Lithuania and Poland continue dialogue on joint cultural heritage preservation
A bilateral meeting of the expert group on preservation of the cultural heritage of Lithuania and Poland was held in Kraków, discussing cooperation in the areas of protection of cultural heritage of significance to both countries, preservation of historical memory, and museums, libraries, and archives. This was the thirteenth meeting of cultural heritage experts of both countries to be held in this format.
The meeting was co-chaired by Rimantas Mikaitis, Vice-Minister of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, and by Jarosław Sellin, State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland.
According to Vice-Minister Mikaitis, one of the most important tasks of the cooperation in this format is to ensure continuous dialogue on the most important issues related to protection of cultural heritage of significance to both countries in Lithuania and in Poland, and to promote the implementation and continuity of joint projects.
At the meeting, joint activities being implemented and planned in the cultural heritage area were summarised, updates were provided about ongoing restoration of sacral heritage monuments, and it was agreed to continue supporting projects for the restoration of cultural heritage of significance to both countries and to cooperate in the protection of memorial sites.
At the meeting, the expert group expressed satisfaction with joint projects in Lithuania and Poland to mark the 700-year jubilee of Vilnius in 2023 and the smooth bilateral cooperation between memory institutions. It was decided to strengthen this cooperation by exchanging specialists, organising internships and trainings, organising conferences, exhibitions and scientific publications, and exchanging information. In addition, planned initiatives regarding the observance of important anniversaries and commemoration of culturally significant figures were presented.
It is expected that cultural and arts institutions of both countries will continue their cooperation in preparation for marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of M.K. Čiurlionis in 2025 and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Institute for Jewish Research (YIVO) in Vilnius.
The members of the delegations also expressed satisfaction with the cooperation between the national libraries and other memory institutions of Lithuania and Poland, providing assistance to Ukraine and taking action in the international arena to banish representatives of Russia from international organisations due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Meetings of the expert group on preservation of the cultural heritage of Lithuania and Poland are held according to a multi-year format of cooperation. Sessions are held every second year: the twelfth session was held in Kaunas in 2021, the next (the fourteenth) will also be held in Lithuania.
Photograph courtesy of Dariusz Błażewski
Last updated: 24-07-2023