New cultural attachés start work in Poland and Germany
Two new Lithuanian cultural attachés, Ana Kočegarova-Maj in Poland and Irma Šimanskytė in Germany, start work today, after winning the competitions held at the end of spring.
A. Kočegarova-Maj is the former head of the programme and international communications of the Kaunas 2022 – European Capital of Culture project, and was previously the head of Kaunas 2022, the public body that implemented the project. She holds a Master Degree in Heritage Protection from Vytautas Magnus University.
“In my professional life, I like to be involved in meaningful, high value adding projects. I see the position of cultural attaché as a new opportunity to put my experience and efforts to work for a lasting result, and also as a service in which, in the difficult times for the region, I can contribute to the development of Lithuania’s identity as an important participant in today’s global cultural field and as a progressive and creative state, and to the strengthening of the connection between the Lithuanian and Polish societies, which is of great importance at the moment,” says A. Kočegarova-Maj.
I. Šimanskytė has worked as the head of the Department of Film Production of the Lithuanian Film Centre, as the Cultural Attaché of the Republic of Lithuania in Italy, in the Ministry of Culture, the Goethe-Institut in Vilnius, and the then Lithuanian Institute. She holds a Master Degree in Philology from Vilnius University.
“Contributing to the promotion of the highest level of professional Lithuanian culture and art in Germany, I will strive to ensure that our country’s culture is presented to the maximum extent possible in the country’s most important professional cultural and artistic spaces and festivals in various fields of culture and art, and I will promote and develop networking between German and Lithuanian institutions, organisations, and artists,” says I. Šimanskytė.
A cultural attaché is a special attaché who works at an embassy or consular office of the Republic of Lithuania in a foreign country, ensuring and implementing international cooperation in the field of management entrusted to the Minister of Culture. The cultural attaché is directly subordinate to the Minister of Culture and the head of the embassy or consular office.
The term of office of the cultural attaché is three years.
Photo collage from the personal archives of Martynas Plepys and Irma Šimanskytė
Last updated: 05-09-2024