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"Merkinė Factory" to Host Celebration for Project Completion: Exhibition, Workshops, Bird Market, and Rooster Contest
"I have never regretted my decision, even during the toughest times," says Vytaras Radzevičius, the founder of Merkinė Factory, a cultural and entertainment center, and a journalist and traveler. The project, which began four years ago, was supported by the international programme "Promotion of Local Cultural Entrepreneurship – Merkinė Manor", funded by the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism's "Culture" programme. It is now coming to an end.
This weekend, Merkinė Factory will celebrate the final event of the project, named "Long Live Spring, Merkinė, and Culture." Starting at noon, Merkinė will come alive with bird songs as the traditional Jorė Spring Bird Market takes place. Visitors can vote for the most beautiful rooster and hen, and local artisans will showcase their handmade crafts and food. The "Leaking Oil" photography exhibition by Aurimas Rima will also have its official closing, with a team of bikers from Vilnius attending. Artisan and weaver Rita Valiukevičienė will lead a creative workshop called "Talking to Plants", teaching how to weave baskets, bowls, and hats using coastal and swamp plants called viksrai.
The special “World Pots” summer terrace will be open, serving unique dishes and drinks for the event. The day will conclude with a lively concert by the band "Baltasis Kiras", inviting everyone in the Merkinė community and visitors to join the fun. The event will be hosted by Martynas Starkus, a TV presenter, traveler, and local of Dzūkija. All Saturday events in Merkinė will be free of charge.
“We have spent the last four years promoting culture and creating new traditions in Merkinė since opening Merkinė Factory. Jorė Day (or Jurginės) is a Lithuanian celebration of spring and greenery. This is a traditional event here. ‘Jorėti’ means to grow or turn green, so by celebrating this day, we welcome spring into nature and our hearts,” says Vytaras Radzevičius, the founder of Merkinė Factory. He adds, "This event also marks an important milestone—the completion of the project ‘Promotion of Local Cultural Entrepreneurship – Merkinė Manor’ or simply ‘Merkinė Factory’, which has been supported by the EEA Financial Mechanism's “Culture” programme. The end of this project opens the door for something new, based on the ideas and traditions we have built."
Radzevičius also notes that the EEA Financial Mechanism "Culture" program made it possible to hold free cultural events in Merkinė, including the Ancient Days Festival "Samanos", the "Opera in Jeans" concert, art exhibitions, creative workshops, seminars on culture and entrepreneurship, as well as movie screenings.
Radzevičius is confident that the cultural experiences, established traditions, and Merkinė's growing appeal will last. "We must nurture, protect, and spread culture because it’s the foundation of our nation’s survival. Merkinė used to be a very important city; though time has worn it down, its spirit remains. You can feel it with every step. Our mission is to help people experience it, understand its history, fall in love with Merkinė, and create its story for today," says the journalist and traveler, who considers Merkinė one of his life missions.
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.