Let's celebrate Čiurlionis' birthday and Culture Day

Open invitation to the cultural community to participate in an educational programme dedicated to Čiurlionis' birthday

The year 2025 is dedicated to celebrating M. K. Čiurlionis. The rich programme will culminate on September 22 – the 150th birthday of the artist. On that day, we will also celebrate Culture Day for the first time thanks to a decision of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. Inspired by Čiurlionis, we will create a new tradition that not only celebrates the legacy of Lithuania's most important artist, but at the same time upholds the message of Čiurlionis' creativity as a universal idea.

We will celebrate Čiurlionis and the Day of Culture and Creativity from Friday to Monday: the programme of the celebration will consist of a three-day lasting cultural educations that will take place all over Lithuania on September 19–21, and on September 22, the celebratory spirit will spread into everyday life, reaching us wherever we are: schools will hold integrated lessons with Čiurlionis, employers are invited to dedicate this day to the development of their employees' creativity and cultural competences, and LRT KLASIKA will broadcast a special programme throughout the day. Events and initiatives dedicated to Čiurlionis and his work will also take place in different Lithuanian cities, including concerts, exhibition presentations, interdisciplinary art projects, the national campaign "Congratulate Čiurlionis", etc.

On the initiative of the Government, which is coordinating the anniversary programme "Čiurlionis 150", all Lithuanian cultural and artistic institutions, collectives, and individual artists are invited to take part in the cultural education programme – to organise inclusive educational sessions in various formats, to open up the behind-the-scenes of their activities, to engage in an open dialogue, and to invite the public to get to know the work more deeply and to forge a strong personal relationship with culture.

What do we aim for?

To engage as many people as possible in an intimate and deep relationship with culture and creativity, to create a lively dialogue, and to encourage greater participation of different groups of society in cultural or creative activities across Lithuania. In this way, we aim to develop cultural and creative competences in society and to strengthen the understanding of cultural and artistic processes and their significance for the development of society, both locally and nationally.

What cultural educational activities are we looking for?

We invite you to propose educational, cognitive, or creative activities, such as workshops, open rehearsals or the opportunity to visit artists' studios, excursions, lectures and seminars, meetings and discussions with creators, and other similar activities. Most importantly, they should encourage an understanding of creativity and its process and strengthen the relationship with culture.

Educational activities should be aimed at adults and families. However, we suggest that, wherever possible, additional activities should be organised for different groups: children and young people, seniors, ethnic communities, people with different needs (blind and partially sighted, deaf, hard of hearing, people with mobility or intellectual disabilities) and others.

Who can participate?

Anyone working in the field of culture – cultural and educational institutions, non-governmental organisations, individual artists or collectives and others who can offer quality cultural education.

How to participate?

Please fill in the entry form by August 17. If your proposed educational activity is of high cultural value, is carried out by or involves professional artists, folk artists or experienced cultural educators and meets at least one of the following criteria:

❯ Encourages cultural knowledge and interest in different cultural phenomena, increases cultural awareness, broadens understanding of different cultural expressions and forms, encourages sensitivity to and appreciation of art and culture, introduces professional art, and the tangible and intangible cultural heritage;

❯ Develops creativity, engages in experiential activities, develops the skills of creative and cultural expression and imagination, and aesthetic perception;

❯ Participation will encourage to engage in creative experimentation: trying out different forms of expression and communication, testing the roles of creator and performer, observer and consumer, etc.

REGISTRATION

Only educational activities that correspond to the call will be included in the programme. We will confirm your participation in the programme by a letter.

Why participate?

An opportunity to strengthen your relationship with your audience and reach new ones. The celebration, the educational programme and its dissemination will be nationwide and will attract many interested people, ensuring a wide audience reach and visibility of the participants throughout Lithuania.

A great opportunity to showcase your activities or a new season. September is the symbolic start of the cultural season. It is the right time to present new projects, educational programmes or creative directions, opening the creative activities of an institution, a collective or your own creative activity and its environment to the public.

Together we will create a new tradition, and you will be part of a national project. This initiative is part of the “Čiurlionis 150” anniversary programme and the new Culture and Creativity Day. By taking part, you will contribute to the development of processes that are important for our culture and to the formation of positive cultural habits in society.

Important information for participants

❯ The proposed activity(ies) must take place between September 19-21, 2025.

❯ We recommend that the proposed activities are organised free of charge to ensure that they are accessible to the widest possible audience. If the organiser decides to implement a paid activity, it is the organiser's responsibility to distribute the tickets.

❯ We recommend pre-registration for free educational activities to ensure smoother flow management. Organisers are responsible for the registration process, ensuring the security of personal data. Important: Registration for the educational activities should start no earlier than the beginning of September.

❯ Your activities will be publicised on the website ciurlioniui150.lt and on the social networks of the project "Čiurlionis 150", as well as through a national communication campaign that will start in early September.

We will ask the organisers of the activities to use the common visual communication of the programme and the provided user-friendly design templates that we will share. We will ask you to send us the revised communication information on the activity(ies) and the visual identity of the event(s) no later than one week after the deadline of the call for participation.

❯ On August 19, we will invite the organisers of all of the activities of the programme to a remote meeting to share practical tips, answer your questions, and present the communication guidelines and planned publicity.

Contact details for enquiries: ciurlioniui150@lrv.lt