Simonas Kairys presented the changes of Kaunas Central Post Office building to the European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel
Today, on February 7th, at the invitation of the Minister of Culture Simonas Kairys, the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel visited Kaunas.
While visiting the building of Kaunas Central Post Office, one of the most important examples of Kaunas’ modernist architecture in the interwar period, Simonas Kairys introduced Mariya Gabriel to the changes planned in this space. Having taken over the post office building for the society’s needs, the Ministry of Culture intends to open the National Architecture Institute (NAI) there this year. The institute’s activities will make it possible to update this cultural monument of modernist architecture and turn it into a lively centre of gravity for society. The building, whose construction was completed in 1932, is planned to be restored using the EU support funds. The new institution will not only collect, research and present the values of Lithuanian architectural art and heritage, but also hold creative workshops, competitions and festivals and will introduce the country’s architectural art abroad.
“As the New European Bauhaus initiative is gaining momentum in Europe, a unique project is also emerging in Kaunas, which will reflect the fundamental values of this initiative: sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion”, Simonas Kairys said. “Last year, when Kaunas became the European Capital of Culture, the post office building started the journey of its transformations not only as an arts space but also as an important platform for Ukrainian creators and as a unique part of Kaunas architecture which has once again become the focus of the city residents’ attention. I believe that the new page of the building’s history, which is being turned over by NAI, will strengthen our attentiveness to the topics of environment, architecture, and sustainability, as well as the idea of Europeanness which unites them”.
European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel also visited the Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis National Museum of Art. Here, she saw the exhibition of the paintings by Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis and the William Kentridge installation; she also met with the heads of the Kaunas the European Capital of Culture 2022’s programme and discussed the most important results of the European Capital of Culture’s year.
“In 2022, Kaunas drew in many visitors and gained fame as a dynamic and culturally lively city. This success was also determined by the city residents’ involvement. This year, the youths of the entire Europe will be able to get acquainted with the city’s exceptional cultural riches: Kaunas is one of the recently announced stops of the New European Bauhaus’ DiscoverEU routes“, European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel said, adding: “I am glad to be able to call attention to the exceptional solidarity demonstrated to the people of Ukraine, who feel safe and welcome in Lithuania. The first Ukrainian who received the Culture Moves Europe scholarship chose Lithuania as the place for her activities. In November of 2022, she implemented a cultural heritage project in Kaunas which promotes modernist architecture through the lens of art”.
The Minister of Education, Science and Sport Jurgita Šiugždinienė, who also attended the press conference, emphasised that cooperation between various sectors is highly important to the education of children and youths, while the building of Kaunas Central Post Office is a beautiful example of such cooperation, which opens up possibilities for cultural education.
“I would like to express delight over the cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and the possibilities provided by the European Commission via Erasmus+ and other programmes that make it possible to get acquainted with the culture of other European countries and to better understand one another. The Cultural Passport for cultural education provides a chance for children, especially those who have fewer opportunities, to more closely familiarize themselves with the culture of both Lithuania and other countries. The building of Kaunas Central Post Office, which we visited today, is also one of great opportunities for cultural education”, Jurgita Šiugždinienė said.
Photo by Gintarė Grigėnaitė
Last updated: 25-04-2023