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From Alfred Kubin to Europe’s Longest Catwalk to José Manuel Barroso, April 12, 2007

The authors of 57 project proposals presented their concepts to the public in Vilnius’ Old City Hall in early March. These were the projects that had been short-listed by a jury of experts from a total of 300 entries submitted to last year's Capital of Culture idea competition. The project initiators each had 20 minutes to briefly describe what they envision, provide estimates of implementation costs and field questions from jury members (Vilnius 2009 director, executive director and programme director) and the audience. “We decided to go with a public presentation to ensure the greatest possible transparency. And we’re so pleased that not only the initators of the projects took part but also people that were not involved in a particular project.” said Programmme Director Elona Bajorinienė, who emphasized the success of the two-day event.

Four of the 33 project that made the final cut have a connection to Upper Austria: the Landesmuseum’s exhibition of works by important graphic artist and illustrator Alfred Kubin (1877-1959), as well as a cooperative project between the Landesmuseum and the Lietuvos dailės muziejus Lithuanian Art Museum entitled “Yearning for Nature. European Landscapes”(both exhibitions in the Lithuanian Art Museum); the Linz-Vilnius film cooperation programme in conjunction with the Crossing Europe Film Festival; and “EUBEU or 5 Years After,” a theatrical collaboration involving Upper Austrian director Thomas Hinterberger and the theater in Kaunas, Lithuania’s second largest city.

The lineup of creative ideas includes a European Radio Week broadcast from Vilnius; Vilnius as European Capital of Poetry; a baroque carpet of flowers covering Vilnius’ Cathedral Square; an ice sculpture entitled “Cool Baroque”; and contemporary music performed at historic locations. Gedimino prospektas, Vilnius’ avenue for upscale shopping, will be transformed into Europe’s longest catwalk in the form of movable “glass train cars” featuring fashion shows and sound & light performances with three themes: the “Baroque”, the “Post-Soviet” and the “Future”. In the “Café Talks” series, the Contemporary Art Centre’s coffee house will host speeches by and discussions with internationally renowned architects on the subject of urban architecture.

“Now that the 33 ideas have been selected, we’re carrying on discussions with the respective organizers about how and in which form the projects or project segments can be integrated into the overall concept of the four Capital of Culture themes: “European Art Programme,” “Culture (Re)Discoveries Programme,” “Live History Programme” and “People Programme,” stated Director Giedrė Kabašinskienė.

Project proposals can be submitted online (www.culturelive09.lt/en/projects) until yearend by individuals, groups, institutions and organizations from Lithuania and abroad. The submissions will be processed on a quarterly basis and submitters will be notified by the end of the following month (June 30 /July 31; September 30 /October 31; December 30 /January 31, 2008). As of the end of March, more than 70 new concepts have been received.

Music will be the main attraction in Vilnius beginning at Noon on May 5, 2007 with the kickoff of Lithuania’s first “Day of Street Music” that will showcase professional and amateur musicians and singers (solo artists, groups and choirs) performing on designated squares throughout the city. This idea was launched in early March by Lithuanian pop icon Andrius Mamontovas and got a very enthusiastic response. In addition to Vilnius, other Lithuanian cities have also expressed interest, and up to now no fewer than 150 participants have signed on (www.gatvesmuzika.lt/en). Andrius Mamontovas is familiar to Austrian audiences from his appearance at the Danube Festival 10 years ago as Hamlet in a production by noted Lithuanian director Eimuntas Nekrošius.


By the way: EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso delivered a very clear message during his first visit to Lithuania in late March: He stated that he wanted people to recognize that “Lithuania is not an isolated country, that Lithuania’s affairs are European affairs too, and that in less than two decades [since regaining independence] Lithuania has developed into an young but stable democracy with a dynamic economy, into a country whose capital city will be European Capital of Culture in less than two years.”

Translation commissioned by Linz09