NB8 ministers of culture in Stockholm: even in a crisis, it is vital to maintain cultural activity and protect cultural heritage

Minister of Culture Simonas Kairys, participating in a meeting of the ministers of culture of the Nordic-Baltic Eight, NB8) in Stockholm, highlighted the importance of maintaining the vitality of the cultural sector amidst crisis, a heightened state of alert or war.

“Ukraine’s cultural sector sees itself as a part of national defence, artists and cultural workers serve at the front, assist those at the front, create amidst especially difficult circumstances, sometimes even in bomb shelters and with only the most modest of financial resources. Performances go on, literature is written, there is no lack of visitors to cultural institutions, because cultural events are relevant and culture has a significant healing effect,” said Minister of Culture Kairys at the NB8 session on protecting cultural heritage and supporting cultural activity amidst crisis, a heightened state of alert or war.

Speaking about protection of cultural heritage, the Minister of Culture noted that Lithuanian museums cooperate with Ukrainian museums to protect the latter country’s cultural heritage. According to Minister of Culture Kairys, the war in Ukraine has shown that the cultural sector is capable of mobilising assistance, activating existing networks of cultural specialists, carrying out large-scale operations to transport and preserve Ukraine’s cultural heritage, and providing direct humanitarian assistance. Minister of Culture Kairys informed participants that cultural institutions in Lithuania, together with the Ministry of Culture, each year review their emergency management plans, carry out practical trainings, and memory institutions have lists of movable cultural property, responsible persons and storage sites, all of which are regularly reviewed. Cultural heritage objects are marked with the Hague Convention Blue Shield emblem.

The Minister of Culture was pleased to note that the Nordic and Baltic countries are among the greatest supporters of Ukraine, and highlighted the importance of cooperation in the countries’ cultural sector when coordinating actions in the face of crisis or war.

The importance of cooperation among Nordic and Baltic countries was emphasised in the joint declaration approved by the ministers of culture of the NB8. The declaration stated that strengthening cooperation among the NB8 countries is a high priority in order to protect cultural heritage and maintain cultural activities in the event of crisis, heightened state of alert or war, and emphasised the importance of exchange of knowledge and experiences to strengthen the Nordic and Baltic preparedness of the cultural sector. The declaration resolutely condemned Russia’s continuing military aggression against Ukraine and its deliberate attacks against Ukrainian civilians and civilian objects, including the destruction of cultural heritage.

While in Stockholm, Minister of Culture Kairys met with Sweden’s Minister of Culture Parisa Liljestrand to discuss protection of cultural heritage, strengthening media and information literacy, and closer cooperation in crisis situations.

Minister of Culture Kairys also participated in a discussion at the foreign policy think tank Stockholm Free World Forum about disinformation and the destruction of cultural heritage in Ukraine.

The Minister of Culture visited Sweden’s Army Museum (Armemuseum) and the Uppsala Art Museum, meeting with their leadership, and also participated in a meeting with Natalya Pasichnyk, the head of the Ukrainian Institute in Stockholm.

Photograph courtesy of Magnus Liljegren

Last updated: 13-05-2024

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