future of Lithuanian culture. He specifically praised "Pragiedruliai" as an exemplary project. "This 'Culture' programme is very diverse and multifaceted, combining cultural education, cultural accessibility, and cultural entrepreneurship projects. The cultural entrepreneurship projects implemented according to the creative local development method are exceptional, enabling different locally operating organizations and sectors to collaborate through culture and the preservation of its heritage. I hope that the creative local development method will become increasingly popular in our country," Mikaitis said.
Lidija Kašubienė, Director of the Central Project Management Agency (CPVA), shared that managing the programme was a rewarding experience, as the results not only validate the agency's activities but also show how culture is flourishing in the regions and how much creative potential is still to be harnessed. "When we announced the call for project applications for cultural services and products, we received five times more applications than we could fund, and 16 times more applications for major infrastructure projects,” Kašubienė said. “This shows there is immense creative potential in Lithuania, and many ideas just need financial support to come to life.”
Representatives from donor countries at the closing event emphasized the active involvement of local communities in the activities of this programme, the many bilateral partnerships formed, and the programme's overall success. It was described as a exemplary programme.
A panel discussion, moderated by Rytis Zemkauskas, focused on “Culture in the Regions – Changes and Prospects.” Experts from Norway and Lithuania discussed ways to bring culture closer to communities, strengthen local engagement, and address the cultural needs of smaller towns. The importance of local governments, non-governmental organizations, and expectations for the next funding period to improve regional cultural conditions was also emphasized.
The following projects were presented at the event:
- On September 17, the "Stasys Museum" in Panevėžys hosted a screening of Marija Kavtaradzė’s film "Slow". This event was part of the "Cinema Caravan" project, aimed at improving access to professional cinema in Lithuanian regions.
- "Pragiedruliai" Creativity Center – Located in Panevėžys, this creativity center encourages public engagement in cultural activities. It features art, design, theater, and photography studios, as well as community events and an urban garden.
- Interactive Performance "The Tower of Babel" – Created for young people, this performance involved artists from multiple countries and explored themes of survival and new beginnings after global catastrophes. It was later included in the National Kaunas Drama Theatre's repertoire.
- VOSS Model – This project provided mentorship to young music leaders, offering them professional training through hands-on experience with local music groups.
- Traveling Museum – The "Traveling Museum" project brought the MO Museum’s interactive exhibition to remote towns, offering educational workshops and introducing modern art to local communities.
- "Draugoteka" Virtual Game – A virtual game designed to encourage reading among young people, where players build friendships with characters who share life lessons and the value of books.
- Traveling Aristavėlė Manor – This project allowed people to explore the history and culture of Lithuanian manors through interactive exhibits and educational activities in a traveling tent.
- "FIXUS Mobilis" Cultural Heritage Care – This team provided preventive maintenance for cultural heritage sites, ensuring they are well-preserved for future generations.
About the Culture Programme
Thanks to the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism's Culture Programme, more abandoned Lithuanian heritage sites are being revived: the Merkines Manor - a former soap factory, one of the buildings of St Stanislaus Church in Kuļi, Pragiedrulių Homestead in Panevėžys, a barn in Kintai, and others. The projects aim to strengthen cultural education, especially in the country's regions, improve access to high quality cultural products and services, and promote local cultural entrepreneurship. The EEA Financial Mechanism has allocated a total of €8.23 million for the Culture Programme, of which €7 million is from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and the rest from the national budget. The implementation of the projects is supervised by the Central Project Management Agency.