Visit of the Minister of Culture to Toruń: highlight of the Year of M. K. Čiurlionis and new cultural partnerships
On Friday, the visit of the Minister of Culture Šarūnas Birutis to Poland to mark the beginning of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mikolas Konstantinas Čiurlionis in Poland moved from Warsaw to Toruń. Three important cooperation agreements were signed, meetings were held with regional and city leaders and representatives of cultural institutions, and the evening culminated in a gala concert dedicated to the Day of the Restoration of the State of Lithuania and the Year of M. K. Čiurlionis.
“Today’s events are a tribute to M. K. Čiurlionis and a writing of our history, important steps in strengthening cultural ties between Lithuania and Poland. Toruń, its cultural environment and signs, as well as its people, have a special meaning for us, Lithuanian people. I am glad that we are linked by the presence of outstanding personalities, from Adam Freitag, a military engineer of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, who was born here and was invited to Kėdainiai to serve the Dukes of Radvila, to the inter-war museologist, Maria Znamerowska-Priuferova, who had the idea to establish an ethnographic museum in Vilnius, but who realised her idea in Toruń. These few symbolic stamps, like the Catechism of Martynas Mažvydas preserved at the Nicolaus Copernicus University and other important books in Lithuanian printed in Königsberg, illustrate our common cultural past. It is gratifying that these ties continue to be actively maintained and continuously strengthened through cultural institutions, universities and local government. I always say that culture is a diplomatic bridge that connects people and nations,” said the Minister Š. Birutis at the Old Town Hall in Toruń.
Today, the following agreements were signed in Toruń: a cooperation agreement between Trakai History Museum and Toruń County Museum; a letter of intent between the National Kaunas Drama Theatre and Willem Horzyca Theatre in Toruń for a joint production of Robert Wilson; and a partnership agreement between the municipalities of Birštonas and Ciechocinek.
The Minister was joined at the events announcing the signature of the agreements by Piotr Całbecki, Marshal of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Paweł Gulewski, the Mayor of Toruń, and the heads of cultural institutions and representatives of the libraries of the Nicolaus Copernicus University and the Vilnius University. During the event, a unique exhibit was presented – one of the only two copies of the Catechism of Martynas Mažvydas in the world that have survived, which is bound together with other historical publications important for Lithuania.
The culmination of the visit to Toruń was a gala concert at the Culture and Congress Centre “Jordanki” dedicated to the Day of the Restoration of the State of Lithuania and the Year of M. K. Čiurlionis. The Minister of Culture Š. Birutis and the local authorities delivered congratulatory speeches after the national anthems of the two countries were played. The concert, which featured the Toruń Symphony Orchestra and the Vilnius State Choir, included works not only by Čiurlionis, but also by Mieczyslaw Karłowicz, Karol Kurpiński, Raminta Šerkšnytė, Mykolas Kleopas Oginski and Stanislaw Moniuszko, reflecting the rich musical heritage of Lithuania and Poland.
Events to celebrate the Year of M.K. Čiurlionis will take place in various Polish cities throughout the year.
Photo by the Ministry of Culture
Last updated: 22-04-2025