Culture as a long-term investment in the future of Vilnius

While Lithuania was preparing to mark its Millennium Anniversary in 2009, Vilnius, was also bidding for the European Capital of Culture 2009. The title heralded the important events and the considerable challenge Vilnius as the capital of Lithuania had not met over the past 20 years.

The idea of Vilnius as the European Capital of Culture began to form up in 1999. Conscious efforts were put into making Vilnius the gates into the country celebrating its Millennium Anniversary.

The key feature of the entire programme was the ambitious project bringing together different social groups for a common reason. The emphasis should be put not only on the events and the overcrowded audience halls, but also on the new spaces opened for the use of residents and guests of Vilnius. Artists revealed the role of the banks of the river Nėris in the life of the city and showed that railway or bus stations can also serve as spaces for displaying the art. They are being exploited for cultural festivals even now. The new projects and events have become a long-term investment, the benefits of which will be reaped in the years to come. A great number of projects developed for this European undertaking have already claimed their permanent place in the cultural life of the city. Some of them such as the Street Music Day and the 'Culture Night Let it be night' had started before the undertaking and became very popular. Probably one of the most significant achievements is thecontinuity of smaller-scale projects which have become deeply entrenched in local and international culture and art.

The mission of the entire programme was to develop a new concept of European culture which should be identified with modern life where every European citizen is perceived as a creator of culture. In principal, the objective has been achieved since a great number of individual artists contributed to the project by producing art in the most unusual spaces of Vilnius. Another very important aspect of the project was the intense involvement of young artists. Not only did the young artists put to use their artistic talents, but they also developed their competencies at specialised lectures and workshops held by well-known professionals from abroad. This made Vilnius a young city open for different people, cultures, and innovations.

The European Capital of Culture was an unprecedented challenge for both the city and the country. The benefits of it will be appreciated in the years ahead.