The Ministers of Culture of Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine discussed cooperation and opened an exhibition dedicated to the the Year of M. K. Čiurlionis in Kaunas
The Lithuanian and Latvian support for Ukraine’s cultural sector, heritage preservation and restoration, joint efforts to strengthen information resilience, and further prospects for cultural cooperation between Lithuania and Latvia. These topics were discussed on Thursday at a tripartite meeting of the Ministers of Culture of Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine – Šarūnas Birutis, Agnese Lāce and Mykola Tochytskyi – in Kaunas.
“Today's meeting is a strong reaffirmation of our unity and shared values. Countries that are linked not only by neighbourhood, but also by common historical experience and cultural ties. Culture is more than anything else capable of uniting nations, especially in difficult times,” said Š. Birutis. – Together with Latvia, we are firmly committed to supporting the recovery of Ukraine’s cultural sector, European integration, and to participating in heritage preservation and restoration initiatives. We will continue to develop bilateral cultural cooperation with Latvia, contributing to the promotion of the pan-European cultural area of which Ukraine is an important part.”
The meeting highlighted the need to strengthen information resilience, discussed support for Ukraine’s cultural heritage and capacity building for specialists through training programmes and cultural exchanges. It also focused on crisis preparedness in the field of cultural heritage.
In the evening, the Ministers of Culture of Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine participated in the international exhibition “From Ambers to the Stars: Together with M. K. Čiurlionis: Now and Then”. The exhibition, which includes not only the most famous works by M. K. Čiurlionis, but also works by his contemporaries and contemporary artists, is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of his birth. The works have been brought to Kaunas from some of most renowned museums of Europe, including the Tate Gallery, the British Museum, the Musee d’Orsay, the Pompidou Centre, the Estonian National Museum and the Latvian National Museum, and the National Museum in Krakow.
“Today, when the world is in turmoil, the creative works of Čiurlionis, which connects different worlds and art forms, takes on a special significance,” said the Minister Š. Birutis at the exhibition opening. – It is a bridge between the earth and the sky, between the past and the future, between different cultures. I believe that this exhibition will inspire us to rethink the past and boldly move into the future.” The Minister thanked all those who had contributed to the organisation of the exhibition and expressed the hope that this exhibition would be another important step in strengthening international cultural dialogue and solidarity.
Photo by the Ministry of Culture
Last updated: 22-04-2025