KAUNAS IN NUMBERS

387,158 INHABITANTS The longest pedestrian street 29 MUSEUMS 58 LIBRARIES (combined City and Metro) in Europe Liberty Avenue – stretching for 1.6 kilometres

1,556 CULTURAL HERITAGE 13 THEATRES and 9 INTERNATIONAL 7 MUSIC SCHOOLS and OBJECTS 4 THEATRE FESTIVALS CONTEMPORARY ARTS 9 MUSIC FESTIVALS FESTIVALS

12 UNIVERSITIES and 30,000 UNIVERSITY and 115 SCHOOLS, 44,257 109 CHURCHES and COLLEGES COLLEGE STUDENTS SCHOOL STUDENTS HOUSES OF PRAYER

15 BRIDGES Average monthly gross wage 18,549 ENTERPRISES BC ŽALGIRIS has earned 696 Eur, minimum wage 350 17 Lithuanian Basketball Eur Championship gold medals. 1 EUROLEAGUE GOLD MEDAL. CONTENTS

02 Introduction 10 Contribution to the long-term strategy 15 European dimension 22 Cultural and artistic content 68 Capacity to deliver 73 Outreach 78 Management 25 % of population over 60; 34 % of population under age 30 Unemployment rate 5,7 % 99 Additional information Why does the city which you represent wish to take part in the competition Q1 for the title of European Capital of Culture? Introduction

Remember us?

Yes, we are the same citizens of Kaunas with a wish TO RETURN OUR CITY TO EU- ROPE by competing for the title of Europe- an Capital of Culture in the second round.

And this is to assure you that our wish has grown even stronger.

After nearly two years of intensive map- ping and studying, discussions with com- munities of the City, public meetings with artists, city officials, minorities, students, school children, clergy, elderly citizens and the press, our team has gone a long way and now there’s a lot more of us.

We have learnt that behind our City there are builders, invaders, defenders, tyrants and jokers. Behind every inferiority com- plex we have here as previously multicul- tural capital city, but for many years now – sterilised, neglected and bullied second city is a personal and very intimate drama. Kaunas is not a proud city, and Kaunas is not a miserable city even though it still # has reputation as being such. There are real people who may feel or act either way CONFUSION in different moments in time. There are our citizens, who would do good things CONFLUENCE and horrible things. Behind every beauti- CONSCIOUSNESS ful and every ugly building in Kaunas there are architects, landlords and tenants, hat- ers and admirers. Behind every initiative there are those, who cannot sleep until it is done and then there are always those, who would rather stay on the sofa... © RP THE RIVER by Romualdas Požerskis, 1977. Before the street dividing the City and its So, all of this is our inheritance. River was built. and we can even help others by precisely exists as an act of culture and through Kaunas. The one Kaunas has never had —— Kaunas as ECoC could serve as a cat- We truly come from a land of confusion showing how to do it, because we know we culture it speaks to itself and to the outer before. alyst of change for at least 27 other and to borrow a verse from a Genesis song are not alone in this and a good deal of Eu- world. second cities of the EU having simi- “this is the world we live in and these are ropeans can identify with our experiences The European Capital of Culture as a lar self-esteem problems so big there the hands we’re given”. and benefit from them. “Story” here is understood in a very broad means of inviting citizens to participate in must be a term invented to describe sense as a complex of activities which all aspects of society may be extremely in- them. How about second-city-itis for We are now poised to create a future for Therefore, we decided to employ the world would encompass: strumental in implementing our goal. We a start? Kaunas by fully acknowledging our past we are given: our confusion of the past see the project of ECoC as a powerful tool and thus shaping our present. Inherit- and confluences of the present, and turn —— Evaluation of historical legacy and re- we need. It‘s our crash course in inclusive So we very strongly wish to become a case ing confusion, we have always been and them into a productive consciousness of programming certain counterproduc- culture which is: study and a laboratory. still are at the crossroads of ideas, ideolo- the future by creating a new story for Kau- tive aspects of it e.g. dealing with con- gies and systems. Think of Kaunas as of a nas. And the idea of the European Capital fusion. Kaunas, previously been known —— A possibility to effectively put Kaunas We haven’t lost our sense of humour from multi-storey apartment block with shared of Culture is something we positively need as “temporary capital of Lithuania”, into European context. the first round, but this time it is all about ownership but limited responsibility and to bring this story to life, because culture is should seek to become Contemporary —— A unique chance to have every cultural delivery for us. accountancy. The amount of social turbu- the only means effectively capable of tying Capital of Culture. aspect of the city stimulated simulta- lence the citizens of this City have gone the past, present and future together. —— Acknowledging major problems Kau- neously. And yes, we want to make a bit of hiSTORY. through during the past hundred years nas has now with proposals of how —— A chance to share experiences we Who wouldn’t? could easily be enough to delete Kaunas To put it simply: we want to create a uni- they can be dealt with. have and going to have with other cit- from the political let alone cultural map fying identity. —— Creating a scenario for the future. ies in the region and beyond. of Europe. But we are still given hands to —— Interweaving all the above into one —— The very bidding process in itself is a

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS hold the City same as our two rivers do. Identity based on cultural story because comprehensive vision of the past, valuable learning laboratory for eve- 2 We have learnt to live on the confluence a city, a collective of citizens essentially present and future seen as a story of ryone wishing her or his city good. 3 Q 2 Does your city plan to involve its surrounding area? Explain this choice. # Introduction 400,000 KAUNASIANS UNITED THROUGH Introducing: since the system works both ways. There- Lithuania, including Vilnius inhabitants) CULTURE fore, the bid to become the European Capi- can reach Kaunas within around 1 hour’s Kaunas District (Kauno rajonas) – a self-go- tal of Culture opens a range of new pos- drive. So we use ECoC as an engine and verned municipality surrounding the City sibilities for the whole conglomerate to meeting point for the majority of Lithu- of Kaunas. grow. ania’s population.

Kaunasian (kaunietis) – citizen of Kaunas, The cultural field of Kaunas District is very In summary, the geographical context of an English term introduced by this bid for much grass root and based on folklore and Kaunas 2022 – at community, District and the first time in known history. traditional approach to culture serving National level – is to encourage and drive mainly senior citizens, who are its strength a much stronger focus on the decentralisa- Nearly 400,000 people living in Kaunas and weakness at the same time. tion of culture from what is still a largely and the District “capital-centric” model for our country and In December 2016 the team of Kaunas “City-centric” model in Kaunas. Stronger Seniūnija (plural Seniūnijos) – is an 2022 and the City municipality hosted a regional cultural infrastructure in smaller administrative devision of the city or su- coach visit of the programme Culture for countries with culturally strong capital cit- burb, synonymous to the borough. Kau- Cities and Regions run by the EUROCITIES ies in particular is a significant European nas is divided into 11 Seniūnijos, Kaunas network. Using this opportunity of the issue. So a key aspect of our programme District –into 25. coaching visit, we put forward the topic of and our European dimension is how size- the regional collaboration and discussed able second tier cities can be more cultur- For us the involvement of our surrounding it with a wide group of stakeholders in ally relevant on a national and internation- area is not a choice. It is an inherent ne- a series of meetings and workshops. It al scale. cessity. was commonly agreed between the rep- resentatives of both municipalities and Kaunas is a seat for two mayors – the City their cultural centres that more focus has Mayor and the Mayor of Kaunas District to be drawn to our internal communica- and there is about 20 minutes driving dis- tion, developing touristic offers, marketing tance between the two offices. Do they get of cultural services, building new cultural along well? There definitely is one project offers around the rivers and other natural they do agree on and that project is Kau- resources, implementing artistic residen- nas’ bid to become the European Capital cies, working on building communities and of Culture. new identities of the Seniūnijos. We agreed that the ECoC programme should be used Kaunas City Municipality Council has vot- as a momentum to create new models of ed in favour of participating in the ECoC co-operation. programme together with Kaunas City on 24 March, 2016, which makes Kaunas Dis- Indeed, the cultural margins that sepa- trict a part of this bid and an active part- rate the City and the District municipali- ner with 87,000 residents, living in 3 cities, ties are somewhat hard to define. After 10 towns and 370 villages surrounding the all, practically the same population is us- mother city, and thus totalling the popula- ing the same infrastructure and public tion affected by this bid close to 400,000 services and the City is losing part of its people. An overwhelming majority of the citizens to the District as Kaunasians tend population depend on Kaunas City job wise to move there. However, due to a lack of and – most importantly – culture wise. political back-up, the communication and co-operation between the City and District For the citizens of Kaunas District the city municipalities was unsatisfactory on many of Kaunas means nearly every aspect of levels. But recent new common projects in everyday life: the cultural sector, such as establishing a common organisation responsible for the —— having a job in Kaunas. management of fortification heritage, new —— bringing children to specialised cycling infrastructure developments in the schools in Kaunas. region, marketing actions, as well as the —— shopping in Kaunas. agreement to participate in the ECoC com- —— driving to see the basketball team BC petition itself and its big support from the Žalgiris in Žalgiris arena. political and cultural sector in both munic- —— attending theatres and museums. ipalities are promising big opportunities —— entering Kaunas universities, because for future new success in partnership. it is cheaper and safer to study half an hour from home. Finally, in terms of National connections, it is worth mentioning that Kaunas is right

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS So every move Kaunas makes is being felt in the middle of the country and over 2 4 by the surrounding areas and vice versa million people (75 % of the population of © AA 5 Q 3 Explain briefly the overall cultural profile of your city. Introduction

Introducing: National Kaunas Drama Theatre. This the- Ever since the foundation of the Universi- atre is among the most advanced cultur- ty, Kaunas has been an academic city with Contradictions – born from confusion and al institutions of the City with facilities around 40,000 students as of today. Now we lost in confluence they remain one of the adapted to the broadest scope of audienc- have 12 universities and colleges in Kaunas biggest obstacles to change our conscio- es, including hard of hearing and visually with 91 study programmes in the fields of usness. impaired. Aura Dance Theatre is another culture and creative industries. important institution with mostly interna- CULTURAL CONTRADICTIONS tional productions with European partners. Problems? There are too many. Firstly, our A recent project by Aura, called “Godos”, is universities compete with each other in- We have a really good cultural infrastruc- a collaboration with a Norwegian theatre stead of collaborating. Secondly, Kaunas ture but are not making the most of it. Kau- company Panta Rei and the production is keeps losing the students it has educated. nas has the biggest number of museums designed to “animate culture”, to move it We need to work together more strategi- # in Lithuania (30 national, state, local and closer to the community. The Kaunas State cally because at the moment we are simply private museums and their subdivisions) Musical Theatre has built its reputation on creating talent for others to use. but only a small fraction of the City’s po- staging musicals and operettas. The Kau- CULTURE pulation actually visit them. For example, nas Puppet Theatre Company has staged Kaunas has a good programme of informal the second largest museum in Lithuania – productions of “Dwarf Nose” and “Snow- education. For example, there are Universi- OVERCOMES M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art flake” along with the local content. At the ties of the Third Age both in the City and CONTRADICTIONS is only sixth according to visitor numbers same time the theatrical community un- in Kaunas District, providing various forms and only 10% of Kaunas citizens have ever dergoes a media crisis losing its audiences of learning for senior citizens. The Kaunas visit the Kaunas City Museum. to cinema and internet. District University of the Third Age has 10 faculties in different areas based in local Kaunas has the largest density of herita- Along with theatre venues the centre as community and cultural centres. Several ge objects in Lithuania and just recently well as the surrounding neighbourhoods more are established in academic institu- © AB the City has been awarded the European of the City have plenty of park and public tions in Kaunas City. Heritage Label. Kaunas is included in the spaces, but they need a serious face-lift. UNESCO Design City Network and is now The informal children and youth educa- Successful virtual and site specific commu- 2009 it grew by a whole 112%, from 966 investors. In fact, in 2016 Kaunas District provisionally listed to be included into the Kaunas and the District also have a wide tion in Kaunas varies from sports to robot- nity art initiatives have emerged in Kaunas businesses in 2009 to 2055 in 2016, and was ranked among the Best Small Euro- UNESCO heritage list. However most of the network of libraries connecting many of ics classes, from computer programming in recent years and local community centres continues to do so. So, last autumn we pean Regions of the Future by FDI Maga- iconic heritage buildings in the City are ne- the City’s neighbourhoods, however they to managing e-commerce or becoming an are doing their best but a large part of the launched a CCI survey to analyse more zine in the category of economic efficiency. glected and in poor shape. Moreover, strict receive small amounts of visitors and some environmental activist or an architect. Lo- population is still quite passive and doesn’t thoroughly the current dynamics of the Nevertheless, Kaunas being a second city and sometimes irrational regulations are of the library buildings are in poor condi- cal music schools have 3,000 students in- get involved in civic activities. Besides that, sector. This research involved over 170 by size is only the fourth Lithuanian city forced upon new architectural and urban- tion. Provided with a long-term strategic volved. the network of cultural institutions is not creative businesses. It showed that the big- according to investment, outranked even istic developments in heritage areas that cultural development the current library very experienced or effective about commu- gest growth has taken place in IT and pro- by smaller cities like Klaipėda and Šiauliai. are pushing business developers and ar- network could be a very good basis for re- However, there is still much more to be nity involvement, audience development gramming (253%), advertisement services And the truth is that large scale businesses chitects into a corner. claiming of the public space and building done in ensuring equal learning oppor- and outreach programmes, and can rarely (205%) as well as other CCI fields. Despite are not so much concerned with the needs the community. A modern library is not just tunities for all citizens and especially in accommodate visitors with special needs. this and regardless of the scale of the CCI of the local population and therefore are Kaunas is in many ways a city of CON- for books after all. providing a proper offer of creative and companies, the main driver of the creative not very socially engaged. There is also a TEMPORARY culture. We have a great va- informal education options designed for The same Orthodox/Catholic Church we industries sector remains the competition certain lack of co-operation between busi- riety of solid international contemporary Kaunas is recognised as Lithuania’s sport’s children and adults with disabilities. have just talked about is not equipped for of low prices and not innovation or state- ness and culture people and so while the art events. The City is home to some sig- capital. And not just because of the legend- people with disabilities. What an irony… of-the-art ideas. Members of the CCI sector technology driven sectors are thriving in nificant events like Kaunas Biennial – the ary Žalgiris BC – the all-important Europe- COMMUNITY CONTRADICTIONS also agree that they are not well connect- Kaunas, tourism and culture industries biggest contemporary visual art biennial an basketball legend. There are a number After 27 years on the road to democratic ed to the surrounding community (42%). often lack variety and innovation. in the Baltic and Nordic region, Kaunas of sport venues: the Žalgiris Arena where At the very heart of Kaunas stands an Or- society we still feel no need or are too But the good news is that more than 53% Photo – the longest-running annual photo events, such as the European Basketball thodox church. Or to be more precise – it insecure to actively participate in deci- of the CCI members already expressed We are committed to tackling these con- art festival in the Baltics, CREATurE Live Championship are held together with con- was built as an Orthodox and now serves sion-making process. Consider this: only support in Kaunas obtaining the ECoC title, tradictions which mean that at the mo- Art and the international Land Art festivals, certs by Sting, Eric Clapton, Red Hot Chili as a Catholic church. Think of it as a good 31% of young adults voted in the direct strongly agree that the programme would ment the sum of our cultural system is less international Kaunas Architecture Festival Peppers and the likes, the football stadium symbol of contradiction. Sometimes we Mayoral elections in Kaunas City. The re- create more opportunities for their sector rather than greater than its parts. Making KAFe, and many more. On top of that, there and the monumental Kaunas Sports Hall. say: Kaunas is Lithuania. Ethnically we search of the Civic Society Institute shows and are eager to become involved in the our cultural system truly fit for purpose is is a number of music festivals from Kaunas Despite the fact that nearly every public are a very Lithuanian city today which that more than half of the Lithuanian po- conception of the programme. They have central to our City’s vision and to the con- Jazz (member of The Europe Jazz Network) park is equipped with free fitness training was never the case before. On our route pulation fear they might lose their job, also noticed the potential of disused build- cept and strategy of Kaunas 2022. This ap- and Akacijų Alėja Bard Festival to Pažaislis machines, we have become spectators of to being Europeans, it might actually be cause suspicion or get threats if they ini- ings and spaces of the City (49%) and see plication shows how we plan to do it. Classical Music Festival with concerts held sport instead of being active participants. rather nice to celebrate being Lithuanian tiate or actively participate in civic move- Kaunas 2022 body as the potential leader at heritage sites: baroque monasteries, We need to change from basketball and for once! At the same time the remaining ments. This insecurity increases and civic in creating new creative clusters in the concert halls and churches across Kau- beer to pounding the pavements and the Kaunas minorities are encouraged to pre- involvement drops around the time when City. nas and the District. Yet this contemporary parks. serve their traditions. Take local Armeni- citizens finish their secondary education cultural City still has no contemporary art ans who have active folk collectives, Jews and start working. As for the rest of the business sector, Kau- centre and concert hall. EDUCATIONAL CONTRADICTIONS or Tatars, who have been living here for nas remains one of the most important in- over 600 years and have since preserved BUSINESS CONTRADICTIONS dustrial centres in the country, but it is also There is a variety of professional and am- In 2022 we will have a reason to celebrate: their religious and ethnic traditions. Take recognised as a centre for IT and program- More on the

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS ateur theatres, most notably one of the it will be 100 years since the establishment Russians with their Pushkin High School CCI operators play an increasingly impor- ming, client services and has a growing results of the CCI 6 oldest functioning theatres in Lithuania – of the University of Lithuania in Kaunas. at the very heart of the City. tant role in Kaunas economy. In fact, since number of international companies and research 7 those in Europe who want to share this ex- of its citizens and entrepreneurs, the en- the vision of Kaunas to become a place for Explain the concept of the programme which would be launched perience and knowledge. ergy and innovation of its young people, learning and happy people. Q4 if the city is designated as European Capital of Culture. the wealth and pain of its memories and The directions above will contribute to a minorities, the strength of its engaged and The matrix below shows the relationship Introduction major shift in the identity of the City. Kau- connected communities, the European- between the concept and the three main nas, currently labelling itself as well as be- ness of its past, present and future (hi)sto- challenges we face in the process of re- ing labelled as pointless and fragmented ries. Our habit will become to care about vamping the City and unblocking that la- Temporary Capital will become a Contem- a friend or neighbour, about others beside tent creativity, which we have translated porary Capital. Not only a Contemporary us, in our City, country, Europe and beyond. into three programme strands: Confusion, Capital of Culture but a city that treasures Care fulfills the soul and brings happi- Confluence and Consciousness. its contemporary “capital” – the creativity ness. We will do our best to implement

MATRIX KAUNAS 2022: CONTEMPORARY CAPITAL

CHALLENGES OBJECTIVES METHODS

Kaunas has a unique heritage, • To initiate international research and MODERNISM FOR THE FUTURE – a major but its citizens lack knowledge the establishment of an interpretation new international research and interpreta- and emotional attachment to centre to showcase our recent architec- tion centre for the Modernist Movement. # it. While Kaunasians have a tural heritage – namely the Modernist backward mindedness, and are Movement, and put it into a European/ known as people who are nos- global context. CONTEMPORARY CONFUSION talgic for the great past they CAPITAL have lost, they are also prone • To revive the diverse memory of Kaunas MEMORY OFFICE to collective amnesia – re- and its citizens, especially regarding an A new platform is constructed to revive membering only selected his- openness towards European values and and re-contextualise uncomfortable mem- torical moments. multiethnicity. To reconcile the past and ories and a multi-ethnic past. present to benefit the future.

We lack collaborative spirit • To choose happiness as a state of mind The DESIGNING HAPPINESS platform will © AA and practices, a unifying narra- and to design our city as a place of focus on design for happiness provok- tive and also happiness. happy experiences. ing and nurturing design-thinking, de- Kaunas was the Temporary Capital be- Contemporary Capital is not about criti- genre to appeal to the broadest possible • To stimulate cross-sectoral cooperation. sign-centred culture and design-aware tween the two World Wars (1919–1940) cising people who work in our cultural audience from children to adults. So we need to address the chal- • To convert the City into a modern art environment. The City itself becomes a after Vilnius was annexed by Poland. The institutions. It‘s about valuing their deep lenges of – weak cross-sectoral and design beacon. Contemporary Art and Design Centre. Kau- reality has changed long ago, but eighty knowledge and finding a better way for We will present the concept of the Mythi- cooperation and insufficient • To create a unifying narrative for the

CONFLUENCE nas becomes an experimental site for years of the pointless and counterproduc- them to share it in order to bring our City cal Beast – guardian of the City. It ap- bonds among culture, educati- City and its citizens to re-emerge as a acquiring a cultural attitude. tive label too often attached to the City’s alive. It‘s about learning however young pears from ruins of the castle, from the on, business, and social sectors. European city. name still haunts minds in Kaunas and be- or old you are. Our team needs to learn dungeons of wartime fortifications, from yond. too, and the capacity building programme fairy tales and anecdotes, from underneath As a result young people leave • To empower the young generation and The EMERGING KAUNAS platform propos- Tempo Academy of Culture will be a place the two rivers and enters our reality with the City and we need better in- to create a platform for them to be es innovative tools to empower the young. We think it is about time to stop being where we can learn and share together. street theatre performances, comic books struments to connect with and rooted in the City as well as making temporary and become a Contemporary for children, a steampunk novel, a movie, encourage them to stay. Kaunas attractive for young people all Capital. Contemporary Capital is about hope and a TV show, mass celebrations and rumours over Europe. change – things we have lost, and maybe of all things supernatural. It embodies and For us Contemporary Capital means the are a little afraid of. But the sense of meet- therefore justifies all cultural and identity Kaunas feels the absence of • To empower diverse communities to The platform WE, THE PEOPLE through the City which is open, democratic and rele- ing all of the major challenges we face, as conflicts and contradictions we used to community activism and lack of celebrate their culture through collab- projects as Fluxus Labs, My Courtyard fes- vant to contemporary audiences, engaging a City, as a community, as a family and as have and still have. belief that all individuals matter. oration, co-creation and respect. tival, Magic Carpets will decentralise cul- and inclusive, creative and innovative. It is individuals are at the heart of our concept tural activities. a City, which acknowledges its complicat- and our vision for the future. The Mythical Beast will “wake up” the City. Low tolerance rates push al- ed past and its legacy, and moves towards A diverse, professional and contemporary ternative communities and Launching a new programme Matters: A new visions for the future. Besides, it is not We envision a change in two directions: artistic programme will enter the scene groups to feel as strangers Platform for Post-industrial Culture ena- the goal that is the most important. Beco- after the legend will draw attention of a within the City. bles stimulation of alternative cultural ex- ming a Contemporary City is a meaningful CULTURE broad public. CONSCIOUSNESS pressions and subcultural diversity. journey, which connects all residents of Weak civil engagement and the City. Together we want to invent what We will create a new story for Kaunas. COMMUNITY participation in culture is also • To build a collaborative network of The platform WAKE IT, SHAKE IT on the a Contemporary City is. We see the idea of European Capital of determined by the centralisa- partnerships among cultural institu- basis of the Tempo Academy ensures ca- Culture as a means to tackle the problem We will create a capacity and happiness tion of cultural institutions and tions and individuals in Kaunas, Lith- pacity building of cultural operators. So Contemporary Capital is not about con- of confusion our City is subjected to. The building programme for the whole City. services. Communication be- uania, the Baltic region and Europe at temporary art. Passionate though we are past and the present of Kaunas is currently tween institutions and common large. about it. It‘s about how our history, our sto- seen as a set of conflicting narratives and The programme will become an innovative marketing strategies have not • To turn cultural institutions towards ries and our institutions can be made cur- perceptions. learning/coaching hub to serve as open been used until recently, when contemporary audiences, especially rent and more relevant. How we can learn laboratory for change of the cultural land- the joint preparation of Kaunas working on updates for youth need from the past but look to the future. How So we will build a programme around a scape of our communities. It will seek to 2022 programme started. and international visitors. the passion that people feel for their local unifying story, a myth for our City that it become a permanent forum for ideas and

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS basketball team can be directed towards has never had before. The myth will em- initiatives, the Fluxus Labs for a change of 8 their neighbourhood. ploy all the qualities and trivialities of the consciousness, a case study for Kaunas and This Matrix will be further used to illustrate success factors and impact indicators in Q7 and Q8. 9 Describe the cultural strategy that is in place in your city at the How is the European Capital of Culture action included in this Q5 time of the application, as well as the city’s plans to strengthen Q6 strategy? Contribution to the the capacity of the cultural and creative sectors, including through long-term strategy the development of long term links between these sectors and the economic and social sectors in your city. What are the plans for sustaining the cultural activities beyond the year of the title? Contribution to the The relationship between the European 2) Community Participation – strengthen- long-term strategy Capital of Culture and the delivery of Kau- ing our model of civic society and access nas’ cultural strategy and vision is funda- to culture in our communities mental. In preparing this application and our ECoC programme we have identified 3) Urban Development – developing eco- A cultural strategy has been a part of the —— To strengthen conditions for cultural three priorities which will connect the nomic and public landscapes of Kaunas to Strategic Development Plan of Kaunas and creative industries’ development delivery of our programme to the City’s encourage the settlement of cultural and City Municipality until 2022 since its ap- and stimulate the growth of the de- strategy and long-term vision. Those pri- creative businesses. proval by Decision No. T-127 on 2 April sign sector in the development of in- orities are: 2015 of Kaunas City Municipality Council novative products and services aimed The following model shows the critical and has been implemented since. To fur- at public welfare. 1) Contemporising the Cultural Offer – and symbiotic relationship between the ther cement the key role of culture in our —— To promote collaboration between strengthening the quality of Kaunas’ cul- practical delivery of aforementioned pri- city, in mid 2016, after Kaunas was short- the cultural sector and professionals tural system orities and our proposed ECoC programme. listed for the ECoC title, Kaunas City Mu- from research, education, and social nicipality started to work on a separate spheres in order to implement com- Kaunas City Cultural Strategy 2017–2027 mon projects. document. This has now been completed, —— To promote participatory culture, de- discussed widely within the sector, and centralisation of culture, and ensur- Cultural Strategy Objectives ECoC actions was approved by Kaunas City Municipality ing accessibility of culture in each Council on 7 February 2017. Seniūnija of the City. Seeks to help staff in the cultural sector to develop their skills Kaunas 2022 capacity building platform THE TEMPO ACADEMY OF —— To ensure sufficient quality and diver- in audience development and strengthen interdisciplinary and CULTURE and interdisciplinary platform WAKE IT, SHAKE IT. The Cultural Strategy document corre- sity of services provided by local cul- trans-sectorial cultural collaboration. sponds to previous strategic documents of tural institutions. the City, but goes far more deeply into the —— To collect and analyse data on the CCI Aims to promote research, communication, showcase and proper Kaunas 2022 establishes an International Modernism Interpreta- analysis of the current cultural situation. sector, community and civic initiatives care of Kaunas heritage, especially of Modernism architecture tion Centre MODERNISM FOR THE FUTURE. It reveals the aims and objectives to be on a regular basis and strengthen citi- and culture. developed through the period until 2022 zens’ participation in the evaluation of and five years beyond. The impact of the cultural services. Has a purpose to strengthen intercultural dialogue, collective These aims are at the core of the Kaunas 2022 platform MEMORY ECoC preparation period plays a key role in memory and intergenerational projects. OFFICE with projects. the document. The strengthening of com- Cultural Strategy in action since 2017 munity participation, outreach, capacity Seeks to strengthen conditions for cultural and creative industries’ DESIGNING HAPPINESS platform is focusing on design and crea- building for cultural sector and youth, the Not only was the Strategy approved, but, development and stimulate the growth of the design sector in the tive industries and its social awareness, seeing the City as a liv- emphasis on European partnerships and moreover, additional updates for cultural development of innovative products and services aimed at public ing organism functioning for the wellbeing of its citizens. (More networks, and regular evaluation of CCI in involvement into economic and social welfare. in Q13) order to boost the sector, which are main sectors are already included in the Kau- goals in our ECoC strategy, are also signifi- nas City Strategic Action Plan: 2017–2019. cant in the document. The Cultural Strat- The document is a concrete implementa- Aims to promote collaboration between the cultural sector and The platform EMERGING KAUNAS will empower youth. In 2017– egy also ensures that the urban develop- tion plan that translates the guidelines professionals from research, education, and social spheres in or- 2021 more than 100 teenagers aged 16 to 19 will be invited to ment plan and infrastructure projects are set out in all the different strategic docu- der to implement common projects benefitting citizens and em- the capacity building and practice programme,. correlated with cultural needs, challenges, ments of Kaunas City Municipality into de- powering the young generation in having a significant role in and services. tailed actions and measures for activities. these actions. The Kaunas City Strategic Action plan sets Kaunas City Cultural Strategy is expressed out short and medium-term tasks to spe- Aims to promote participatory culture, decentralisation of cul- The platform WE, THE PEOPLE for community empowerment as a clear VISION: cific Departments of the City Municipality ture, and ensuring accessibility of culture in each Seniūnija of through such projects as Fluxus Labs, Magic Carpets, My Cour- and determines smooth implementation the City. tyard Festival and others. KAUNAS – CITY OF INCLUSIVE CULTURE, of long-term strategic aims. CONTEMPORARY ART AND INNOVATIVE Seeks to ensure sufficient quality and diversity of services pro- Kaunas 2022 platform WAKE IT, SHAKE IT is the tool through DESIGN We would like to emphasise that Cultural vided by local cultural institutions. which the institutions will strengthen their service. Strategy is already in the process of im- The GOALS of Cultural Strategy are: plementation from the beginning of 2017. Aims to collect and analyse data on the CCI sector, community A key element in our Kaunas 2022 programme is the building of It will ensure the cultural sector’s growth and civic initiatives on a regular basis and strengthen citizens’ an ONLINE DATABASE to collect, research and analyse CCI and —— To help staff in the cultural sector devel- until 2027. The Cultural Strategy will be participation in the evaluation of cultural services. Cultural Service data. op their skills in audience development revised and reconfirmed in late 2022 to- and strengthen interdisciplinary and gether with the new “Strategic Develop- trans-sectorial cultural collaboration. ment Plan of Kaunas City Municipality —— To promote research, communication, 2023–2030”. The legacy of Kaunas 2022 showcase and proper care of Kaunas will become one of the main drivers in the heritage, especially of Modernism ar- upcoming 2030 vision. chitecture and culture. —— To strengthen intercultural dialogue,

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS collective memory and intergenera- 10 tional projects. © AA 11 PROGRAMME EXPECTED IMPACTS/SUCCESS FACTORS If your city is awarded the title of European Capital of Culture, what INDICATORS FOR MONITORING STRAND: do you think would be the long-term cultural, social and economic SUCCESS Q7 PLATFORM CULTURAL SOCIAL ECONOMIC/URBAN impact on the city (including in terms of urban development)? Contribution to the long-term strategy EMERGING KAUNAS Q8

Cultural offer of the City By 2023 The Kaunas More workplaces and crea- • School hours spent outside the and the District is rege- Challenge pro- tive jobs for young people school and in cultural sites; In order to ensure the long-term impact on The table below is a continuation of the nerated towards interna- gramme becomes created in Kaunas and • Rate of youth satisfaction with Kaunas and Kaunas District we developed Matrix from Q4 and shows the expect- tional, contemporary and a self-sustaining District coincides with more cultural offer in the City; our programme in such a way that the ed cultural, social and economic/urban youth-inclusive cultural structure that will young families creating their • Number of young people who stay CONFLUENCE challenges we are facing would be cov- impact on the City if awarded the title profile. Young generation continue youth cul- lives in the City and the Dis- to study and work in Kaunas; ered by actions in the programme in order and indicators for success related to the of city activists, artists tural empowerment trict: buying properties, using • Percentage of young profession- to reach the desired results and impacts. following question. and creatives are leading programmes based services and paying taxes. als in cultural sector. cultural initiatives and on new methods – are active in the civic and making Kaunas more At least 3 hubs for youth are economic development of accessible and at- established and run by the the City. tractive for young young generation. people from all over PROGRAMME EXPECTED IMPACTS/SUCCESS FACTORS INDICATORS FOR MONITORING Europe. STRAND: SUCCESS PLATFORM CULTURAL SOCIAL ECONOMIC/URBAN WE, THE PEOPLE Q8

MODERNISM FOR THE FUTURE Q8 Kaunas restores its sta- Safe, friendly and Small private initiatives (co- • Accessibility of cultural offer tus as a city of diverse vibrantly active operatives, cafes, workshops across the City and the District; ECoC title gives an im- Modernist heritage Currently abandoned promi- • Number of renovated and revived subcultures. Post-indus- neighbourhoods and makerspaces) based • Number of long continuous artis- pulse for Kaunas to pro- and its usage beco- nent Modernist buildings private and public buildings; trial festival becomes an and revitalised on Fluxus Labs method are tic community initiatives; ceed on active interpre- me key elements of (Kaunas Post Office, Milk • Amount and quality of research established European community meeting growing with new ones • Number of new community enter- tation of the Modernism the City’s forward Centre, Progress Building and and artistic interpretation of the platform for alternative places. emerging in each Seniūnija. prises established; CONFUSION movement in Europe and looking identity. others) are culturally revived Modernist heritage, its interna- music and culture. • Number of events based on sub- beyond. and are under public use. tional importance during and CONSCIOUSNESS Community artist cultural movements; Awareness and European/international audi- beyond the title year; The first ommunityc art profile recognised • Number of trained community emotional attach- ence interest is enhanced • Number of tourists visiting Kaunas and activism univer- and established artists/activists in Tempo Academy ment to heritage is and visits triggered. for its Modernist heritage. sity study programme is within the profes- of Culture. raised. launched. sional field.

MEMORY OFFICE Q8 The diversity of citizens involved in voluntary ac- Jewish, Russian, Polish, The multicultural Kaunas is back on the Euro- • Number of Jewish, German, Rus- tivities grows significantly. German, Roman and other and multinational pean Culture Map, estab- sian cultural figures, facts, sites minorities’ culture and heritage of the City lishes itself on international and buildings commemorated and WAKE IT, SHAKE IT Q8 the memory of the former emerges overcom- creative networks, new busi- acknowledged; Europeanness of Kaunas ing common am- nesses and strengthened • Numbers of events, promoting the Kaunas 2022 becomes The capacities of Contemporised cultural offer • Number of partners in local cul- will be evident in the City nesia. CCI sector. multicultural history of Kaunas; the platform for the re- the cultural sector leads to growth of attend- tural organisations; and the District. • Number of local and international newal and unification of to establish interna- ance of cultural institutions • Number of organisations that visitors and tourists to Kaunas; cultural sector. tional partnerships and usage of cultural ser- participated in Tempo Academy’s • Number of the City’s projects and work more in- vices, boosts new produc- capacity building trainings; within the European networks. Kaunas cultural institu- clusively with audi- tions in the cultural sector. • Hospitality rate of local cultural tions will be practicing ences are increased. The cultural sector attracts organisations; DESIGNING HAPPINESS Q8 hospitality and openness more private financing. • Number of museum initiatives to various audiences, Cultural Forum, new outside their premises; The City Municipality and Kaunas City and Previously disused buildings • Rate of accessibility to cultural becoming more acces- joint planning tool • Attendance rates of cultural insti- cultural organisations District designs in New Town area are crea- services; sible for an international for annual Kaunas tutions; adapt design thinking itself into a place of tively used by the CCI sector, • Happiness rate of citizens; audience too. cultural programme • Growth of common marketing and methods to benefit the happy experiences. especially by new genera- • Statistics of social business sec- is established. communication models among lo- citizens and their feeling tion and young businesses. tor; Cultural institutions be- cal cultural organisations; CONFLUENCE of Europeanness. Kaunas cultural or- • Number of CCI businesses. come highly rated places Bigger and more • Managerial models and commu- ganisations become The boost of the CCI sector, for lifelong learning. diverse cultural nication with the citizens within New and unifying nar- physically, mentally, new workplaces created, audience. Kaunas 2022 organisation: qual- rative is created, self- and linguistically more young people stay in Contemporised cultural ity of internal communication, esteem, happiness and accessible. the City, self-employment is offer, more innovative ap- Youth audience en- citizen participation rate, citizen community spirit of citi- raised. proach, European outlook. larged. satisfaction with the programme zens is raised. (survey of the citizen advisory Being a site of unconven- group), level of accomplishment tional approach towards art of expected project results, media and design the City attracts monitoring, attracted sponsorship, international attention and number of local and international RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS visitors. partnerships, and other. 12 13 Describe your plans for monitoring and evaluating the impact of the Elaborate on the scope and quality of the activities: title on your city and for disseminating the results of the evaluation. Q9 a) Promoting the cultural diversity of Europe, intercultural dialogue and Q8 Contribution to the greater mutual understanding between European citizens; long-term strategy b) Highlighting the common aspects of European cultures, heritage and history, as well as European integration and current European themes; c) Featuring European artists, cooperation with operators and cities in different countries, and transnational partnerships. For us monitoring and evaluation is not just a precondition of the project, but also European Dimension one of the fundamental anchors. Together with analysts we want to look for inno- vative and alternative tools and methods for evaluating culture and identifying the CONTEMPORARY EUROPEANNESS more prone to resentment and fear, xeno- As a “second city” Kaunas encounters the benefits of cultural activities thus laying phobia, racism, misogyny, and other quite challenges that many European cities the practical foundation for Kaunas‘ future “I woke up one day and knew I was a Eu- unpleasant phenomena that are far from share, e.g. brain drain, young people leav- cultural policies and culture management. ropean” wrote the philosopher Emma- being eradicated. ing, emigration to the capital, etc. We want It will be an experiment for us, but also a nuel Levinas in the late 70’s to his previ- to overcome them by creating a congen- chance to learn something new. ous Kaunasian teacher. But what does it That’s why we take the happiness indica- ial and opportune environment for young mean to be a European today? For us and tor so seriously. Most of our projects deal people, who would see their future in this Our monitoring and evaluation guidelines for our young generation? Or what does with the theme of happiness in different City. For that we plan to focus on young- are strongly connected to the challenges it mean for a Lithuanian to hear the word ways – by making memorable experienc- sters with a long-term capacity building we address and the aims we are trying to “Europe”? – Certainly not the same as for es, creating a favourable and friendly city and practice-based programme Kaunas achieve with our programme. Each of our someone from Sweden or Britain or Por- climate, building attachment to a place Challenge. These projects initiated for and objectives will have performance indica- tugal – perhaps not even the same as for or designing a safe and happy environ- by our young generation will introduce a tors and regular monitoring, which are in- someone from Romania or Poland. ment. As, for example, with the platform new model of inclusion for young people dicated in the table on the previous page. Designing Happiness we focus on happi- who are underrepresented within the audi- The magic word for us in the context of Eu- ness and design by striving to create a ence of cultural institutions and underval- © RŠ In 2016 the Kaunas 2022 office has rope is “re-connect”. The tragedy of a divid- real home for happy people. Besides, with ued in many aspects of social and econom- launched two interrelated researches. ed Europe by the Iron Curtain transformed the new design-thinking approach we are ic life. In addition, this programme, which One of them addresses the quality and ac- In order to easily collect the necessary da- of Evaluation and Monitoring results will be the way we, as Lithuanians, thought and ready to make Kaunas the most accessible will offer internships in European cultural cessibility of cultural services across Kau- ta we will also create a mobile application a responsibility of a designated ECoC team still think of Europe and of ourselves. Our city in Lithuania and Europe. The accessi- institutions and ECoC agencies, interna- nas. It comprised a survey, which involved based on information currency and gamifi- member. We will continue to collaborate isolation behind the Iron Curtain meant bility will not only benefit people with all tional youth summer camps, etc., without a over 1300 respondents and a mapping cation. with Kaunas 2022 volunteers who will be for us that “Europe” was the West. So for a kinds of disabilities or young moms with doubt will encourage trans-European links of community potential, which was im- further trained to undertake some of the long time we associated Europe only with baby strollers, but also city guests and for- and future collaborative projects. plemented by a group of 20 interns from We will also be able to touch happiness! community based evaluation, involving lo- Western European countries. eign tourists. Creative Industries and Cultural Heritage We will commission an interactive design cal people in the process of improving the Therefore we want to strengthen the con- university study programmes in different object for our public space to monitor and way the City works and connects. That was not always the case. Before WWII But we are concerned not only about phys- cept of being European, meaning always neighbourhoods of Kaunas. The other re- visualise the happiness state of the City. In for many centuries for Kaunas and the cul- ical barriers. Cultural or psychological as being ready to widen our Weltanschau- search covered the CCI sector and also co-operation and co-creation with and for To determine the effects of Kaunas 2022 tural life of the City, its artists and intellec- well as other kinds of accessibility is our ung. Built around the themes of the con- comprised qualitative and quantitative the City community this object will become programme on the areas set out in the pre- tuals thinking and working within a diverse main priority as for many cities in Europe. temporary and highlighting the concepts surveys as well as CCI mapping. Together an inspiring piece of art and an instrument vious question (see last column of the ta- European intellectual climate was natural For that we created the Tempo Academy of of a new cultural tempo Kaunas 2022 with already existing Creative Industry at the same time operating as a “thermome- ble, Q7), a total of four monitoring stages and Europeanness was not something that Culture and the programme Wake It, Shake programme is intended to stimulate in- research (2009, 2011), Cultural Devel- ter”, “barometer” or “hedonometer” in meas- are planned every two years – before (2018, had to be artificially constructed. It both of which will start working this year tercultural dialogue between local and opment of Kaunas City Feasibility Study uring emotional temperature and pressure 2020), during (2022) and after (2024). Each on the main issues in the cultural field to European communities, artists, cultural (2015) and cultural statistical data these of creative atmosphere in and of the Capi- year the Monitoring and Evaluation consor- But today Europeanness seems to be a improve cultural services and to increase operators and European audiences as well two surveys provide a baseline for our tal of Culture – mirroring and reflecting in tium will also conduct health checks of the very complicated matter once again, pos- access by identifying and removing obsta- as European cultural organisations. We are monitoring and evaluation programme a very visual way people’s emotions and programme including the effectiveness of sible European identities are still debated. cles that hinder participation. This capacity going to achieve this through projects like and will be continued over the coming feelings. To find the best possible idea for working methods, outreach strategies, man- The local-global nexus as well as ques- building and audience development model Café du Monde, which symbolises the his- years. the object we will collaborate with other agerial models, economic impact of the pro- tions of identity – as frames of reference – is going to be shared with European part- torical importance of European cultures in UNESCO Creative Cities in Design field, gramme, tracking communication between are particularly in focus. Also the issues of ner cities by exchanging team members, Lithuania and an effort to foster a cultural We are certain that the project evaluation among them Saint-Etienne, Linz, Singapore, the citizens and the team implementing the Europeanisation: what it is, what it means, internships and other kinds of collabora- dialogue amongst local and international can be a key factor in future cultural policy Dundee, Montreal and others. We will work project, evaluating citizen involvement and how it is interpreted remain highly topical. tions and partnerships. residents (international students, foreign and serve other cultural institutions as well. together to implement an international participation rates. So... we want to contribute to this debate visitors and their friends and families back Therefore, we will make our evaluation and competition emerging designers and will of Contemporary Europeanness in many Most of our projects induce happiness by home) in different cafés in Kaunas. monitoring results accessible to a wide au- host an international workshop with the After each stage of monitoring and evalua- relevant aspects. And maybe we are need- communal actions and broad cultural par- dience by creating an online database for winners during which one project will be tion we will host a public deliberation event ed now just as much as we want the title ticipation. We, the People is a platform em- Thus our programme confirms that culture culture monitoring which will later serve as selected to be implemented together with where we will discuss the results with the for one simple reason: creating a contem- powering communities to celebrate their is an important part of our common iden- one of the ECoC legacies and include the the help of IT and engineering specialists. citizens. We will have a permanent Citizen porary Europe together. culture through collaboration and co-cre- tity. But no less important is the idea, that following: Advisory Group which will help us test and ation. For example, from 30 to 40 creative we would like to share with other Europe- —— evaluation and monitoring of the pub- We know we will be happier. By 2022 we implement our future campaigns, participa- HAPPINESS, INCLUSION AND COMMUNITY laboratories will be established in neigh- ans, is the idea of inclusion as widening licly and privately funded projects; will be able to prove it. And touch it. tion models and project demos. bourhoods of Kaunas City and the District, notions of community; with these projects —— survey tools for regular feedback from Happiness is a day out of danger. The lat- where local people will meet European we want to remind that identities and bor- culture users; WHO WHEN HOW? All monitoring and impact evaluations will est surveys show that for Lithuanians hap- cultural operators, international artists ders are continuously reconfigured as a —— information on local creative industries; play a vital role in ensuring efficiency and piness, firstly, means being secure. But not and performers and will gather ideas and part of living within and interacting with —— tools for statistical analysis (including Our Monitoring and Evaluation programme transparency of programme implementa- only Lithuanians feel that way. Happiness best practices for the change of their ur- communities. an archive of all related research); will be implemented by a specially selected tion and measuring its outcomes. The data or, as scholars would say, ontological secu- ban and social environment. These labs —— tools to inform all culture and CCI consortium of an independent poll agency will be used in preparation of the “Strategic rity is related to a stable identity and co- will unite more than 200 European artists

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS stakeholders of the current CCI situa- working in partnership with local academic Development Plan of Kaunas City Munici- herence in interpreting the world. On the and reach out to 200,000 inhabitants in 14 tion in our city. institutions. Observation and dissemination pality 2023–2030”. contrary, unhappy or insecure people are the area. 15 of place” and suffering from a forced CONTEMPORARY NETWORKS: FROM (7) Kaunas 2022 programme is going to displacement from their home coun- INSTITUTION TO INDIVIDUAL become a platform of solid partnerships tries. How can we as Europeans share and collaborations amongst internatio- # our urban “memory maps” with them? During the period of preparation for Kau- nal scholars, researchers and cultural ne- —— 100,000 people left Kaunas over the nas 2022 we are going to tap into all Eu- tworks: e.g. International meeting of the past 25 years, often moving to other ropean exchange networks in which the leaders of photography institutions (100 PLACE IS A European countries. How do these City is already an active participant as participants, November 2017), IFTR Con- CONDITION OF “disembodied memories” reflect back well as create new connections. Our aim ference (International Federation of Thea- MEMORY on their hometown and into their new is to create a CONTEMPORARY NETWORK tre Research, 2022 June, up to 800 partici- resident cities all over Europe and the of European cities, initiatives and indivi- pants), European Design Forum (July 2022, world? duals: up to 400 participants), IBA Conference —— Through Soviet and Nazi occupa- (International Biennial Association’s an- tion Kaunas and Lithuania have lost (1) the international diplomatic missions nual meeting, September 2022, 400 par- hundreds of thousands of its citizens, that were located in Kaunas during our ticipants), International Award for Public not only Jewish, by forced removal or time as TEMPORARY capital (Embassies Art – Award Ceremony (200 participants), emigration. How does a place keep its of the Netherlands, UK, Armenia, Ukraine, International Interpret Europe Conference memory? Austria, Estonia, Greece, Denmark, Croatia, (May 2022, 200 participants). —— The generation of Digital Nomads is a Latvia, Russia, Luxembourg, Japan, etc.) will relatively new group that lives with a become a starting point for contemporary (8) Some of our projects will promote in- different kind of “placelessness”. What Digital Diplomacy and Digital Tourism ini- tercultural networks of new technologies impact does the digital world have in tiatives. across Europe as new social bonds (No our ways of forming a sense of place Border Radio, Science Island, Digital Diplo- and identity? (2) New Hanseatic League partnerships fo- macy, Pixel Tunnels to Europe, IT confer- cusing on new/contemporary ways of trad- ences and fairs). European culture and its identity are fac- ing and communication among European ing enormous challenges today. Not long cities (185 cities in 16 countries, some in- (9) We have agreed with Pula in Croatia to ago it seemed that the old antagonisms volved also in the Grand Event of Kaunas keep the concept of a network of fortress amongst European nations were in the dis- 2022). cities which includes Pula itself, but also tant past and Europe had become an open cities like Magdeburg (bidding for ECoC space with room for self-criticism, human (3) UNESCO Creative Cities, especially in 2025), Herceg Novi (Montenegro) or Viborg rights and respect for human dignity. Sadly, the Design category to which Kaunas be- near Aarhus. the old distinctions have resurfaced – we longs, will become a platform for institu- see those walls, conflicts, confrontations, tional, municipality and NGO partnership (10) And finally, we have more than 20 in- prejudices and fears are rising again. through our established Design Forum, ternational festivals, which are our strong- © RS A MASTER byTadas Šimkus & Žygimantas Amelynas. Fluxus Ministery, 2013 common conferences and exhibitions, as est link to a broad international perspec- Nevertheless, we strongly believe that Eu- well as urban interventions (European cit- tive for our bid. We have asked all of the rope has the immense experience in solv- ies: Helsinki, Berlin, Bilbao, Turin, Saint-Éti- festivals to propose and include in Kaunas MEMORY AND HERITAGE comes from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, will communicate Modernism as heritage, ing similar issues and has the ability to enne, Graz, Stockholm, Dundee, Budapest; 2022 programme at least five European the territory now covering the Lithuania, which is close to everyday life, gives a cul- transform its crisis into future possibilities. outside Europe: Detroit, Montreal, Singa- partners, so we already have 100 organi- In the 1938 at the Évian Conference lead- Belarus and the big part of Ukraine) and tural meaning to the environment where With Kaunas 2022 we want to show Eu- pore, Buenos Aires, etc. – involved e.g. in sations who had previously connections ers from 32 countries refused to harbour Lithuanians, international forums, exhibi- ordinary people live their lives. ropean humanistic and artistic culture as the project Designing Happiness platform with Kaunas and also plenty of those who Jewish refugees. While Lithuania with Kau- tions, performances, conferences, discus- the “glue” that can consolidate European events from 2017). would gladly enter the partnership in ECoC nas as its capital city took in 14,000 Jews, sions, meetings and neighbours parties. Today we can state that place is a conditi- nations, its citizens and create new bridges programme for 2022. 16,000 Poles, 12,000 Polish soldiers and Besides, the latter platform confronts an- on of memory. Memory of a place is key to of understanding. Besides, the miracle of (4) Twin Cities partnerships will be re- about 100,000 inhabitants from Vilnius other European challenge: to reinvent the an emotional understanding of the world Europe is not born in big cities. It is found newed and strengthened (Riga, Wroclaw, CONNECTING NEIGHBOURS region. For nine months the country car- meanings and functions of urban land- and ourselves. Individuals as well as com- in these small historical cultural places. Tampere, Tartu, St. Petersburg, Grenoble, ried this load. We want to tell the world scapes once again and to bring them back munities can imagine their identity only in Such as Kaunas. and many more). 16 out of 22 twin cities European Capital of Culture is neither a lo- this and other amazing European stories. into the paradigm of a living urban fabric. relation to some landmarks. These land- of Kaunas belong to countries of the Eu- cal nor a national project. We strongly be- Another example is a story about our Kaunas, as one of the new capitals of the marks help understand, justify and evalu- THE CONTEMPORARY LEGEND ropean Union. We will use this network in lieve that this title is a platform given to all unique language. Linguists treasure it as 20th century has an outstanding opportunity ate self-perception and the perception of Fluxus Labs twining digitally the commu- Europeans, especially to the neighbouring retaining many elements of the Proto-In- to take an active part in the process of re- the Other. The idea of a legend or myth of the City is nities in microdistricts to the communities countries. That’s why we focus on partner- do-European languages that reveal some thinking the role of recent heritage, and to based on the assumption that the City can in other European cities. ships with the countries around Lithuania: of the “missing links” of how modern Eu- inspire new methodologies based on inte- However, some intellectuals assert that a be brought back to its European identity Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Russia, and Belarus. ropean languages developed – and many grated conservation and adaptive reuse of deepening crisis of place is the most pro- via telling a comprehensive story instead (5) partner ECoC 2022 (Kaunas District and We have transnational connections with other stories like these. Stories that would Modernism buildings. Kaunas 2022 events found dilemma of this century: lack of at- of having a patchwork of historical events Esch-sur-Alzette 2022 bigger area) provid- the Wroclaw Industrial Festival in Poland inhabit the neglected city, revive and bring will inspire new and creative approaches tachment to a place disembodies mem- and fragments. Kaunas is not European, ing possibilities to individuals and local and the Ural Industrial Biennial in Ekater- to life forgotten sites and places. We want towards an understanding of Kaunas Mod- ory, sunders relationships and promotes merely, because it had isolated periods of community members to exchange talents, inburg in Russia, National Philharmonics to tell the (hi)story that can change per- ernism as a catalyst for the future. Kaunas wasteful resource consumption. When we medieval knighthood, Hanseatic League, ideas, share daily life culture, kitchen tra- and Gallery Y in Minsk (Belarus). Polish cu- spective on this City which has never been as a showcase of a distinctly local inter- lose those places, we lose an essential part Baroque, Modernism and Post-Modernism, ditions, gardening knowledge, crafts, etc. rator Krzysztof Stanislawski will be part of loved enough. pretation reflects the diversity and impor- of our stories and ourselves. but because of the causality and interde- through week and year-long programme the curatorial team for implementing con- tance of the modernisation as universal pendence of these events. A continuum exchanges – project example: No Border temporary art actions: exhibitions, public Two main platforms – Modernism for the Fu- process of human and European history. Thus, in an age of migration ennui of pla- comprehensively showing the European Radio, Remix Culture, etc.). art, and performances. Grzegorz Jarzyna ture and Memory Office – will be dedicated With the European Capital of Culture pro- celessness become a common problem tradition and orientation of Kaunas is (Poland) is invited to work on documentary to the complicated theme of lost memory gramme we want to find and implement a of contemporary Western world. For Kau- needed and will be created through the (6) Looking at other temporary capitals theatre projects within communities. With and contemporary perspectives on it. We long-term strategy of how to preserve, re- nas 2022 we are looking at this aspect of legend Kaunas has never had. Thus, Kau- in Europe we will connect to Weimar and our Baltic neighbours Latvia and Estonia will tell forgotten stories to Europeans and vitalise and re-connect this outstanding contemporary life from different European nas could become the first city with a post- Bonn in Germany, Iasi in Romania and Kau- we plan a symposium and a concert tour also create new emotional bonds to places heritage to the community living within it angles: modern mythology. The method imple- hajoki in Finland to explore possible par- through Europe by the Baltic Youth Phil- and sites. We will share this experience with and with it – and connecting to other cit- —— Contemporary Europe faces an influx mented here in Kaunas can be shared with allels and to invite them to share their ex- harmonic, and also a concert of Kremera-

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS other Europeans through storytelling, pro- ies with similar issues through projects like of people from different parts of the other cities with a similarly fragmented periences at a conference of The Legacy of ta Baltica (LV, EE, LT musicians). National 16 ductions uniting Litvaks (Jews whose origin Kaunas Modernism 360/365 and others. We world with a possibly different “sense historic narratives. Temporariness. Kaunas Drama Theatre has invited Latvian 17 theatre director Alvis Hermanis to direct Kaunas already has a rich experience of operators from almost 40 countries. For Beast: she already did first sketches which MY COURTYARD FESTIVAL – a contempo- partners (visual art and architecture opera- their new international production in 2022. international partnership and collabora- more European partners, please also see will be further detailed and uncovered rary circus, dance, performance and commu- tors Kaunas Biennial and Kaunas Architec- Gundega Laiviņa (Riga 2014, Road Map cu- tion e.g. through Kaunas Biennial (rough- Q10. in the form of Europe Flying Balloon and nity art project in Kaunas’ neighbourhoods, ture Festival) will participate in this com- rator) who is also the director of NGO New ly 80% of the event consists of European secret marks of the Beast spread through private houses and courtyards (pilot pro- petition proposing art and architecture Theatre Institute of Latvia (Riga) gave us art content), Kaunas Jazz Festival (roughly Kaunas and the District found only by spe- jects will start in 2017, the final festival – expositions based on long-term research practical suggestions regarding commu- 30% European content), Aura Dance Festi- cial maps. Israeli choreographers Renata in the summer of 2022) presenting new lo- and preparatory projects for Kaunas 2022. nity involvement projects and agreed to val (nearly 100% co-productions with Eu- Raz, Yossi Berg, Oded Graf will direct new cally created productions by more than 200 If we succeed in the national competition become a visiting tutor at The Tempo Aca- ropean artists) and others. The programme dance performances for Fortress venues. European and world wide professionals. we will turn Lithuanian pavilions in Venice demy of Culture (2017–2021) and to help of Kaunas 2022 will be based on commu- Neville Gaby (RSA, UK/visual artist, work- 2021 and 2022 into an indirect trigger to Read support twin communities in Latvia and Lithuania nal experience amongst national and in- letters from our ing with communities) will contribute to European and Worldwide Meetings and visit Kaunas 2022. for We, the People platform. ternational partners, artists and cultural partner cities the concept of The City as Public Art and Conferences in Kaunas in 2022: Design Centre. Alvis Hermanis (LV) and Os- IFTR conference (The International Fed- Network of Kaunas 2022 Ambassadors is karas Koršunovas (LT) – theatre directors eration for Theatre Research 600–800 spread internationally: (1) Lithuanian di- are invited to produce new stage produc- participants), IBA General Assembly and aspora in Europe and worldwide. We are tions at National Kaunas Drama Theatre Conference (International Biennial Asso- in close contact with Global Lithuanian for 2022. Jenny Kagan (UK) – light and vis- ciation, 300–400 participants), UNESCO Leaders organisation, which unites the Can you explain your strategy to attract the interest of a broad ual artist will present her exhibition Out of Creative Cities Network’s Forum (300 par- most successful and influential members European and international public? Darkness at the industrial site of previous ticipants), After Maastricht: The Legacy of of Lithuanian diaspora: scientists, econo- Q10 Kaunas Ghetto. Visual artist Silvia Giam- Temporariness – European Cultural Fo- mists, artists, and business people; (2) Di- European Dimension brone (IT), sound and installation artists rum for 7 February 2022 (30th anniversary aspora of Litvaks who have family roots in Bojan Gagić (HR), Miodrag Gladović (HR) for European Union, European leaders and Kaunas, but now are scattered throughout and many others are invited to take part Parliament members invited), Hansa Net- Europe and other continents; (3) Interna- in the programme. Open calls and invita- work Open Air Festival (20–22 May 2022, tional Ambassadors who have cultural Introducing: playing on the streets, roofs and air bal- a researcher at the School of Arts and Eco- tions for international artists to work on 2000 guests expected), World Youth Camp links to our City and Lithuania – e.g. previ- loons; Jon Hendricks, an associate cura- nomics at Utrecht University of the Arts new productions related to Kaunas 2022 (1500–3000 guests expected), The Meeting ous curators, artists, and partners of inter- Content – because content is king. tor at MOMA NY on Fluxus (also curator of (Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht) and topics will be the axis of the programme’s of European Mythological Beasts (20–22 national festivals in Kaunas. Contamination – because contaminating the Yoko Ono and Silverman Collection of founder of Urban Connectors (Urban Con- openness throughout 2017–2022. May 2022, number of Beasts is still be- Europe with the virus of “contemporary art Fluxus) will curate FLUXUS exhibition at nectors is an expert and driving force in ing negotiated and is currently kept under Hot-Air Balloon trip through European sky attitude” is queen. M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum Of Art. creative urban development projects) and Exhibitions at M. K. Čiurlionis National wraps). (The Mythical Character): a new legend for many others. Museum of Art in partnership with Euro- Kaunas City is under development at this So what can we do in the world where German theatre director Falk Richter, an pean and US museums and collectors: Digital participation: With plenty of digital- moment. The main character of this leg- Donald Trump has just become president? exhibition and community art curator from Happy City: ised projects, such as Digital Diplomacy, Pixel end – The Beast – has a certain, very in- Rome Benedetta Carpi de Resmini, artistic FLUXUS EXHIBITION presenting the first Tunnels to Europe, Digital Tourism, Kaunas teresting shape. Australian artist Patricia Nothing. directors of Alto Fest in Naples – Giovanni We are establishing The City as Public Art wave Fluxus artists George Maciunas, Yoko Modernism 360/365 and Urban Landscapes Piccinini is creating/visualising the main Trono and Anna Gesualdi will all contrib- and Design Centre for the art attitude and Ono, Jonas Mekas in the context of Lithu- of 1930’s: Explosion of Modern Movement character of this legend. The hot air bal- We will not change our plans, we will stick ute to the My Courtyard Festival. Roberto design thinking sake instead of building anian FLUXUS underground movement of Kaunas 2022 programme will be accessible loon in the shape of this character will be to the two strategies we have. Magro – a director of La Central del Circ new facilities for contemporary arts. And that time. across the world, proposing VR based tele- produced and a trip across the skies of Eu- in Barcelona, and Gundega Laivina – di- we declare it as our artistic vision. Lewis portations to Kaunas’ streets, buildings, epi- rope will be initiated in the summer period And these two strategies to attract the in- rector at the New Theatre Institute of Lat- Biggs, the founder of Liverpool Biennial MARIANNE IN THE LABORATORY OF ART – centre of events, inviting to play computer of 2021. (Example: http://beautifuldecay. terest of a broad European and worldwide via and curator of RoadMap community and Folkestone Triennial (both known for an exhibition of Russian born German ex- games with main action set in Kaunas City com/2013/05/17/patricia-piccininis-in- audience are #content and #contamination. programme for Riga2014, are confirmed their original concept for arts being cre- pressionist painter Marianne von Werefkin and Kaunas District, as well as in the paint- credible-skywhale-hot-air-balloon/). as partners for the We, the People plat- ated and installed in public spaces) is in- (1860–1938) in the context of Der Blaue ings of M. K. Čiurlionis or FLUXUS composi- IMPETUS OF CONTENT form for community involvement. Lorenzo vited as an artistic director for visual and Reiter group (Wassily Kandinsky, Alexej von tions of George Maciunas. We are sure that More on the channels which we will use to Piazzi – director of Design Library Milan is public art for Kaunas 2022. He is forming a Jawlensky, Franz Marc, August Macke, and digital progress and our partnership with convey this to a European audience please International Artistic Team: contributing to the international exhibi- public art programme in partnership with Gabriele Münter) of which she was also a the best IT professionals will guarantee the see Q47 and Q48. The directors, conductors, curators and tion and workshop programme on Future more than 10 international organisations. member. efficiency of distant participation in the pro- managers of the main platforms and pro- of the City. Mike Robinson – Professor of Kaunas 2022 establishes a long-lasting gramme for much broader audiences than jects are well-known and experienced pro- Cultural Heritage at Birmingham Universi- programme based on commissions and THE EXHIBITION OF LITVAK ARTISTS Jacques just itinerary travellers. fessionals in the European and worldwide ty and Director at Ironbridge International open calls for regeneration of industrial Lipchitz (1891–1973), Marc Chagall (1887– cultural context. They will ensure the high- Institute for Cultural Heritage – is a partner and neglected venues of Kaunas City and 1985), Pinchus Krémègne (1890–1981), IMPETUS OF CONTAMINATION profile and international content of Grand in the establishment of the international the District by public art and design, thea- Michel Kikoïne (1892–1968), Max Band Events, public art projects and neighbour- heritage interpretation centre Modernism tre and circus. The City will be tagged in- (1900–1974), Arbit Blatas (1908–1999), Théo Pixel Tunnels to Europe (2020–2022). Us- hood programme and will use their ne- for the Future. Musician Michaël Levinas, ternationally as “the happiest place in the Tobiasse (1927–2012) and others. ing the innovative cutting-edge technolo- tworks to communicate projects world- the son of Emmanuel Levinas, and his world” with a hope that this kind of artistic gies and conceptual approach we will pro- wide: Daniele Finzi Pasca (CH) – Sochi wife Danielle Cohen-Levinas (head at the and social provocation will make the inter- Events held at alternative venues: duce several digital objects with direct Olympics Opening and Closing events’ Centre Emmanuel Levinas de l’Université national news. interactive transfer from and to Kaunas director, invited to direct Kaunas 2022 Paris-Sorbonne) are on the board of Litvak MATTERS – a post-industrial culture festival. and 10–12 other European cities, ena- Grand Opening Event; RSA composer and World Forum. Internationally recognised artists, com- The final event of the 2022 festival will fea- bling people from those different cities Litvak Philip Miller will direct a Reconcili- posers, conductors, theatre directors are ture a large-scale audio-visual event – a sort to communicate, perform, and dance to- ation Oratory with 300 performers from For Designing Happiness platform activi- already invited to participate in the pro- of cross-over between a dark circus, extreme gether through “digital tunnels”. The ob- various countries; community artist from ties we collaborate with Fionn Dobbin – gramme and create new commissioned body practice and post-industrial opera. jects change their location each month Rotterdam Jeanne van Heeswijk (the win- a founder of leading social business in works in relation to programme topics and and also change their location in Kaunas ner of The Leonore Annenberg Prize for Baltics MAMMU and Design Consultancy problematics: RECONCILIATION ORATORY – a musi- public venues (the riverside, island, conflu- Art and Social Change) accepted invita- Age5 (DE/LV) and a freelance creative ad- cal/oratory at the Žalgiris Arena (20 000 ence park, roof of the Resurrection Church, tion to become a board member of The visor in developing new ways and strate- Rafael Lozano-Hemmer (MX/US) will be seats) with more than 300 professionals Raudondvaris Castle, etc.). Tempo Academy of Culture and lead one gies in the fields of human interaction and working in the public art sphere converting (singers, players, dancers, video artists, of the community projects; a conductor of communication within their environment, Kaunas to Crowned Princess fairy tale for etc.) from various European countries on Venice Biennial in 2021 (art) and 2022 Birmingham Symphonic Orchestra Mirga Pieter Aarts from Design Management the Grand Opening and latter programme the topic of Holocaust and other repres- (architecture). In Lithuania we have a na-

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS Gražinytė Tyla will lead the Liberty Musical Network (DNM), Stefanie Raab – an archi- parts. Patricia Piccinini (AU) is contributing sion forms which we haven’t reconciled tional competition for the participation at 18 project with more than 2,000 musicians tect, urbanist at COOPOLIS, Vera de Jong – to the appearance of a legendary Kaunas with yet. the Venice Biennial. Kaunas 2022 with its 19 TIMISOARA 2021 EU Working Class flagship programme of them in the practical management of the To what extent do you plan to develop links between your cul- Eleusis 2021 will be linked to our project Embassy and other joint projects in both tural programme and the cultural programme of other cities Timisoara’s ECoC project Echos will be Matters: A Platform for Post-Industrial Cul- cities. Q11 connected to the Legacy of Temporari- ture by implementing a common industrial holding the European Capital of Culture title? ness (Kaunas) conference event. Both pro- art workshop as well as artist exchange. Remix Culture, Remix Culture is part of the European Dimension jects are dedicated to knowledge transfer Last but not least, both cities are facing programme dedicated to Esch-sur-Alzette among the cities that have hosted ECoC ti- the challenge to keep their young genera- European Capital of Culture 2022 and tles, as well as the long-lasting effects of tion in the city and therefore will collabo- its concept of Remix. This programme is the ECoC programme. These programmes rate on youth related topics, namely within based on the principle of mixing different ECoC Bridges is what we call a set of pro- Kaunas to highlight the legacy of Vilnius 2022 programmes and there are some will be developed in partnership to build the Kaunas Challenge project. forms and institutions of culture, like mu- jects which build partnerships with other 2009 programme. projects in these programmes that share coherent and thematically corresponding seum and theatre, sports and circus, archi- designated or previous ECoC cities. We very similar methods and visions. For ex- events. CANDIDATE CITY FOR 2022 tecture and storytelling, to create unique have already established good connections RIGA 2014 ample, Galway 2022 intends to set up a ESCH-SUR-ALZETTE and exciting cultural experiences. with colleagues from other ECoC cities and network of 25 cultural zones across the NOVI SAD 2021 they have contributed a lot in preparation Representatives of Riga 2014 were impor- region (Small Towns, Big Ideas) by stimu- We are glad to have established a strong Co-operative projects (exchange based) of our bid by sharing their experiences and tant advisors in preparation of our pro- lating community-led creative initiatives Our co-operation with Novi Sad covers connection with Luxembourg’s city Esch- practices. All ideas expressed below are gramme. We are happy to have Gundega and plans a series of artist residencies three main fields: sur-Alzette bidding for 2022. During our —— Industrial culture. Kaunas and Esch- pre-discussed and confirmed with ECoC Laivina, the curator of Riga 2014 Roadmap called Artist in Every Place. This closely re- four meetings with representatives of sur-Alzette, both cities with a vari- family members. programme and the team of New Theatre lates to our plans described in the Fluxus Community Partnership Platform which Esch’s team we have discussed ideas for ety of industries, will aim to present Riga as our consultants and partners in the Labs programme. Galway 2020 and Kaunas will contribute to the aims of We, the Pe- three levels of partnership: common pro- sound and visual artists of the indus- THE LEGACY OF TEMPORARINESS project We, the People. We have agreed on 2022 intend to support each other’s pro- ople programme and Hope Bridge pro- jects, additional projects (mostly based on trial culture to a broader audience, their further participation in the develop- grammes and co-operate on citizen ex- gramme run by Novi Sad 2021. A virtual exchanges), marketing and communication initiating new commissioned artworks The Legacy of Temporariness conference ment of this part of the programme as well change projects, workshops on community platform will be created by Kaunas 2022 methods. and art projects co-created by artists dedicated to the Maastricht Treaty will as the Tempo Academy training sessions building, rural art, and cultural participa- team which will create possibilities for from Kaunas and Esch. Kaunas street explore the many impacts of soft culture for culture professionals and community tion, as well as joint exchange programme community leaders to connect with in- To ensure the free-flow of our shared ex- art festival NYKOKA will be the main programmes on cities, communities and leaders. They will also participate in art- for the artists. ternational partners, organise community perience and learning, we will exchange partner of these actions and assist in civic culture. It will also look at tourism ist residencies and outdoor city big scale twinning projects, learn from other ex- team members for the whole period of the artist and project selection. and city profile development exploring events. The idea of Galway 2020 project Hope It amples by reading their project descrip- project. We will have one team member long-lasting effects created by temporary Rains aim is to create weatherproof pro- tions and take part in webinars on differ- from Kaunas in Esch-sur-Alzette to split —— Kaunas Days in Esch-Sur-Alzette. Kau- actions. We will invite all cities which held MATERA 2019 jects that inspire wet weather activity and ent community culture related topics led his/her working time to work both in Kau- nas and its culture programme will be the ECoC title from 2011–2021 to propose innovative design for rural and urban lo- by community project managers in other nas and Esch to gather updates, share rel- presented in Esch-sur-Alzette and will a topic for discussion or make a presenta- The partnership with Matera 2019 will in- cations, linking well into our platform of ECoC cities. The Novo Kulturno Naselje evant information and manage our mutual involve digital installations in Esch- tion on ECoC legacy planning. clude common actions in the field of de- Designing Happiness. Kaunas 2022 will (Novi Sad) has agreed to become our projects. sur-Alzette for a live-stream of special sign. Kaunas will join Matera’s exciting invite artists from Galway to develop pub- main partner in these joint actions. The events in Kaunas. Esch-Sur-Alzette’s THE YOUTH PLATFORM project Open Design School which will be lic art projects designed to be enjoyed by Novi Sad 2021, Matera 2019, Esch-sur- Joint (co-created) projects with Esch-sur- Days in Kaunas will also take place in open for citizens of all age and the aim children and adults in rainy/windy weather. Alzette 2022 teams have also expressed Alzette the first weeks of Kaunas programme The Kaunas Challenge project for youth of which is to develop local design pro- their wish to participate in the establish- in 2022. will aim to encourage experience sharing duction skills and expertise. Tutors of the Galway city also has a significant Lithua- ment of this platform which will continue No Border Radio. This multimedia based and capacity building among ECoC cities. Open Design School in Matera will be in- nian community some of which is socially to operate and stay open for other cities internet radio and media platform with Dundee 2023 and Leeds 2023 candidates. The practice and knowledge gained by vited to lead some workshops in Kaunas and culturally disconnected. Galway 2020 to join. two headquarters in Kaunas and Esch-sur- We have established contacts with both these young leaders can then be applied 2022 and vice-versa. Moreover, profession- and Kaunas 2022 teams are building links Alzette will become the channel for uni- for possible future partnerships. in the implementation of their own activi- al expert exchange is planned within the with the Galway Lithuanian community Youth exchange projects and summer versity students from different ECoC cities ties in Kaunas 2022 programme and help Tempo Academy programme. and developing plans for their partici- camps will connect Kaunas Challenge pro- allowing them to broadcast information Mons, Liverpool, Guimarães, Essen/Ruhr. them build their trans-European links. pation in both Kaunas and Galway’s pro- ject in Kaunas 2022 programme and Free- and opinions to an international online We are learning from previous ECoC cit- Matera 2019 has also agreed to be- grammes. dom Bridge programme of Novi Sad 2021. audience thus establishing another link to ies and have made links with Mons 2015, THE TEMPO ACADEMY come partners in establishing the Virtual These activities will allow the young par- other ECoC cities. Liverpool 2008, Guimaraes 2012 and Essen/ Community Partnership Platform and will RIJEKA 2020 ticipants of the programmes to gain prac- Ruhr 2010. We will use the Tempo Academy of Culture become an active partner in Fluxus Labs tical experience during visits and intern- Pairing communities/territories. By look- as a platform for cross-European partner- programme. Rijeka 2020 capacity building programme ships with partner ECoC teams. ing at mutual topics of interest and com- ships and learning from other ECoC cities will be linked to The Tempo Academy of mon ground for partnerships, we will invite by organising study visits to various cities, PLOVDIV 2019 Culture organising exchange for culture Capacity building. We will co-operate on Kaunas communities to twin with different inviting members of previous ECoC teams operators, and inviting experts to give lec- the Tempo Academy programme by shar- communities from Esch-sur-Alzette and to hold workshops and seminars for the Since 2016, Kaunas 2022 local partner tures, hold seminars and workshops on ing expertise and knowledge in culture its region. By initiating links among our participants of the Tempo Academy, organ- Dvimiescio kulka and Plovdiv 2019 are cultural management/institutional renew- professionals oriented workshops and schools, libraries, businesses and com- ise internships for young participants of the both partners in a long-term European al in Kaunas and vice versa. training sessions. munity centres we will foster long-lasting project in other ECoC cities and vice-versa. project initiated by a UK based creative or- partnerships, encourage citizens to learn ganisation Walk the Plank. During this pro- Rijeka’s project Twenty Seven Neighbourho- ELEUSIS 2021 about Luxembourg’s culture and most im- VILNIUS 2009 ject, both partners will implement a series ods will be linked to Fluxus Labs project by portantly – aim for real human connec- of community and artist capacity building organising citizen exchange, site specific Our programme coincides with Eleusis tions not only formal partnerships. The team of Vilnius ECoC are our routine workshops on planning and implementa- art and public space revitalisation activities. 2021 in many areas and we plan to work consultants and we hold regular meet- tion of outdoor events in partner countries. The third partnership aspect connects Ri- together on various projects. Both of the Cultural diplomacy. We will establish an ings to analyse and learn from their expe- The project will serve community inclu- jeka’s project Sweet&Salt with our plat- cities encourage active involvement of Esch-sur-Alzette Embassy in Kaunas – an rience. We are in co-operation with many sion programmes of both Kaunas 2022 and form Designing Happiness. The teams will all of the city’s human resources and dis- information point where anyone can re- of Vilnius based culture organisations, Plovidv 2019, and will facilitate in practise collaborate on the topic of revitalisation of semination of the events throughout the ceive information on Esch-sur-Alzette and institutions and individual culture pro- sharing between the two cities. riversides and will discuss new water tour- City’s and the District’s neighbourhoods. their programme for 2022. Kaunas 2022 ducers. Above all, we foresee a number of ism opportunities, stimulate discussions We will link our projects We, the People Embassy will work the same way in Esch joint activities with the initiators of Vil- GALWAY 2020 on the future of riverside areas of both cit- (Kaunas 2022) and Neighbourhood Cul- providing information on planning a visit nius 2009 long-term projects such as The ies in terms of urban planning, organise ar- tural Councils (Eleusis 2021) to enrich to Kaunas and our mutual projects. Within

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS Street Music Day and The Culture Night There is a strong focus on the outreach tistic projects and artists’ exchange. both cities’ programmes and to develop our youth programmes we will organise 20 by further extending their programme in aspect in both Galway 2020 and Kaunas common community lead initiatives. The a regular student exchange and involve 21 What is the artistic vision and strategy for the cultural programme of the year? Q12 Cultural and artistic content

and production, architects and couturiers, their environment today. The backward Memory Office and Emerging Kaunas plat- interior designers and urbanists – and, yes, mindedness (passiveness) of the City will forms, as well as Magic Carpets project will chefs and boutique owners. They will be be converted into the new cultural “tempo” all contribute to a discussion about and asked to work with and for local commu- situation, where everybody matters, and reflection on common and relevant Euro- nities in Kaunas to create and continue a everyone is involved/included. pean topics. They all embody a contem- glocal culture which correlates global and porary approach towards recent heritage; local perspectives. Inclusiveness as Europeans re-awakening of memory through positive intercultural dialogue; empowerment of The commercialisation of culture can be Alongside the nurturing of creative entre- the younger generation; and recent forms glamorous, fun and educational too: we preneurship and localism, our third value of displacement and story-telling as a must find a way to protect and guide this also becomes a strategy – an understand- method of “place-making” or constructing commercialisation, to ensure that the im- ing and appreciation of inclusiveness also site identity. pulse and ownership, of production and has concrete outcomes. Our ambition is profits remain local. Commerce is a driver to awake in 2022 with a real sense of Eu- Next to these foundational parts of the pro- of the broad culture, and we must support ropeanness, as Emmanuel Levinas wrote gramme performed by Kaunas’ citizens will its application to the 2022 programme about his experience in pre-war Kaunas. be others – “performed” by our internation- while believing that it is above all shared We know we still have to undergo several al guest artists and personalities – high- memories and experiences that connect steps in regard to our self-identification in profile conferences and European must- people, and that this should take prec- order to be able to welcome people from see exhibitions, re-invigorated Museums edence over the impulse to consume or all over Europe through our door, to feel and Universities, engaging with the full acquire cliché’d brands created elsewhere. “European” in ourselves, and not only as an range of Kaunas’ heritage, as well as digi- # There is no need or excuse to retail multi- identity on the map. We know we must re- tal tools and animations enabling citizens national brands (whether Disney or Star- turn to the condition of an open-minded and visitors alike to experience that herit- RE-AWAKENING bucks) provided local artists and entre- city, such as Kaunas was in 1938. age as a part of what makes Kaunas con- preneurs are properly supported in their temporary. ADOPTION creativity. A contemporary critical attitude We anticipate and envision Kaunas in 2022 REINFORCEMENT can also be demonstrated in a positive way as having been transformed from its former And there will also be a new unifying nar- in relation to the shared consumption of fortress-like mentality into a self-identity rative, a new City myth – The Mythical Be- locally sourced and produced culture. based on openness, an open-mindedness ast of Kaunas. We really want to address to people and ideas, experienced in the the general amnesia for parts of our his- Investment in the development of local encounter of what Emmanuel Levinas re- tory and heritage, and regard this as funda- creative entrepreneurship need not be ferred to as face-to-face, and, thereby, al- mental to achieving pride in the contem- a heavy financial outlay. It is more about so becoming a true part of the European porary condition of the City. The Mythical © RŠ the consistent application of a value set, a intercultural partnership. We strongly de- Beast legend can help achieve this. We en- mental attitude. And neither do we need to sire to open the City to the outside, just as vision a city which knows its history as a construct expensive new buildings in the much as to the inside, through the influx of continuum. As in the continuum that runs VISION a citizen can be proud of having common- STRATEGY city centre, a new “contemporary art cen- artists and other cultural groups from all from the mouth of the Beast to the tip ality with other cultures as a way to assert tre” for instance, to encourage active citi- over Europe and the world. The awakening of its tail. Not as a patchwork of random Our artistic vision is to become a “Con- their local identity. What is the strategy to realise this vision? zenship and embody the city’s newfound of this generous consciousness of diversity and temporary events. Events can be good temporary Capital” where every citizen is The vision is underpinned by three main contemporaneity. No. Instead of this we and multiculturalism, as a strategy, will be and bad, glorious and shameful, but we all recognised as possessing his or her own Our vision is that this “contemporary art” at- values – of creative entrepreneurship, lo- use our creative imagination to unders- realised through and in parallel with the must learn to see them as an eternal play “cultural capital” – creative capital that titude and lifestyle can and will be created calism, and inclusivity. These values are in- tand that Kaunas already has the physical process of building community-based con- of cause and consequence. contributes to the City’s image, welcome, through every citizen’s participation in the herent in Kaunas’ history, and can be com- potential itself to be a “Centre of Contem- temporary culture, in the Fluxus Labs men- imagination, pride in contemporariness broad Kaunas programme of 2017–2022, municated to its people today: through porary Culture and Arts”, one that is dis- tioned above. SUMMARY and diversity, and belief in the future. which includes contemporary arts and their re-awakening, adoption and reinfor- persed across all the neighbourhoods and We want to achieve an active citizenship, design, but reaches far more widely than cement in people’s lives they will become the District. Why construct a building when The strategy will be implemented through We are very serious and determined in the which we lack rather badly today. Con- these things. The contribution of contem- the strategies for achieving the vision. all that is needed is a change in under- a whole range of platforms and events de- planning and provisioning of the legacy of temporary culture (present day culture in- porary arts (visual arts, theatre, contempo- standing, a re-evaluation of what we have? tailed elsewhere in this bid document: the this 7+ year span of work, which we will cluding all its popular and community-led rary dance, circus, poetry) to the broader Creative entrepreneurship and active ci- community, youth, and inter-generational not call a project, nor a platform, nor a expressions) is above all characterised by culture is art thinking or art attitude. Our tizenship founded on localism The Fluxus Labs that will pop up in exist- platforms like We, the People and Emer- festival – we call it a CHANGE. The most being holistic – it’s both an attitude and a task is to develop the knowledge, appre- ing buildings (such as under-used schools, ging Kaunas; through opening up common important legacy we seek is the one to be life-style, as exemplified by Kaunas’ George ciation and discernment that most people The development of creative entrepre- post-industrial sites) in each of the memories, as in Yiddishe Mame or Tear found in the skills and new capacities im- Maciunas, founder of the Fluxus move- already have about the broad culture (e.g. neurship as the economic environment Seniūnija of the City and the District, will Down the Walls projects of Memory Offi- bued in the younger generation, and in the ment. It is a whole way for citizens to look pop music/pop culture, musical, computer for cultural production, distribution and become a platform for active citizenship: ce platform; and through inter-institutio- cultural sector of the City, as well as in the at and understand the world while being games, fashion, food etc.) towards the kind consumption is fundamental to the vision. discussions, creativity and programming of nal and cross-sectorial partnership pro- change of the mindset of the City govern- actively engaged in a neighbourhood; a of critical attitude encouraged by the con- The commercial production and support cultural activities in the neighbourhoods grammes such as The Tempo Academy of ance and our citizens in general, a mindset way for citizens to be proud of her or his temporary arts. We can nurture this criti- systems for the programme will be pro- through all preparatory period up to 2022 Culture, Designing Happiness and Wake It, that will value culture as an integral and “place”, both in the neighbourhood and in cal attitude in relation to the broad culture cured within the local creative sector, to and beyond. Local people will contribute Shake It. Kaunas will wake up to contem- essential component of sustainable city the world. Recent politics in Europe and (where most people are already confident) encourage emerging and established local to small and large scale events or infra- porary European culture and will contrib- development. the USA has witnessed a swing to protec- and then bring those people to recognise designers, IT specialists, film and anima- structural changes of 2022 by celebrating ute to Europe’s common identity again: the

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS tionism on the ground of “culture”: it’s im- that they are equipped to enjoy and profit tion studios, media and press people, pho- their own culture, using their skills and be- international Heritage Interpretation Cen- 22 portant to stress the value and belief that from the experience of contemporary art. tographers and video makers, print design ing empowered to make decisions about tre, Modernism for the Future activities, 23 Describe the structure of the cultural programme, including the range and diversity of the activities / main events that will mark the year. Q13 Cultural and artistic content

The structure of the proposed Kaunas 2022 programme has three that face our City, and then go on to address these on multiple main strands: levels: with audience-focused performances and exhibitions as CONFUSION, CONFLUENCE, and CONSCIOUSNESS. Each re- well as specialist-driven approaches that includes artistic expres- flects the challenges, ambitions and visions of how future Kaunas sion and community activities. In this way that we want to secure could use culture to underpin a process of change. Under each of a legacy that makes a real mark on our City and its citizens – the three strands we have two platforms with their own project achieving progress while at the same time giving everyone an clusters. Many of these take as their starting point the challenges enjoyable ride.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAMME:

CONFUSION CONFLUENCE CONSCIOUSNESS Projects deal with unsolved is- Projects deal with weak Projects are focused on participation, sues relating to our City’s collec- cross-sectorial cooperation and involvement, co-creation, community tive memory and heritage the brain drain building and strengthening of civic society

THE MYTHICAL BEAST OF KAUNAS A platform for creation of unifying narrative of the City

THE TEMPO ACADEMY OF CULTURE PROGRAMME A platform for capacity building and further programming

MODERNISM FOR THE FUTURE DESIGNING HAPPINESS WE, THE PEOPLE Heritage platform Public space platform Community platform

MEMORY OFFICE EMERGING KAUNAS WAKE IT, SHAKE IT Memory platform Youth platform Cultural networking platform

Two HORIZONTAL PROGRAMMES The 2017–2023 programme is divided into four phases: cross and make links among all pro- grammes and projects: The Mythical Be- IGNITION (2017–2018) is dedicated to capacity building, deepening local partnerships ast of Kaunas and the Tempo Academy of and extending European networks. Culture. AGITATION (2019–2020) is focused on community involvement in all processes and pilot projects with public events.

EXPLOSION (2021–2022) involves all partners and communities working to prepare and implement the programme for 2022.

© TC BLACK BALLOONS by Tadao Cern, 2016 LEGACY (2023–beyond) the principles of co-creation, co-working and community inclu- sion adjusted to the local cultural sector through the first three periods will become a 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS 24 sustainable model for Kaunas’ cultural development. 25 THE MYTHICAL BEAST OF KAUNAS The Mythical Beast is an interdisciplinary project aimed at creating a unifying narrative for Kaunas.

The creation of the Beast and its story will involve citizens of all ages and from all walks of life and PARTNERS: includes spectacular events for people from near and far away. Lead project host(s): Kaunas 2022 Agency The Mythical Beast/Water Dragon of Kaunas will become the avatar or allegory for the City, where the Beast = Kaunas. Its story is the story of the City told allegorically, and it will become an important part Local partners: Kaunas and Kaunas of common consciousness. We feel that a European City that creates an identity-changing myth has District-based regular international the potential to make the news. music, theatre, visual art, photogra- phy festivals: Kaunas Photo, Kaunas Biennial, Kaunas Jazz, Akacijų alėja, 2017–2018 IGNITION Pažaislis Classical Music Festival, The preparation will see many participatory methods to get people involved in the creation of the Media Art Festival Centras, Perfor- legend. The place to involve different communities in the City into the process will be the Fluxus mance and Live Art Festival CREA- Labs (see programme platform We, the People). TurE, Kaunas University of Technol- ogy, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas Centre for Technical Crea- At the beginning, we will present collaborative fiction methods on a website (participation will also tion for Children, M. K. Čiurlionis be possible with offline media) to create the story and stories around the mythical creature that was National Museum of Art, National the first and will be the last citizen of Kaunas. Kaunas Drama Theatre, Kaunas City and District public libraries, Kaunas City and Kaunas District Municipal The website will give a few guidelines and pre-settings, such as: Seniūnijos, Community associations, The Beast is waterborne, guardian of the City. schools, market places, and other The City has an Accord with him. local stakeholders. There is a secret Society of the Beast, keepers of the Accord. The Society celebrates the Day of the Beast every year at the confluence. European and foreign partners: He has broken the Accord previously by reasons unknown. The Bregenz Festival (AT), Industrial Art (PL), New Theatre Institute of So has the City. In order to renew the Accord, the Beast should be awakened and summoned. Latvia, Centre of Contemporary He lives under flooded fortifications in a cave system below the City. Art-Tbilisi (GE), KUNSTrePUBLIC e.V. He is not evil, yet can be dangerous and fierce. (DE), Ideias Emergentes: CONTEX- People will be invited to write their own versions and elements of the story, there will be regular TILE Biennial (PT), LAB852 (HR), Beast Conventions to hold brainstorming sessions and consider the progress of the narrative. The Folkestone Fringe (UK), Art Cube Artists’ Studios (IL), Alto festival project will be developed in Lithuanian and English simultaneously, making it easy for worldwide (IT), Baltic Nordic Circus Network, audiences to contribute. Silence Festival (FI), CircusInfo (Fin- land), Cirkus Cirkör (SE), Lene Bang A parallel step is to develop the physical form of the Beast. The Makerspace in the Designing Happi- org (DK), Nondberg Movement ness platform will offer digital technology for young people to design the Beast using computer-aided (SE), NoFitState Theatre (UK), Aurora Nova (DE), RE RIGA festival design programs (Photoshop and others) and the robotics schools in Kaunas are invited to create (LV), Brokentalker (IE), CIE BAM the Beast (like Orhan Pamuk’s Museum of Innocence), public art, Monster, Y Ddraig Goch from Wales, Smok Wawelski from Kra- three-dimensional robots of the Beast as they imagine it. Young and old can take any media they like (FR), Cirko Aereo (FI); Artscenico ice and gardening sculptures, art installations seen in (or said to kow and many others) come to the gathering in sculptural or to create their Beast, grandparents can paint with their grandchildren and schools can make excur- (DE), The Northern and Eastern be recovered from) the Nemunas and the Neris river beds at low holographic forms, although some of them might just send sions to collect materials in the forest or industrial sites to create man-sized monsters. Citizens will European Centre of Puppet Arts/ tide, and others. video messages or be connected via livestream. be invited to vote for the best physical expression of the Beast in an actual as well as an online ex- NEECPA, International Puppetry Association UNIMA, National Pup- hibition. pet Theatre (BY), Grodno Regional Through activities in the Designing Happiness projects, traces of The Closing Event in December 2022 will sum up the Puppet Theatre (BY), S. Obraztsov the Beast will be visible throughout the City, some visible with whole point of the Beast and its story: to negotiate a friend- 2019–2020 AGITATION State Academical Puppet Theatre the naked eye, some only made visible and audible by augmented ship agreement with the Beast (the City), between its commu- During the agitation phase the preparation for the Days of the Beast (20–22 May 2022) takes place. (RU), Puppet Theatre Guliwer (PL), reality and digital audio functions of smartphones. Groans and nities and our neighbours to look ahead to the future instead Through the Fluxus Labs each Seniūnija of Kaunas and the District as well as the ethnic communi- Baj Pomorski Theatre (PL), NUKU roars can be heard in trees and behind bushes, huge foot-prints of only the past. The Closing Event And They Lived Happily theatre (EE), Kiev Academic Puppet ties will construct a huge puppet – one of the characters that populate the Story of the Beast which Theatre (UA), Kharkiv Academic appear at impossible heights on the fortress’ walls, discarded Ever After will see a City celebrating their newly gained Con- will feature in a theatre show on the waterfront platform. Puppet Theatre (UA), Cie Les Choses scales of skin are hanging from traffic lights and someone seems sciousness together with the many partners and new friends de Rien (FR). to have chewed off a piece of an art installation in the form of a from all over Europe. In the end, the Beast appears from over Professional script writers will be invited to write several sets of film scripts and theatre plays from huge lollipop. Aleksotas hills, descends and submerges into the Nemunas the collected written material. Some of this will be used to create the show “Wake up, Beast!” that Supplementary funding river. The Beast is there to stay and guard the City. resources: Lithuanian Culture Fund, will be performed as part of the opening Grand Event at the beginning of 2022. Other material Europe for Citizens, Creative Europe will be used to create open scene-by-scene sets to invite everyone – citizens from Kaunas and the Platforms strand, Embassies of pro- GRAND EVENTS A fictional approach can be very productive in dealing with con- District as well as Lithuanians living abroad and people all over the world – to pick a scene and ject partners’ countries, and private flicting history and narratives of the present. After all, every myth then turn it into a performing arts scene of a play, opera, musical, pantomime with their friends, companies. The Opening Event of Kaunas 2022 will feature a Wake in its essence does just that. No region, no country and no city colleagues, and families. The completed scene should be filmed and uploaded onto the website. up, Beast! show in which the Beast will appear in front of the can be without contradictory views on its past and present, where Budget: 3 m euros including the The users of the website can stream single scenes and select them manually or activate a random budget of 3 GRAND EVENTS citizens for the very first time – if we can manage to wake it even well documented events become subject to controversy. As generator that will show the scenes in order of the story in a random combination of contributions. up with light, music and noise. it has always been the case, the human brain needs parables and anecdotes to provide it with comforting simplifications. The me- Professional game developers will create a sophisticated computer adventure featuring the Beast and During the Days of the Beast in May 2022 commu- dium of a legend also plays well in the realm of memory and com- many other characters invented by the communities and individuals over time. nity members will bring their huge puppets on boats to the mon self, and fosters cultural esteem for the future. waterfront platform on the confluence of the Nemunas and 2021–2022 EXPLOSION the Neris rivers for the great theatre show. Artists will be in- A successful myth surely stimulates a community and generates

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS In 2021 the story of the Beast will be presented in different media and forms, like a novel, chil- vited to produce the European mythological characters – the cultural activity – a beloved legend is like a nuclear power gen- 26 dren’s comic book, movie, performing arts website described above, Museum of objects related to colleagues of our Kaunas Beast (Vilnius Basilisk, Loch Ness erator of culture. 27 TEMPO ACADEMY OF CULTURE Contemporising the delivery of culture

The Tempo Academy is our answer to the capacity building and contemporising of our cultural PARTNERS: offer. It is a major challenge to unite the cultural sector enough to thoroughly reflect on the Local: Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), Kaunas future and proceed to implement real change in relation to contemporary audiences. Acknowl- University of Technology, Kaunas Humanitarian edging this incredible chance for growth, the number of students graduating in the CCI study Faculty of Vilnius University, VšĮ Verslo praktikų field in Kaunas, as well as the broad potential of the local cultural network, we want to grasp centras (The Centre of Business practises at this opportunity to reboot our cultural sector and gain new knowledge. Through the Tempo Aca- VMU), a broad list of local culture organisations (including 85 national, state, and City culture demy programme we aim to elevate our culture venues to become more fun and friendly places organisations), volunteer centres in Kaunas and for a diverse range of audiences, achieve better quality in our cultural production, stimulate the District, NGOs and independent culture pro- more collaborations in the cultural sector, and strengthen the visibility of our cultural organisa- ducers that have already engaged in the prepara- tions on a European level. tion of the programme and new members to join in the process via partnerships and open-calls.

The Academy is a workshop-based training and networking programme, which provides train- International (confirmed): New Theatre Insti- ing to the local cultural sector, community activists, youth and volunteers, professionals from tute of Latvia (LV), Design Library Milano (IT), communication, fundraising, audience development, marketing and management fields. Vagabond Reviews (IE), Artway of Thinking (IT), Blue Drum (IE), Institute for Public Art (Hong The training and partnership programme will run through 2017–2022. Each year the Acade- Kong; chairman Lewis Biggs), Folkestone Triennial (UK), Matera 2019, Novi Sad 2021, Eleusis 2021, my will hold three thematic sessions hosted in different culture venues in Kaunas and Dis- Esch-sur-Alzette 2022, Dundee (UK candidate for trict, for example, Raudondvaris creative incubator in the Kaunas District. European Capital of Culture title 2023 and a fellow member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in The structure of the Academy will comprise four faculties that will focus on different target the design category), Walk the Plank (UK), Global groups and aims of Kaunas 2022 programme: Lithuanian Leaders, Happy Happy Joy Joy social innovation festival (LV), Alto festival (IT), Baltic Museology School (LV), Manifesta Foundation (NL), Goldsmiths College of London University (UK), members of the UNESCO Global Network of THE STRUCTURE of the Tempo Academy of Culture Learning Cities (which Kaunas is a member of), members of the International Biennial Association, and members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Faculty for Culture Faculty for Community Youth Training Volunteer and Professionals Culture Activism Faculty Welcoming Faculty Indicative partners: Nordic Summer University, Open Museum (UK), Live Art Development Agency (UK), The European Network for Avant-Garde © AA and Modernism Studies (EAM), Modern and Contemporary Reciprocal Museum Association Lead advisors of The Tempo Academy: Lewis Biggs (Folkestone Triennial), Jeanne van Heeswi- (Mod/Co), The Modernist Studies Association (US), jk (community art activist, NL), Linara Dovydaitytė (LT), Yohann Floch (arts organisations and The British Association for Modernist Studies with stakeholder groups, local and international networking, culture centre, etc.), therefore broadening the regular audi- consultant, FR). (BAMS). study visits to other ECoC cities, employee exchange between cul- ence of local organisations. ture organisations, developing a new annual programming plat- —— Participants will also create an annual digital Kaunas cultural Budget: 1,5 m euros We will use the Tempo Academy as a platform for further development of the artistic pro- form for local culture operators. programme-planning tool for local culture operators. gramme and for knowledge exchange with guests from other parts of the programme. Many artists, curators and experts participating in Kaunas 2022 projects (including international SCHEDULE 2021–2022 EXPLOSION guests) will contribute with lectures or sessions at the Tempo Academy and share their meth- Focus topic: implementation. ods and practices with local cultural operators. 2017–2018 IGNITION Participants: curators, artistic directors, volunteer managers, edu- Focus topic: audience studies. cators, stakeholders, communities, etc. Focus participants: accessibility managers, educators, managers. FACULTY FOR CULTURE PROFESSIONALS —— Stakeholder advisory groups will be created within the 20 —— Cultural institutions will become the cultural embassies of most active participating organisations. the ECoC via information points. This section of the programme focuses on partnership based programming and audiences. It —— Stakeholder advisory teams will provide organisations with —— Participants will collaboratively create an event programme will introduce innovative and effective practical methods to examine the needs and enlarge specialised recommendations and innovative suggestions. offering high quality events and projects in different venues the scope of an audience, strengthen communication, build stronger participation, partner- —— Each participating organisation will be encouraged to im- and public spaces across Kaunas. ships and skills to work together, etc. plement their own Access for All Development Strategy until —— These projects will be presented in transition from 2021 to 2022, with consultations by the Tempo Academy experts. 2022 and will constitute the opening programme. The target group of this faculty are the culture professionals working independently or em- ployed by the local cultural organisations. The programme will invite participants to become 2019–2020 AGITATION 2023 and beyond LEGACY involved through an open call, providing participation priority to the local partners of Kaunas Focus topic: collaborative and interdisciplinary programming. Focus: measuring outcomes, ensuring the legacy of the pro- 2022 programme, thus aiming for maximum capacity in programming further events and Focus participants: curators, artistic directors, project managers gramme. delivering a successful ECoC programme together. Another key target group of this project responsible for content, and other stakeholders. are festival organisers in Kaunas, who mostly represent the independent and NGO sectors, —— Long-term vision is to maintain the networking dynamics in a and have significant experience in creating high quality artistic content through their broad —— Directly related to Wake It, Shake It programme form of an annual culture forum and a common programme- networks of European and global partnerships. Currently, Kaunas 2022 partners include 85 —— Focussed on new interdisciplinary and audience-orientated planning platform. local culture organisations, with2–3 representatives from each organisation participating in services, and partnership building with a strong international —— Cultural forum continues showcasing the most creative cul- the Tempo Academy courses. aspect. tural ideas, ensures learning from each other’s practice and —— Participants will be encouraged to develop a partnership pro- examples, a well-distributed local events programme, and

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS METHODS: seminars, summer sessions, project development workshops, audience research, ject, linking different types of cultural agents (e.g. museum + joint marketing and communication actions. 28 strategic planning, common marketing, programme and communication planning, interacting theatre, gallery + university, library + cinema, music festival + 29 YOUTH TRAINING FACULTY / THE KAUNAS organisations and ECoC cities; working in Kaunas 2022 Agency CHALLENGE and managing/producing at least one sixth of the programme.

The Kaunas Challenge project is designed for young people aged 2023 and beyond LEGACY 15 to 19 and is the first programme of the Tempo Academy that Capacity building programme; entrepreneurship laboratory/case has been already launched. It proposes an innovative cultural studies in culture and business sectors; international summer entrepreneurship-training programme led by carefully selected camp; internships in cultural and business organisations. mentors. The programme aims to build creative and project de- velopment skills of the participants, linking them to the local cul- IMPACT: During the 2017–2022 period at least 30 cases will be tural sector and international practise possibilities in other ECoC studied by student teams (in total 100–150 school age students cities. The participants will apply acquired skills by starting their involved) which will inspire renewal in cultural offer for young own initiatives for Kaunas 2022 programme. The programme will audience, provide experience and practise in culture management serve as a method to restore the intergenerational balance in the for the youth, and promote recruitment of the youth in the local cultural sector of our City. Moreover, it will encourage youth ca- cultural organisations. By 2023 the programme is envisioned to pacity building among ECoC cities. become a self-sustaining structure that will continue youth cul- tural empowerment programmes based on new methods. METHODS: workshops and training sessions, internships in lo- cal organisations, group case studies, youth summer camps, con- VOLUNTEER AND WELCOMING FACULTY sultancy sessions with mentors, international student exchanges with other ECoC cities, voluntary activities, project development The Tempo Academy will serve also as a Kaunas 2022 volunteer and implementation in groups. training and management centre, which will carry out special training for volunteer managers, attract new volunteers to the The Methodology of the project was developed by our highly programme and assign them to voluntary tasks. It will provide experienced partner organisation VMU Business Practice Cen- seminars to education specialists and volunteer managers of lo- tre and consists of actions, such as capacity building through cal cultural organisations on inclusion of groups with different self-evaluation, and communication skills, self-learning, and physical and intellectual disabilities and overcoming barriers of intercultural competence. Their entrepreneurship laboratory participation. It will also aim at connecting the younger genera- involves innovative methods in linking young people to men- tion with Kaunas 2022 voluntary programme by providing oppor- tors, problem-solving in real life CCI settings, and methodol- tunities for them to build new skills, participate in volunteer ex- ogy training as well as personal improvement and one-to-one changes, and activities connected to their study area or interests. coaching. The centre will offer Kaunas 2022 volunteers special exchange trips to other European Capitals of Culture and will also welcome volunteers from other cities. © RŠ MAP OF FEELINGS by S. Kazlauskaitė, I. Žurkuvienė, L. Mozūraitė. 2015 After these steps, youngsters help future course students with their practice and skills development and become active team members of the youth platform Emerging Kaunas. The programme will host special trainings for the hospitality sec- tor, local citizens, airport, airline, train, public transport, taxi and IMPACT: METHODS: Co-working and co-creation, dialogical aesthetics, SCHEDULE other transport companies’ staff on welcoming the arriving guests. —— Up to 300 participants and 85–100 participating cultural and cross-sectorial networking, socially engaged art practices, com- other creative organisations. munity activism, site and context-specific research, local commu- In 2016 the Kaunas Challenge platform was presented in several 2017–2020 IGNITION, AGITATION —— 20 case studies completed with the participating organisa- nity empowerment, etc. events and meetings with school communities attended by pu- Assembling volunteer stakeholder groups for partnerships and tions will provide them with future recommendations for ac- pils, teachers, and representatives from local schools. In February case studies in culture organisations; volunteer management cessibility development. Co-creation methodologies as used by our partners Artway of 2017 we have launched the first session of theKaunas Challenge, training for culture operators; building a long-term Kaunas vol- —— 150 stakeholders (including 50 young participants of the Thinking (IT), cross-sectorial networking (Jeanne van Heeswijk, where we aim to examine the programme with a focus group of unteer database. youth platform Emerging Kaunas) actively involved in rede- NL) or innovative theories like Dialogical Aesthetics by Grant Kes- 20 participants. The participants will work in groups to develop veloping the cultural sector services. ter who follows in the footsteps of Emmanuel Levinas, will be an idea for a five-year project. In 2022 the Kaunas Challenge will 2021–2022 EXPLOSION —— Accessibility and openness of the cultural services improved. used as a basis for this faculty and the Fluxus Labs. be actively involved in managing and implementing the projects Mobilising, recruiting and training Kaunas 2022 volunteers; —— New models in common marketing, programming, external they have been developing for the past five years. launching the grand Kaunas 2022 welcoming volunteer pro- and internal communication. SCHEDULE gramme, and launching an online volunteering programme for —— New common annual Kaunas cultural programme planning 2017–2018 IGNITION active social media volunteering in communication and market- tool developed. 2017–2018 IGNITION Building partnerships with cultural and business sector; collabo- ing results. —— New format of cultural assembly – annual reflections on Preparation for the training programme, first two courses taught ration with education institutions (schools and universities); ca- achievements and results. and practiced in the Cultural Co-opetition programme in the pacity building programme; entrepreneurship laboratory/case 2023 and beyond LEGACY —— New partnerships among local and international organisations. Seniūnijos of the City and the District. studies in culture and business sectors; preparation for a celebra- The newly developed volunteer recruitment and voluntary work —— Bigger and more diverse cultural audience. tion of 100-year anniversary of Lithuanian Independence; inter- promotion tool will continue to function and engage new volun- —— Contemporised cultural offer, more innovative approach. 2019–2022 AGITATION, EXPLOSION national summer camp (2018 summer); and internships in local teers in joining cultural initiatives. Participants involved in the community programme We, the cultural and business organisations. FACULTY FOR COMMUNITY CULTURE ACTIVISM People contribute to the Cultural Co-opetition and Fluxus Labs IMPACT: Growing numbers of citizens involved in voluntary ac- projects in their local neighbourhoods. 2019–2020 AGITATION tivities; more diverse citizen groups involved in voluntary cultural The Tempo Academy of Culture will hold annual courses on com- Building partnerships with other ECoC cities; alumni taking over activities; Kaunas 2022 programme will actively involve no less munity arts that will be hosted by the Faculty of Arts at Vytautas 2023 and beyond LEGACY platform development; development of new initiatives and pro- than 600 volunteers of different age and abilities; culture pro- Magnus University and train up to 80 creative activists of differ- jects, opening new CCI businesses; capacity building programme; fessionals will gain skills in better volunteer inclusion and man- ent ages, professions and cultural backgrounds. The practical con- The training programme is adopted as a master’s degree study entrepreneurship laboratory/case studies in culture and business agement; and a new platform for volunteer recruitment will be tent of the courses will be integrated with the project of Cultural programme under the supervision of the Faculty of Arts at Vytau- sectors; international summer camp (2020 summer); internships developed. Co-opetition, providing local communities with help and leader- tas Magnus University. in local cultural and business organisations and other ECoC cities. ship from a community arts perspective while implementing their Cultural Co-opetition projects. Based on this programme, it is en- IMPACT: up to 80 trained community artists/activists, at least 40 2021–2022 EXPLOSION visioned that the University will launch the first Community Arts of whom get involved in Kaunas 2022 community culture pro- Implementation of projects, development of CCI businesses; ca- master’s degree study programme in Lithuania before 2022, thus jects in 36 Kaunas and Kaunas District Seniūnijos. pacity building programme; entrepreneurship laboratory/case

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS filling the gap and ensuring the vitality of the professional com- studies in culture and business sectors; international summer 30 munity arts field. camp (2022 summer); internships in local cultural and business 31 CONFUSION

Projects in this strand deal with unsolved issues relating to our City’s collective memory and heritage.

Kaunas has unique heritage, but its citizens lack knowledge and emotional at- tachment to it. While Kaunasians have a backward mindedness, and are known as people nostalgic for the great past they have lost, they are prone to collective amnesia – remembering only selected historical moments. To overcome this, there are two connected platforms that have the following objectives:

Modernism for the Future: to initiate international research and the establish- ment of an interpretation centre to showcase our recent architectural heritage – namely the Modernist Movement, and put it into a European/global context.

Memory Office: to revive the diverse memory of Kaunas and its citizens, espe- cially regarding an openness towards European values and multi-ethnicity. To reconcile the past and present for the benefit of the future.

GRAND EVENT: The Opening of Kaunas 2022 20–22 January 2022

WAKE UP, BEAST! – THE SHOW We need to wake up the Beast of Kaunas in order to renew our “contract” with it and experi- ence the revival of the City spirit. A parade of citizens with food for the Beast in all shapes and sizes – made from various organic and inorganic matter will lure the Beast out of its nest. The Beast will make its first appearance during the show following the parade. Hundreds of citizens, children and adults alike will be involved in the realisation of this spectacular event.

Wake up – Turn on the Light The Beast will be chased out of its nest by turning a dark winter night into a bright day. Hun- dreds of buildings and thousands of architectural details will be spot-lit during the opening period:

365 Modernist buildings (public and private) will be illuminated with 3D projections on the facades and opened up for the public during the whole weekend. The building corridors and private apartments will host exhibitions, there will be dance performances on the roof terraces or staircases, story-telling guided tours will be organised for this event. The Christ Resurrec- tion Church will be crowned with laser beams. Architectural details (balconies, fences, various ornaments, such as rosettes, roof statues, gargoyles etc.) will be spot-lit with laser beams (by the way, Lithuania is a world leader in laser technologies) all over the City, including new resi- dential areas.

Wake up – Crank up the Music Trance music show – a live Modernism Broadcast from Kaunas through No Border Radio and through Pixel Tunnels to Europe projects.

The Confusion rock music concert will take place in Laisvės Alėja (Freedom Avenue) at the Church of St. Michael.

Wake up – Make some Noise Instead of fireworks the remaining multi-storey empty ghost buildings in the City centre will be shattered to the ground by means of a controlled demolition – a symbolic end to the So- viet and Temporary past and a waking call for the Beast / the City. The show will be hosted by YouTube stars with the potential to make news worldwide.

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS © AA 32 33 CONFUSION

MODERNISM FOR THE FUTURE Building up emotional attachment to the City and its heritage

Emotional attachment is one of the key aspects of heritage appreciation. We PARTNERS: need to create emotional shock to wake up these places, to create new sto- Lead project hosts: Kaunas 2022 and Modernism ries and new ways of forging an emotional attachment. interpretation and education centre Modernism for the Future, Kaunas University of Technology. Kaunas’ status as a temporary capital City (1919–1940) provoked a huge Local partners: Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO, ICOMOS Lithuania, Department of construction boom: government institutions, museums, educational institu- Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture, tions, business offices, hotels, industrial territories, housing, etc. were built. Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas City Museum, Vytautas the Great War Museum in Kaunas, NGO The area of the City expanded by a factor of seven. More than 6,000 buil- Ekskursas, public organisation Regional park of dings from this period survive until today. Kaunas Fortress.

European partners: European Association This process corresponds with huge changes in European and Global archi- for Heritage Interpretation, ICOMOS Interna- tional Scientific Committee on Twentieth-cen- tecture. In the 1930s, in a very short period of time, the Modernist Move- tury heritage (ISC20C), The Bartlett School of ment became the de facto international style. The revolutionary seeds sown Architecture, UCL, and Monitoring Group on Cul- by Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, Mies van der Rohe and other world-class tural Heritage in the Baltic States (Working Group on 20th century heritage). architects and schools of architecture, found fertile soil in dozens of places around the world. The title of European Capital of Culture would be a power- Supplementary funding resources: The Centre will explore all national, regional and EU platforms ful impulse for Kaunas to create a success story of its Modernist Movement for heritage and research funding: Lithuanian inheritance, examples of which Kaunas has in abundance. However, many of Science Council, Lithuanian Council for Culture, Heritage Plus Joint Call, The Nordplus programme, these places are unloved, in very poor condition, or even abandoned. How etc. do we change this situation? First of all, we have to build up the emotio- Budget: 2 m euros nal attachment with our citizens. We have to empower small communities that already appreciate this heritage, and to coordinate and accelerate this process. In 2017 20th century heritage interpretation and education centre “Modernism for the Future” will be established and take up this responsi- bility. The aim of the Centre will be to act as a mediator between heritage and different groups of society (heritage communities and those of owners, tourists, citizens etc.), and set up a strategy for explaining, interpreting and promoting the City’s modernism, and the Modernist Movement in general.

# IMPULSE “progressive” building,” who asks us to take a closer Unlike the public and civil purposes of other built look at everyday spaces. A culturally, emotionally and heritage, such as churches or fortresses, the Modern- economically meaningful future of the Modernist Mo- EMOTIONAL ist Movement buildings are inhabited by thousands of vement’s heritage is impossible without the conside- ATTACHMENT FOR people in Kaunas. And more widely, millions of Euro- ration of everyday spaces. We say that contemporary REVITALISATION peans live in modernist buildings, including in cities heritage protection and its appreciation is not a mat- such as Porto, Oslo and Mechelen. ter of having a collection of monuments – instead, it is a matter of giving a new sense and emotion to the According to the architectural critic Wayne Attoe, whole historic landscape, as marked by the Modernist RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS 34 “Histories are constructed as sequences of deviant, Movement. © AA 35 CONFUSION CONFUSION SCHEDULE PROJECT EXAMPLES 2017–2018 IGNITION The first step will be to establish the 20th century heritage inter- pretation and education centre “Modernism for the Future”. The CITY CROWN: FESTIVAL OF MODERN LIGHTS centre will be organised on the basis of the Architecture and Ur- banism Research Centre, which is a part of the Institute of Ar- Kaunas 2022 Grand Opening Event will combine the legacy of the chitecture and Construction of Kaunas University of Technology. Modernist Movement, ideas of modernity and the urban environ- Cultural events will be organised for local and international art- ment of Kaunas. Our symbol of modern Kaunas – the Resurrection ists, who will work on interpretation of shrinking modern herit- Church (central in the image box on the left page) – is one of the age. This call will correspond with the European year of Cultural most inspiring examples in Europe where the utopian idea – Die Heritage in 2018. Stadtkrone – by the German expressionist Bruno Taut was imple- mented. While building the church one of the symbolic ideas was Traveling architectural exhibition “Kaunas 1919–1939: Lithuani- that “the big church tower will be lit by strong electric lights that an Capital Inspired by the Modernist Movement” will be dedicated will spread light all around the surrounding area.” This idea, typi- to the centenary of the re-establishment of the Lithuanian state cal of the Modernist Movement, was never realised, because dur- and the establishment of the first Republic of Lithuania in 1918. ing the Soviet period the church was converted into a radio facto- ry. During the festival of modern lights this technology-based idea 2019–2020 AGITATION will come true by the means of contemporary lighting and digital Long-term projects: City Crown: Festival of Modern Lights, Kaunas technologies. The festival will also include other important City Modernism 360/365 and Urban Landscapes of the 1930’s: Explosi- buildings – an open-air event that will invite citizens to see their on of the Modernist Movement. The second call for artists to con- heritage in a different light. tinue the interpretation of the Modernist Movement.

2021–2022 EXPLOSION KAUNAS MODERNISM 360/365 The core events of this period will be the opening festival of “mod- ern lights” together with an exhibition and performance resulting This initiative aims to announce Kaunas as the City of the Mod- from “Urban Landscapes of the 1930’s: Explosion of the Moder- ernist Movement. “360 degrees of Modernism” will cover all possi- nist Movement; Interpret Europe Conference” with side events on ble angles of meaning: cultural, political, economic etc. 365 sym- the Soviet period and tsarist fortress; Kaunas Modernism 360/365 bolises that modern heritage isn’t just about visiting churches, which will reach its peak phase with the third and biggest call for museums, theatres and other buildings at weekends or on na- the local and international artist community to interpret heritage tional holidays, but is for every day of the year. The Legacy of the through the means of art. Modernist Movement surrounds us every single day. Based on re- search and information on a digital platform artists will be asked 2023 and beyond LEGACY to give contemporary interpretations aiming to recreate an emo- The heritage interpretation centre will continue to work on inter- tional attachment to Modernist architecture. The projects will be pretation and dissemination of the Modernist Movement’s legacy selected through the three international calls. The result of artis- in Kaunas and Europe, and promote Kaunas as a European herit- tic interpretation of Modernism in Kaunas will be shared annually age centre. This will strengthen not only the appreciation of Kau- in conferences of Interpret Europe. A catalogue listing artefacts nas Modernism and the Modern Movement, but also increase the of modernism and cultural interpretations will be prepared for visibility of the European Heritage Label and will support Kaunas’ 2022. International Interpret Europe Conference focusing on every- efforts to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site for the Modern- day heritage will take place in Kaunas in May-June 2022. Kaunas ist Movement. will suggest the possibility of a European Association for Heritage Interpretation conference to be held in a different Lithuanian city IMPACT each year. The conference will take a broader look at Modernism Awareness of the Modernist Movement and the emotional attach- in Europe and the rest of the world, including the Soviet era herit- ment to it in the City will be raised by the everyday use that the age as well as tsarist legacy fortress. ECoC project will bring about. As a result of this, Kaunas will give impetuous to proceed on the active interpretation of the Modern- ist Movement in Europe. URBAN LANDSCAPES OF THE 1930’S: EXPLOSION OF THE MODERNIST MOVEMENT METHOD The idea of the project is to reveal a diversity of the Modernist Historic research, international conference, festival of modern Movement variations on a global scale by creating a documentary lights, art and theatre projects, digital platform, education pro- and presenting its results in various cities. There are hundreds of grammes, documentary, exhibitions, concerts, cinema and live lesser-known places where Modernism had changed, or consider- performances in Modernist buildings. ably influenced, the spirit of the place. Gdynia in Poland, Brno in the Czech Republic, Lvov in Ukraine, Harbin in China, Asmara in PLACES Eritrea, Ekaterinburg in Russia, Napier in New Zealand, and Beirut The main events will concentrate on the slope near the Resurrec- in Lebanon are all examples of this. These cities, regardless of tion Church and in Unity Square near the National Museum, but vis- their political or cultural differences, once shared the same inter- ually speaking the opening festival of modern lights will embrace national idea, and now share the same legacy. And this legacy can the whole central part of the City. The overarching project Kaunas be an important tool in finding the common ground for shared Modernism 360/365 will take place all around the historical parts identity of the contemporary global world. The results of the pro- of Kaunas and Kaunas region where a sign of Modern Kaunas will ject will be presented in Kaunas as video-sound installation with be established. It could illuminate significant monuments such as life jazz performance on the opening festival. the Resurrection Church, or ordinary houses in Žaliakalnis, an in- dustrial building in Vilijampolė or Šančiai, and may include small architectural details of the City, like the Kaukas staircase or the hol-

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS iday villa in Kulautuva in Kaunas District. The exact places will be 36 determined based on research performed in the Agitation period. 37 © GČ CONFUSION

MEMORY OFFICE The multicultural and multinational heritage of the City emerges, overcoming the collective amnesia

PLACES: of Kaunas in achieving national statehood in the first At this specific moment in the world when histo- Kaunas: Kaunas Žalgiris Arena, Kaunas State part of the 20th century, with the only heroes that are ries are being rewritten to serve new ideologies and Philharmonic, Science Island, National Kaunas Drama Theatre, Vytautas Magnus University Hall, remembered being ethnic Lithuanians. But there were interests, and nationalism is on the rise again, we Kaunas Photo Gallery, Fluxus Labs (points), Kaunas five languages on Kaunas’ Municipal seal from that want to oppose amnesia and strengthen our sense Fortress facilities, public spaces, M. K. Čiurlionis period, so this blinkered memory is more than a lit- of belonging to an open-eyed Europe by making his- National Museum of Art, Kaunas District Museum, Raudondvaris Manor and Arts Incubator, industrial tle confusing. That’s why we aim to initiate a Memory tory visible and audible, and by broadening world- venues, private houses and courtyards etc. Office platform, which will help awaken the multicul- views through cultural activities. Lithuania: theatre and dance performances will be shown in Vilnius, Klaipėda, Kėdainiai, Jonava, tural consciousness of our City, where Jewish, Russian, Varėna, etc. Polish, German, and Lithuanian cultures and players In order to avert potential new catastrophes of hu- Abroad: performances, photo exhibition and books, as well as exhibition Out of Darkness may re-appear to become the inspiration behind a com- manity we need to face our history and build criti- travel after the Kaunas event to other countries. mon story. cal thinking in the broader community. We believe PARTNERS: cultural activities are the most appropriate tool to Through the long term cultural projects Yiddishe Ma- reach people. Music, theatre, exhibitions, participa- Lead project host: Kaunas 2022 Agency Local partners: National Kaunas Drama me and Tear Down The Walls Kaunas will emerge as tory projects in neighbourhoods, street arts and pub- Theatre, M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of a place of reconciled memory. The City will revive and lic events have to be enriched by relevant content of Art, Jewish communities in Lithuania, Lewben Art Foundation, The Lithuanian Expatriate Art strengthen its multicultural character and thereby en- generosity, acceptance, and openness to Otherness, Foundation, The Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum, rich its own story. expressed in Emmanuel Levinas’ writings. Kaunas District Museum, NGO Kaunas Biennial, Kaunas department of Lithuanian Photo Artists’ Association, Kaunas City Museum, International Centre for Litvak Photography, NGO Sites of Memory, Autc.lt, Excursus team, Santara-Šviesa, Dvimiesčio kulka, Meno parkas gallery, Kaunas Chamber Theatre, Kaunas Dance Theatre AURA, VMU Theatre, Kaunas State Puppet Theatre, Kaunas State Philharmonic, and The Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra. METHODS mapping created and used by local community and visitors to the Oratory, music programme Music Track, theatre plays, contem- European and foreign partners: Litvak World, City; World Litvak Forum; two exhibitions installed in museum and Litvak World US, Tel Aviv University, Folkestone porary dance and circus programme, workshops, summer camps, industrial venues and educational programmes to follow. Triennial (UK), I Musei di Ascona/Museo Castello translation and literature, food programme, international forum, San Materno (CH), Fondazione M. Werefkin exhibitions, community projects, digital tools: apps, digital map- 2023 and beyond LEGACY Ascona, Centre Emmanuel Levinas at Université ping, story-telling tours through the City and the District, etc. Paris-Sorbonne (FR), Aurora Nova (DE), RE RIGA festival (LV), Artscenico (DE), The Northern and The mapped tangible and intangible heritage of Kaunas’ mi- Eastern European Centre of Puppet Arts/NEECPA, SCHEDULE norities will ensure a sustainable legacy for the project; summer International Puppetry Association UNIMA, National camps and residencies will be established as long term activities Puppet theatre (BY), Grodno Regional Puppet 2017–2018 IGNITION of the City and the District; the oratory and theatre productions Theatre (BY), S. Obraztsov State Academical Puppet A premiere of Shalom Bellissima in 2017; research for oratory (ar- will be travelling to Israel and other countries’ festivals; personal, Theatre (RU), Puppet Theatre Guliwer (PL), Baj chives, books, personal stories, places, etc.); first meeting of Litvak Pomorski Theatre (PL), NUKU theatre (EE), Kiev cultural, and business relations between Lithuania and Israel, Ger- Academic Puppet Theatre (UA), Kharkiv Academic Forum committee; negotiations with museums for the Marianne many, Poland, and Russia will be strengthened to promote new Puppet Theatre (UA). von Werefkin exhibition; research and IT work for digital tours on projects in the future. the heritage of Kaunasian Jews, Russians, Germans, Poles, Arme- Supplementary funding resources: Lithuanian nians and others; international summer camp for children organ- Culture Fund, Lithuanian Science Fund, Erasmus+, ised in 2018; photo residencies in 2017 and 2018. Creative Europe, and private sponsorship. PROJECT EXAMPLES

Budget: 2 m euros 2019–2010 AGITATION Community projects and actions in Kaunas neighbourhoods in YIDDISHE MAME – Jews’ Story Unveiled the framework of Fluxus Labs, especially in Vilijampolė (former © LC Digital tour application revealing hidden Jewish heritage in Kaunas. Kaunas Jewish Ghetto); contemporary circus projects in neigh- The Yiddishe Mame programme serves as a platform of reconcilia- Produced by Sites of Memory, 2016. bourhoods, in relation to national minorities’ topics; Café Europa tion after a long silence between Lithuanian and Jewish communi- discussions; street art, visual art, performance, and dance activi- ties that followed the horrors of the Holocaust in Lithuania. The title Our City has an impressive portfolio of Lithuanian and European history and ties, bike tours, digital tours; music, visual and performance pro- comes from a well-known Jewish song about family relations and culture, but when it comes to details and facts, we self-diagnose a common gramme; photo residencies and book production. reflects our aim to unveil personal stories of Jewish Kaunasians. Yid- amnesia about our history, especially non-Lithuanian residents’ stories. Citi- dishe Mame is the one who helps reveal the talents of her children, 2021–2022 EXPLOSION accompanies them to the door, kisses them on the forehead and sees zens barely know where to look for heritage, and don’t realise that the City Working together with Jews, Russians, Poles and new refugees in them out broken-hearted until they disappear into the horizon to had flourished thanks to various ethnic groups and European cultures that order to realise artistic and community actions in Kaunas and its become big and famous abroad. They were the mothers of the world through the centuries have contributed to its vitality. Despite this, the Lithu- surrounding area: at least two dance performances, and four the- famous Litvaks (Jews with roots in Lithuania and the former Grand anian media and Kaunasians themselves still think of Kaunas as a temporary atre production co-produced with professionals and institutions Duchy of Lithuania) born in Kaunas – e.g. the philosopher Emmanuel

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS from different countries, Oratory uniting more than 300 performers Levinas and the painter Arbit Blatas, the famous poet Lea Goldberg, capital. We tend to have “selective memory” and focus on the importance 38 from at least four countries; Grand Event; comprehensive heritage the writer and renowned lecturer on anarchist philosophy, women’s 39 CONFUSION rights, and social issues Emma Goldman. All of them – and hundreds The play is expected to premiere in September 2017 in Kaunas. more – need to be remembered and reintroduced into the City’s his- Between 2018–2021 performances will be shown in various Lithu- torical and cultural map. anian cities – including Kėdainiai, Jonava, Raudondvaris, Kulautuva, Birštonas, Skirsnemunė, Jurbarkas, Vilnius, Klaipėda, and Šiauliai. Reconciliation Oratory / 24 of March 2022 Plus it will be performed in Tel Aviv and other cities in Israel, as Cantata with at least 300 participants. Its players, singers, actors well as Homo Novus festival in Riga. Partner: Theatre Club, NGO. and musicians will be Jews/Litvaks from Lithuania, Israel, USA, South Africa, Russia and Germany. Composer Philip Miller (RSA), Reconstructions of traditional Yiddish Theatre plays are planned who is the author of cantata Rewind (RSA, 2009, https://www. in collaboration with Bucharest based State Yiddish theatre youtube.com/watch?v=k4ylJDiELGM), will compose and conduct (2019–2022). As our partners from Bucharest say, Kaunas will the oratory on the Kaunas Jews’ story. The composer’s method of become the World Capital for Yiddish Theatre in 2022. Between working starts with researching archive material, collecting sto- 2019–2020 workshops with Kaunas, Romanian, Israeli and Lat- ries, images and sounds, in order to create sensitive and convinc- vian theatre artists will reconstruct one of the most famous Yid- ing audiovisual pieces that are performed by hundreds of musi- dish plays (Sulamita or Romanian Wedding). The aim is to deepen cians, together with audience participation. Video screenings, the knowledge of local actors about the particularities of Jewish dance and theatre performances will enrich the spectacle. The theatre. The 2021 premiere will be in Kaunas, and later the pro- project will be presented at the Žalgiris Arena as the Grant Event duction will tour to other Lithuanian cities. Partners: State Yid- of the MEMORY OFFICE platform, and will open the Worldwide dish Theatre (Bucharest, Romania), Kaunas Chamber Theatre, and Litvak Forum. VMU Theatre.

Worldwide Litvak Forum / 25–27 March 2022 My Courtyard Festival initiatives will also contain Jewish heritage A three-day international conference called “Face-to-Face” dedi- topics and will be presented at as part of We, the People platform. cated to Emmanuel Levinas. The forum committee consists of Jer- rold Zoloto (President of Litvak World US), Bella Shirin (IL/LT), pro- fessor Benny Nageris (IL), Irena Veisaitė (LT), Markas Zingeris (LT), Out of Darkness / 2021–2022 Michaël Levinas (FR), Danielle Cohen-Levinas (Centre Emmanuel The exhibition “Out of Darkness” will be installed in one of the Levinas de l’Université Paris-Sorbonne), Jakov Katz (founder of Lit- factories in Vilijampolė, formerly the City’s Jewish Ghetto. Jenny vak association in Israel), Adi Leron (IL), Zohar Chessakov (Tel Aviv Kagan is a British artist whose parents were rescued from the Council member), Ruth Vin (IL), rectors and professors of Kaunas Kaunas Ghetto in 1944 and hidden in wooden boxes in a factory universities, representatives of the Lithuanian and Kaunas Jewish for nine months. She will work with local communities and archi- communities. val material to create an installation with participatory elements. Workshops with communities will be organised through Fluxus Day One will be dedicated to Jewish history, literature and philo- Labs. Project partners: Kaunas Biennial, Folkestone Triennial. Youth protest march after the self-immolation of Romas Kalanta sophy. The day will be rounded off with a contemporary memorial on Laisvės avenue in Kaunas, 18 May, 1972. Photo from KGB archives. inauguration at Emmanuel Levinas Square. Face-to-Face / 2017–2022 Partners: Vytautas Magnus University, Vilnius University Kaunas Following the notion of human encounters, expressed by Em- Summer Camps and residencies for artists / expressionist group Der Blaue Reiter (Wassily Kandinsky, Alexej Faculty, Centre Emmanuel Levinas de l’Université Paris-Sorbonne. manuel Levinas as face-to-face communication, we will initiate 2017–2022 and beyond von Jawlensky, Franz Marc, August Macke, and Gabriele Münter). translations and readings of Litvak literature, philosophy and po- Marianne von Werefkin was the sister of Piotr Werefkin – one of Day Two will be dedicated to culture and arts: etry (E. Levinas, L. Goldberg, etc.). International summer school for those who have family roots the last Kaunas Governors of the Russian imperial rule – who vis- —— An exhibition of Litvak artists Jacques Lipchitz (1891–1973), in Kaunas and Lithuania, but don’t speak the language and are ited brother in Kaunas between 1904 and 1911. Marianne wrote Marc Chagall (1887–1985), Pinchus Krémègne (1890–1981), A Conference on Emmanuel Levinas philosophical writings will not familiar with the cultural environment. Camps will provide to the painter Alexei Jawlensky saying that “Kaunas is the treasure Michel Kikoïne (1892–1968), Max Band (1900–1974), Ar- take place in May or June 2018. In 2018 an international open call separate programme for children and adults (more about this in for artists”. Her paintings, and letters from the archives reveal her bit Blatas (1908–1999), Théo Tobiasse (1927–2012), Marc for artists will be announced for a contemporary monument in the Emerging Kaunas platform). artistic shift, and a broader social context from the beginning of Rothko (1903–1970), and others. Partners: Lewben Art Foun- Emmanuel Levinas Square in Kaunas. Implementation envisioned the 20th century. dation, The Lithuanian Expatriate Art Foundation, The Vilna up to 2022. In 2020 an art residency will be opened, which will be dedicat- Gaon State Jewish Museum, and Kaunas District Museum. ed to the research of Jewish culture, history and philosophy. The The exhibition will be organised and hosted by M. K. Čiurlionis Na- —— A contemporary music and dance programme will be spread TEAR DOWN THE WALLS – Multiculturalism of the residency will be hosted by one of the abandoned Synagogues in tional Art Museum. The main collection of Marianne von Werefkin across Kaunas and Kaunas District venues, such as the Rau- City Revealed the City centre. Between 2020 and 2021 ten people from across artworks belongs to the Ascona Museum in Switzerland (I Musei dondvaris Manor and Art Incubator, National Kaunas Drama the world will live and work in Kaunas, each for about a month. di Ascona/Museo Castello San Materno). Experts: Dr. Mara Folini, Theatre, Vytautas Magnus University, and Kaunas State Phil- The Jewish, German, Russian, and Polish periods of influence in Initiated and hosted by Vytautas Magnus University and Vilnius Prof. Rasa Žukienė, Dr. Laima Laučkaitė, Osvaldas Daugelis. harmonic. Choreographers from Israel: Renan Raz, Yosi Ber- Kaunas came to an end in a confusion that often still persists. Academy of Arts in collaboration with art schools from various gas, Odetas Grafas, and the musical programme curated by Consequently, we have the Tear Down the Wall programme, which European countries. Digital Diplomacy Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla (Music Director at the City of Birming- will open mental spaces for discussions and co-creative practices, The project is based on Kaunas being at the centre of European ham Symphony Orchestra). focusing on the Russian, Polish, German cultures, and also new- Music Track / 2017–2022 and worldwide embassies during its period as the state capital comers to the City. The projects will target the topic of dissonant A mobile music programme curated by Žilvinas (JAY) Švarplys: (1918–1940) – and many eventful stories are connected to these Finally, Day Three will be dedicated to scientific and medical heritage, which includes the fortress complex from the period Klezmer music festival, inviting musicians from Poland, Israel diplomatic entities, especially the Jewish tragedies and the issu- achievements. A networking area, seminar and exposition will be of the Russian Empire's rule and the legacy of the Soviet period and Germany, with, Russian, Polish, German, Latvian, Armenian, ing of visas for their emigration. In partnership with IT companies held at Science Island building and in the open space. (1940–1990) consisting of the material and intangible emotional Romany, and Georgian music performances. The music will be and European embassies and consulates in Lithuania, we will re- relicts. performed on international trains running between Kaunas and vive the history of diplomacy from this period and produce virtual Partners: Tel Aviv University, Lithuanian University of Health Sci- Warsaw, Berlin, Riga, Tallinn, and St Petersburg. and augmented reality products and research-based guided tours, ences, Kaunas University of Technology, Global Lithuanian Lead- Café du Monde / 2018–2022 apps, maps and computer games. Research partners: Autc.lt, Si- ers, and Invest Lithuania. Multicultural discussions and food parties at local restaurants Demolishing the Fortress Mentality / 2018–2022 tes of Memory virtual archive, Excursus, and Kaunas universities. and cafes will gather local people representing various nations Contemporary dance and circus performances directed by Israeli, Production partners: Sneaky Box, Cluster Blaster and other local Theatre programme Memory Office, 2017–2022 that are residents of Kaunas, including international students, in- Russian, German, and Polish choreographers, and staged in the but internationally working IT companies will guarantee cutting Theatre plays reflecting the personal stories of Lithuanian mi- terns, refugees, etc. The cultural programme reveals various cul- fortress, as well as on stages around Kaunas and Kaunas District. edge productions that will attract the young local, national and norities will be produced in collaboration by private and national tures through talks, readings, live streams, quizzes, board games, international audience. theatres (at least four between 2017 and 2022). One of the plays, culinary heritage events. Activities will be implemented together Marianne in the Laboratory of Art / 2021–2022

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS “Shalom Bellissima”, is being produced in 2017 as a pilot project with different communities, participants of the Emerging Kaunas Exhibition of the Russian-born German expressionist paint- 40 of Yiddishe Mame. and Fluxus Labs programmes. er Marianne von Werefkin (1860–1938), who belonged to the 41 CONFLUENCE

# THE NEMUNAS AND NERIS RIVERS

© AA

CONFLUENCE strand projects deal with weak cross-sec- The two connected platforms have the following GRAND EVENT: 20–22 May 2022 torial cooperation and the brain drain. objectives: THE DAY OF THE BEAST We need the Beast of Kaunas to show up with all of its myth- spectacular visual and sound performance on the water. The invi- We lack collaborative spirit and practices, a unifying Designing Happiness: to choose happiness as a state ological colleagues from various European cities in order to tations to the gathering wll be sent to Vilnius Basilisk, Loch Ness narrative and happiness also. So we need to address of mind and to design our City as a place of happy renew the international networks. The show is designed to Monster, Y Ddraig Goch from Wales, Smok Wawelski from Krakow the challenges of weak cross-sectoral cooperation experiences. To stimulate cross-sectoral cooperation. celebrate the Story of the Beast. The narrative of the story will and many others. and insufficient links between culture, education, bu- To convert the City into a Centre for Contemporary be created together with communities and citizens through As a result young people Culture and Art. To create a unifying narrative for the the Fluxus Labs platform. Each neighbourhood of Kaunas and siness, and social sectors. Kaunas District or ethnic communities will construct a huge leave the City and we need better instruments to con- City and its citizens to re-emerge as a European city. puppet – a character of the Story. The communities’ members nect with them and encourage them to stay. will come with these puppets on boats by the rivers Nemunas Emerging Kaunas: to empower the young generation and and Neris and meet on the waterfront platform on the conflu- to create a platform for them to be rooted in the City as ence for the theatre show. well as making Kaunas attractive for young people all over RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS The Gathering of the European Dragons and Beasts (in ho- 42 Europe. lograms and sculptural forms) is envisaged to finalise the 43 CONFLUENCE DESIGNING HAPPINESS Happy people, places and spaces

Yes, we know. To design happiness might seem quite a naïve aspiration. But PARTNERS: we have two or even three or more critical reasons to do it. Seriously. Kaunas Lead project host(s): Kaunas 2022 Agency, officially strives to become ahome for happy people as stated in the Strate- Vytautas Magnus University

gic Development Plan of Kaunas City Municipality until 2022 (Do we have Local partners: Lithuanian Design Forum, Vilnius a choice to ignore this?). Secondly, in 2015 Kaunas was accepted into the Academy of Arts, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas University of Technology, The Lithuanian UNESCO Creative City Network as a Design City, so design is our power and Association of Persons with Disabilities, Architects magic we can’t escape from. It is our future. The future still to be designed Association of Architects (Kaunas Branch), Design Library Kaunas (KTU), Lithuanian Artists’ Associa- though. Thirdly, we are not afraid to be naïve. Being naïve is okay because tion and its Kaunas Branch, International Centre you can always start over. The charming example of Iceland (population- of Photography, Architektūros fondas, and other wise the size of Kaunas) proves this set of mind to be so very true and right NGO’s, Talent Garden Kaunas, freelance artists, designers, creatives, researchers, activists. turning the country into an exceptionally creative place and, according to Eric Weiner, one of the happiest places in the world. Unbelievable! Even de- European partners: European association Design for All Europe, Design for All Foundation, spite being a colder, more remote and darker place than ours. Hope is on our ENAT European network for Accessible Tourism, side. The challenge too. BEDA Bureau of European Design Associations, Design for Europe, Design Management Net- work (DMN) the Netherlands, Urban Research How do you design happiness? Or at least how do you design for happiness? platform BAU, Coopolis office for Cooperative Urban Development, Urban Connectors, UNESCO Or how do you build something to make one happy? These are our driving Creative Cities Network, Biennale Internationale questions. And a first step in tackling them is to understand what happi- Design Saint-Etienne, Milan Triennial, Interna- tional Biennial Association, Happy Happy Joy Joy ness and design mean. But our understanding of what happiness is (and social business festival (by Not Perfect Education, how to get it) is often misaligned with what really drives happiness. Indeed, LV), DesignLibrary Milan, Talent Garden (TAG research by Dal Gilbert and others show that we tend to go looking for hap- international), Politecnico di Milano. piness in a lot of the wrong places. In other words, what people think will Supplementary funding resources: national, re- gional and EU funding resources to be addressed make them happy is not, in fact, what actually makes them happy. for project funding.

IMPULSE Budget: 2 m euros We need to think, act and participate in design, and be happy, or as Iceland- ers say when they part, “vertu sœll” (“go happy”).

With this in mind we focus on design as/for/and happiness. Happy spaces make happy people, so we need to provoke and nurture design thinking, de- sign-centred culture and a design-aware environment. The projects will ap- proach the issue from various perspectives: design and/as art; design, com-

munity and everyday life; design, business and industry. In order to spread © GK POLKADOT by Guda Koster (NL). 2014 and make the designed happiness virus grow we have to support participa- tion and sharing and not be afraid of imperfection and failure.

is organised. Results widely communicated, publicly exhibit- PLACES ed. BEDA annual members congress expected to be organised The project will affect the public spaces of Kaunas City centre in Kaunas. Good Design Award 10th anniversary events to take and neighbourhoods, and various activities will be held in Kaunas place. Design object (happiness “hedonometre”) to be construct- New Town area, Kaunas Science Island, on the riverbanks, and in METHODS started. Pilot projects (such as Dialogue. Kaunas 18+18) to be ed and launched. Design Hotel to be reconstructed and opened. other public and private spaces. Pop-up buildings, public spaces designed for happiness, space and executed. First European Design conference on accessibility or- Design Boost Workshop No. 2. Urban Actions to be activated and place making, public events, workshops and competitions, awards, ganised. Design Week events to take place. Preparatory works for celebrated. Design Week events to take place. Happiness inter- PARTICIPATION training, knowledge and know-how transfer, urban renewal ac- organising competition for Design object (happiness “hedonome- ventions to be performed and celebrated. Happy Happy Joy Joy Projects are designed to address the local society, neighbourhood tions, exhibitions in public spaces, research, brainstorming, design tre”) and Design Hotel to be executed. festival is organised. communities, emerging design practitioners, amateur and semi- thinking, dialogue-based aesthetic, contextual, performative de- professional makers, the authorities, City planners and developers, sign, collaborative place making strategies, participatory urban 2019–2020 AGITATION 2023 and beyond LEGACY local investors, designers, architects, urban activists, cultural and development strategising, and commissioned artworks. Major programme events and actions to be communicated (Happy Programme is designed to perform long-term legacies for the City creative entrepreneurs. Happy Joy Joy festival, Design Hotel building process and others). in the physical realm by transformations made in urban spaces SCHEDULE Maker-space set up. 10 public art projects implemented. (Design Object, Design for All case solutions, happiness interven- CREATIVE INDUSTRIES tions, Design Hotel, Urban Action 2022) and mental/attitude level Culture and the creative industries are powerful catalysts for the 2017–2018 IGNITION 2021–2022 EXPLOSION (spread via training, conferences, competitions, and workshops) urban development in the programme, which aims to balance and

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS Design Boost Workshop No. 1 to start. Research on urban area European Design conference on accessibility is organised. In- to ensure a momentum for the creative flow through knowledge employ the creative economy, culture and arts, in order to give 44 under renewal to be continued and finalised. Urban Actions get ternational student workshop and competition (Design for All) and experience. new impulses to the urban renewal process. 45 CONFLUENCE machines and tools. The Makerspace will be based in one of the Several projects make sure that Design for All is a promise that disused and centrally located buildings. The project will in part increases accessibility and services for all: follow the model of the Open Design School by Matera (2019) and will have representatives from that project as mentors, work- A European Design conference will focus on accessibility for shop tutors and exchange partners. The new space will become all, including the local and governmental planning authorities, a platform for the realisation of design ideas for Kaunas 2022. professional associations, academia, non-profit and local activists. Makers will be offered classes suited to different abilities as well as a space equipped with tools for welding, carving, electronics or International student workshop and competition. Stu- even robotic programming. The space will also be used by peo- dents from local universities and academies under the guidance ple for the creation of a physical model of the Mythical Beast of of an international team of tutors will gain knowledge and ex- Kaunas. pertise in urban architectural planning, industrial and interface design. Design Hotel The idea is to create a design lighthouse in one of the under- Design Boost 5x5. A design workshop will engage five local used interwar Modernist buildings, which will operate partly as businesses to work together with five designers to innovate and a hotel and partly as a design culture/expo centre. The property create or improve existing products. will reflect the ideas of a visionary hotelier, namely one with an original take on hospitality and cultural authenticity. It will be OTHER PROJECTS/EVENTS characterised by thought-provoking design and ground-breaking architecture – all standing for the individual, aesthetic and ser- vice-driven experiences. The objective is to operate as a hotel and 4D (Designing Development, Developing Design). Bienni- an expo centre for unique design objects. The plan is to host vari- al international conference focused on the role of design in devel- ous design and architecture events, symposia, educational events, oping value for social entities, technological advancement, and workshops and the like (in connection with UNESCO Design City business creation as well as City revamping (organised by KTU Network activities). There will be an open call for operators and Design centre and Politecnico di Milano). an international architectural design competition will be organ- ised during the Ignition phase. Design Thursdays. A series of continuous events to meet, dis- cuss, and share ideas on design topics, ranging from historical Happiness Interventions perspectives to future design solutions. Various themes will be Happiness Interventions is a series of events, actions, art and de- covered, and specials guests will be invited to participate via the sign interventions designed to make people smile, feel joyful, and KTU Design Centre. become more connected to the urban environment. The project is envisioned as an experimental City laboratory where ideas are Annual Design Week. This will foster greater cross border generated and implemented (in a pop-up manner) by various pub- direction in cooperation with our international partners, for ex- lic and private stakeholders: local communities, authorities, art- ample we plan a “No Randomness” exhibition in cooperation the ists, designers, architects, urban activists and others. Happiness with the Biennale Internationale Design Saint-Etienne. Interventions might begin as a series of graffiti on City walls that break up an imposing superblock, investing in some quiet street Good Design Award. 10th anniversary celebration events in © LM A CYCLIST WITH ROSE by Tadas Šimkus, 2016 or setting up a pop-up community garden. We expect the pro- Kaunas in 2022. gramme to be followed by franchised events such as the Happy Happy Joy Joy Festival, focusing on how to fight social problems BEDA Conference. Lithuanian Design Forum is a non-govern- IMPACT Blending artistic creativity with scientific ingenuity using social in a joyful, creative and economically sustainable way (designed mental design promotion organisation and is a member of BEDA —— Stimulated citizen participation, urban activism and mobili- media and other ICT technologies, the experimental project will and produced by NotPerfectEducation in collaboration with the (Bureau of European Design Associations, 46 organisation from sation transforming the meaning of urban overcome a core problem of cultural events (and culture in gen- Grameen Creative Lab). 25 countries). Lithuanian Design Forum will organise an annual —— Improved quality of urban environment and space eral), that lacks alternative tools and instruments measuring their members’ conference to be held in Kaunas during the ECoC year. —— Boost in the re-use of vacant properties by design and other value/effect in and for the society. It also aims to break down CITY AS A CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY CULTURE, culture and creative industry businesses boundaries between disciplines and bring together science, engi- ART, AND DESIGN Future of the City. Exhibition and seminar held in 2022 (cu- —— Raised profile of Kaunas as a design City full of design-led neering, IT and new media art, sculpture, architecture, and design rated by Lorenzo Piazzi (IT) and Rūta Valušytė (LT)), Design Library events, actions and objects for innovative thinking. The Idea is inspired by the emotional side Working in partnership with the local and national festivals and (Milan branch), street art actions and exhibitions. Venue – Žalgiris —— Increased knowledge of the value and impact of design, de- of design and examples such as D-Tower (http://www.arcspace. under the direction of international curator Lewis Biggs, we will Arena, platforms on the rivers, KTU Design Centre – Confluence sign thinking and dialogue-based approaches com/features/nox/d-tower/), or hedonometer (http://hedonom- re-designate Kaunas’ public spaces as a contemporary gallery for Valley. —— Greater use of design and design as strategy by local compa- eter.org/about.html). It will be developed in collaboration with everyone visiting and living in the City. A gallery in the meaning nies and businesses international and domestic partners: designers, architects, engi- of a playground for the mind and for the senses, a stimulus to Design training and workshops: train policy-makers and civil —— New routes with which to look for happiness in the right neers, universities, research centres, art and technology associa- new thinking and new attitudes for everyday: the contemporary servants in design thinking to develop innovation policy; Design places and spaces tions, and industry players – by organising workshops and an in- art attitude is not just about objects, but about the recognition of Boost Workshop will be initiated for local businesses, industries ternational competition. meaningful situations and possibilities between people. and designers in order to enable them to meet and work together; We believe in the transformative power of design to foster our a series of seminars on service design for designers; introduce de- City and will seek to ensure design is integrated into the way our DESIGNING HAPPY SPACES & PLACES We will commission five public art or land art pieces each pre- sign and problem-solving to kindergartens; host design competi- City functions. paratory year in Kaunas and in Kaunas District: by 2022 we will tions for primary school children (Olympics for Design); provide Despite being the heart of the City, the building density in Laisvės have changed our City. An attractive digital guide will help people training for secondary school teachers in design as a problem- Avenue is in reality that of a suburb. The buzz here is quite frag- find the art, as some of it will be in unusual places. solving skill; seek Design stakeholders to engage with national PROJECT EXAMPLES mented with some islands of active points. We counted some 80 business associations. buildings that are partly abandoned. We contacted more than 200 DESIGN FOR ALL cultural and creative entrepreneurs operating in Kaunas and they DESIGN(ING) FOR EMOTIONS confirmed a great demand for low-cost workplace. Why not flood In connection with the Tempo Academy of Culture. Of the many the City centre with creative people? facets of design relevant to today‘s society Kaunas would like to The idea is to create an innovative and interactive design-archi- focus on those empowering the city to equally serve its citizens tecture object, a vibrant symbol and iconic landmark to mark Kau- Kaunas 2022 Makerspace and the citizens to be able to contribute to their habitat. This

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS nas Capital of Culture 2022 – a creative way of evaluating the This new collaborative space for makers will bring together means accessibility has to be put forward in all planning stages 46 emotional value of ECoC in Kaunas. people from all creative disciplines in a workshop space with and improving of public spaces and services must be done. 47 CONFLUENCE EMERGING KAUNAS Young generation empowered and rooted in the City

Europe's and Kaunas’ best future lies with the current generation of young PARTNERS: people who can create a prosperous and equitable society. Our collective Lead project host: Kaunas 2022 Agency and The role is to support young people and foster their capacity to imagine and Centre for Business Practice, VMU create a City where they want to live, work, marry and raise a family. This Local partners: School Parliaments, School # platform is a response to an increasing level of youth emigration to more Students’ Unions, Kaunas Youth Organisation Round Table, Global Lithuanian Leaders, World vibrant and economically prosperous places across Europe. EMERGING Lithuanian Centre, secondary schools, universities CREATING THE KAUNAS is our long-term strategy to empower the young generation and and colleges, youth volunteering centres, busi- ness companies, professional culture institutions, FUTURE by involving them in Kaunas 2022 programme we hope to create a City Dansema Dance Theatre, Kaunas choreography in which they want to stay. school, Kaunas Cinema Centre Romuva, Talent Garden, VMU Fashion Design Studio, and Kaunas universities (KTU, VMU, VU). As a strategy we propose cultural programmes for the young generation: European partners: ECoC cities (Matera 2019, from infants to young adults. We will launch many activities for children Rijeka 2020, Novi Sad 2021, Eleusis 2021, Esch and teenagers that are directly connected to other platforms and strands 2022), European Youth Parliament, Arial Trust of Contemporary Capital programme. (UK), International Cultural Organisations, Studio Televeziri (GE), Picture House (UK), Luxemburg University, One step at a time like this (AU). We dedicate a significant part of the programme to the young generation. Supplementary funding resources: Kaunas More than 2,000 young participants from all over Europe will enrich the City Municipality, The Lithuanian Council for Contemporary Capital programme in the Explosion period (2021–2022) Culture, Creative Europe, Erasmus+, private sector, Esch-sur-Alzette 2022 (No Border Radio project), led by at least 100 young people – our Centuryans. other ECoCs (Centuryan internships).

Budget: 2,5 m euros

METHODS: capacity building programme, creative entrepreneur- to generate new workplaces in the CCI sector. A goal of the pro- ship laboratories, internships in local and European cultural in- gramme is to create future cultural and creative operators. stitutions and ECoC agencies, international youth summer camps (detailed explanation in the Tempo Academy of Culture, Youth IMPACT/LEGACY Faculty), cultural programming and producing (programmes to be Emerging Kaunas will become a sustainable eco-system dedicated developed and managed by youngsters themselves). to the younger generation of Kaunas and will continue its activities long after 2022. The platform will contribute towards the successful SCHEDULE implementation of the Youth Policy Strategy in Kaunas for 2013– 2017–2018 IGNITION: the centenary of Lithuanian Statehood (a 2019, Kaunas City Strategy for 2015–2022 and Kaunas Culture Strat- series of actions and intergenerational events). egy 2017–2026, and will fulfil its goal by organising the activities required to achieve these strategic objectives. The young generation 2019–2020 AGITATION: the centenary of Kaunas’ status as Tem- will stay in Kaunas and contribute to its cultural and economic well- porary Capital: historical versus contemporary programme creat- being. They will become more satisfied with the atmosphere in the ed and implemented. City and will have access to more creative career opportunities.

2021–2022 EXPLOSION: programming, organising and imple- menting large parts of Kaunas 2022 programme and some Grand YOUTH PROJECTS’ EXAMPLES events focused on youth culture.

MEETING AND LEARNING SPACE DANCE AND PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME FOR BABIES AND THEIR FAMILIES InnoHub Kaunas is a 2,000m² space that will be opened in 2018. Infants (0–3 years) Services provided by InnoHub Kaunas will include working spaces, entrepreneurial services, conference rooms, training programmes, an incubator programme and innovative ideas with our commu- A dance class for children of 8–14 months and their parents nity in mind. In other words, it will be a cross-sectorial and com- or grandparents, where they explore various objects and move- plex social entrepreneurship ecosystem with innovative tailored ments. Dancers-teachers introduce them to a world of dance by infrastructure, focused on urban communities. practicing movements that develop coordination, balance and at- tune their motor skills. CREATIVE INDUSTRIES In order to improve the integration of young people into the City Seminars and Classes for Professionals and Parents

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS life it’s important to promote youth entrepreneurship and innova- Choreographers give seminars to dance teachers working with 48 tive businesses, so this is an opportunity for the young generation children on their dance perception and education. Dance teachers © AA 49 CONFLUENCE learn different dance techniques, improvisation and composition. for the Agitation and Explosion periods. We call them the Cen- Together they share experiences on creating dance performanc- turyans – the generation who’ll celebrate their adulthood during es for children, plus seminars and classes will be combined with the centenary of Lithuanian Statehood. We changed the title of public performances. the project Centuryans to Kaunas Challenge after young people’s feedback. We feel that the Kaunas Challenge is one of the most in- Stage performances for babies novative, interactive and proactive of the Kaunas 2022 initiatives. Games are more than just fun for babies and small children, and Instead of inventing a cultural programme for them, we will invite take up most of their time in the first years of their life. By play- youngsters into a long-term collaboration and partnership in or- ing they explore and learn about themselves and the surrounding der to prepare them for the creation of their own activities within world: to sit and crawl, climb and jump, grasp and drop, catch and Kaunas 2022. Life in a modern society, successful integration into kick, smile and frown, share and make friends, think and enjoy. the labor market and all levels of society requires new general Bursting with vibrant colour and delightful surprises, these inter- skills that everyone should have. This platform of cross-sectorial active performances invite young audience to explore the world cooperation strives to help develop creative entrepreneurial com- around them with the help of a dancer. It will be a beautifully petencies and will encourage the education sector to cooperate crafted immersive experience for the little ones where self-dis- with the cultural and business sectors. covery and wonder await. Partner: Dance Theatre DANSEMA. This project was launched in 2016 with regular workshops to help LEARNING MUSEUM our youth create a vision for the platform. The Kaunas Challenge will become a lifelong experience for those who enter the project team. Kindergarten age (4–6) and school age (7–10) Rising to the challenge, young people will be confident, enterprising, partnerships between museums and schools that combine object- innovative and linked to global networks. The project starts within based education with classroom teaching. Museums will develop the Youth Faculty of the Tempo Academy of Culture and continues as educational materials that will be used in classrooms and will a project taken into the hands of the Centuryans who will go on to also be digitally available. develop one sixth of the Kaunas 2022 programme by themselves.

Learning Museum is a new concept for the museum, which invites Some of the activities of the Kaunas Challenge have been de- the public to participate in non-conventional museum activities scribed in the Tempo Academy of Culture under #3 Youth Training and to use museum spaces for different cultural, social, and edu- Faculty. The project entails a four-month capacity building train- cational purposes. ing followed by a four-month entrepreneurship laboratory with hands-on experience. The two phases include e.g. personal goal This project will include local schools and kindergartens that will planning, joint decision-making, public presentation skills, learn- work together with one of the City’s museums to develop their ing/teaching skills, pro-active problem-solving as well as (in the own project. Under the supervision of teachers and experts, chil- entrepreneurship lab accompanied by mentors) analysing real dren will be encouraged to discover themes and forms of their business cases from the cultural or CCI sectors, developing possi- own. Together they will carry out research, plan and display an ble solutions during unique training courses, methodology train- exhibition in their own neighbourhood. ing (e.g. business model canvas, Lego Serious Play, Method toolkit, Design thinking, Points of you). The participants will closely work Children’s Day. Interactive sessions with artists aim to bring im- with mentors from companies and organisations with special aginative experiences for children through the arts. The aim of training and lectures to promote youth entrepreneurship, creativ- this initiative is to engage children in educational activities in the ity, cooperation and initiative. museums, to involve them in relevant discussions about the arts and history related to the issues of our times. NO BORDER RADIO 2022 – THE RADIO FOR INDEPENDENT EUROPEANS LADISLAS STAREVICH ANIMATION LAB Young adults / University students School age (7–10, 11–15) This multimedia based Internet radio and media platform will be Ladislas Starevich is a Russian, Polish and French stop-motion an- headquartered in both Kaunas and Esch-sur-Alzette and will be- imator and author of the first puppet-animated filmThe Beautiful come a channel for university students from various ECoC cities Lukanida (1912). Many countries share his legacy; even though and allow them to broadcast information and opinions to an in- they may be unaware that Starevich was born in Kaunas, grew ternational online audience. up here, and even established the first Kaunas City Museum. We hope to revive the memory of this creative and multicultural, and When Lithuania joined the European Union, the Lithuanian am- European artist by initiating an Animation Lab under his name – bassador on one occasion asked his Luxembourgian counterpart: a project designed for schoolchildren during which they will be “Do you know that I grew up listening to your radio?” This caused a working with professional artists and IT tutors to create stories surprise, but the Radio Luxembourg English service was extreme- and produce animated movies. Children will gain a number of ly popular in the Eastern Block in the seventies. Although they skills: story writing, script writing, drawing, sculpting, filming, were broadcasting primarily to the UK, Radio Luxemburg used a soundtrack production, editing, post-production, translation, sub- long wave signal that could reach all over the world – and in fact titling, advertising, and will present their final results in an Ani- it was the only radio station from the West that could be heard in © TB mation Festival in 2022. Workshops will be led by professionals occupied Lithuania. It was almost like a breath of fresh air, a pas- from various European countries. sion – people would record entire programs and share them. The station brought The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Doors to KAUNAS CHALLENGE the Lithuanian listeners, and its programming acted as an on-air Esch will run an English language Internet-based radio station to OTHER PROJECTS Secondary school age (15–19) English teacher and a voice of freedom through culture. promote ECoC programmes of both cities in 2021–2022. Content will include political, cultural and social items from both countries Kaunas 2022 projects aimed at young adults and students are de- The flagship to Emerging Kaunas platform is the Kaunas Chal- The DJs in Luxemburg had little idea how true their slogan was: and their European partners. The programmes will be moderated/ tailed in other sections of the programme, such as Café du Monde, lenge programme. It is dedicated to the Millennials born around “The Only Independent Station on the Air”. For Kaunas – the birth- hosted by radio presenters based in Kaunas and Esch-sur-Alzette. Fluxus Labs, International Kaunas Marathon, Kite Festival, Running the turn of the millennium who will enter the programme in place of the Lithuanian national radio – the Luxembourg experi- The programmes will be archived and rated by the internet audi- Dinner, and many others.

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS 2017–2018 (Ignition period). They will be 15–17 years old and ence’ was truly remarkable. Holding the ECoC 2022 title together ence. During an initial period both offices will exchange cultural 50 it is hoped that they will become Kaunas 2022 team members with Luxemburg’s Esch-sur-Alzette, students from Kaunas and producers for at least a year. 51 CONSCIOUSNESS

CONSCIOUSNESS strand projects are focused on participation, involvement, co-creation, community building and strengthening of civil society.

Kaunas feels the absence of community activism and lack of belief that the individual matters. Low tolerance rate pushes alternative communities and groups to feel as strangers within the City. Weak civic engagement and parti- cipation in culture is also determined by the centralisation of cultural institu- tions and services. Communication between institutions and common market- ing strategies haven’t been used until recently, when the joint preparation of Kaunas 2022 programme started. # The two platforms address these challenges with the following objectives:

Wake It, Shake It: To build a collaborative network of partnerships among cul- CLOSER tural institutions and individuals in Kaunas, Lithuania, the Baltic region and Europe at large. To turn cultural institutions towards contemporary audienc- TO HEAR es, especially working on meeting the needs of the youth and international EACH OTHER visitors.

We, the People: To empower diverse communities to celebrate their culture through collaboration, co-creation and respect.

GRAND EVENT: 20–22 December 2022

The Closing Event AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER

The goal of this event is to negotiate a friendship agreement with the Be- ast, our culture community and our neighbours for future consciousness.

The main focus of the last Grand Event of 2022 is not on big concerts or parades in public zones, but on inclusive neighbourhood meetings and ac- tions plus institutional openness for the future:

The Home Party Citizens will be asked at a specific time in the evening to open the windows of their apartments and play music or sing songs of their choice as loud as they choose to. Window exhibitions, running dinner projects, living-room concerts, and poetry reading meetings will be spread in more than 2,000 private apart- ments in the City and the District.

Cultural institutions run by youngsters The year will be concluded by the children’s programme at various cultural institutions: theatres, concert halls, Žalgiris Arena, museums, galleries and li- braries. Children will participate not as audience members or visitors, but as performers, dancers, curators and artists, readers, designers, and IT specialists. The Ladislas Starevich Animation Festival will take place, children theatre fes- tival and many other activities will encourage citizen participation and will also include teachers, parents, grandparents and neighbours.

Community table on the street Contemporary Capital show held on Birštono street. Birštono street built in the Soviet time cuts the old town in two pieces thus violating the continuum of an urban landscape and symbolising fragmentation and confusion. This street will be closed for the event and will become a public and pedestrian place for one night, a place to rethink the Consciousness of the City. The show will include theatre performances and international music stars. At the climax of the show

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS the Beast will appear from over the Aleksotas hill, descend and submerge into 52 the Nemunas river. The Beast is there to stay and guard the City. © AA 53 CONSCIOUSNESS WE, THE PEOPLE Empowering communities to celebrate their culture through collaboration and co-creation

Our citizens and their creativity represent the cultural capital of our City, PARTNERS: and the shift towards a forward-looking mentality is our most important Lead project host(s): Kaunas 2022 Agency need today. This community programme confirms that culture is an im- Local partners: portant part of our common identity and story, and includes each and FLUXUS LABS, MAGIC CARPETS: Kaunas City and every citizen. Furthermore, we believe that there is a significant – and so Kaunas District Municipal Seniūnijos, community associations, schools, libraries, market places, local far unlocked – potential to unleash unique forms of creativity in places stakeholders, Kūrybos kampas 360, Kaunas and where nobody would expect them. We’ve already started to reveal this Kaunas District based music, theatre, visual art, and photography festivals: Kaunas Photo, Kaunas culture in Seniūnijos previously thought to be “boring”. Such as the work- Biennial, Kaunas Jazz, Akacijų alėja, and Pažaislis ing class wooden housing Seniūnija of Šančiai where neighbours’ chil- Classical Music Festival. MATTERS: Media Art Festival Centras, Performance dren and dogs still may turn up in ones yard and eat your pancakes just and Live Art Festival CREATurE, Kaunas University because they smell good. Or the late Soviet period concrete Seniūnija of of Technology, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas Centre for Technical Creation for Children, Šilainiai, which is like a city within a city – inhabited by 55,000 people Neurokatarsis, Moontrix, Terror, and Kaunas Pho- who know and care little about their neighbours. If other programme tography Gallery. parts unite hundreds or even thousands of local, European and interna- FLUXUS FESTIVAL: Vilnius Contemporary Art Centre, Jonas Mekas Visual Art Centre (Vilnius), tional artists, composers, musicians, actors and writers, “We, the People” International performing art festival PLArTFORMA unites hundreds of thousands of Kaunasians to act together. To create (Klaipėda), LOW AIR urban dance theatre, and NANOOK. new public spaces where formerly there were none, feel responsible for KAUNASIAN ATLANTIDA and FLOWING CULTURAL our own neighbourhoods, and host events in squares, parks, courtyards, MEETINGS: initiative TEKA (FLOWS), Republica Kaunensis, Municipalities and Seniūnijos around saunas, garages, and public pools. Kaunas Sea and the rivers Nemunas and Neris: Rumšiškės, Vaišvydava, Samylai, Petrašiūnai, Laumėnai, Girionys, Arlaviškės, Kulautuva, We, The People will also be a platform for alternative culture, and various Birštonas, Kauno marių regioninis parkas (Kaunas Kaunasian, Lithuanian, and European subcultures. It will seek to discuss Sea Regional Park), Kaunas Yacht Club Žalgiris, Kaunas Surfing Club, Pažaislis Tourism and Infor- the role and the need for an “alternative” culture in the context of main- mation Centre, Žiegždriai Equestrian Center, etc. stream culture, and will explore new artistic venues to create an array of © AP The community of the Courtyard European and foreign partners: Gallery in Kaunas music, art and other creative content. MATTERS: Dirty Electronics (UK), Ural Industrial Biennial (RU), Wroclaw Industrial Festival (PL), and Sturm (LV). IMPULSE MAGIC CARPETS: Latitudo Srl & Qwatz platform With We, The People platform we aim to uncover the cultural potential for contemporary art (IT), Industrial Art (PL), New and uniqueness of each of the 11 Seniūnijos of Kaunas and 26 Seniūnijos Theatre Institute of Latvia (LV), Prague Biennale (CZ), META Cultural Foundation: The Biennial of of Kaunas District, to strengthen civic participation and community in- Young Artists (RO), EVA International: Ireland’s

volvement in decision making, and to boost active participation in cul- Biennial Festival of Contemporary Art (IE), Centre METHODS 2019–2020 AGITATION of Contemporary Art-Tbilisi (GE), KUNSTrePUBLIC Co-working in groups; voluntary actions; co-creation; inter-gener- At least 20 Co-opetitions are awarded titles and start implementing ture. We aim to strengthen critical thinking, responsibility for oneself and e.V. (DE), Ideias Emergentes: CONTEXTILE biennial ational activities; cultural laboratories; linking local communities their own programme. Alto festival starts its trial versions in some others, and artistic/cultural attitudes, which means everybody contrib- (PT), LAB852 (HR), Folkestone Fringe (UK), Art locally, regionally and internationally; neighbours’ days; common City neighborhoods, Fluxus Labs become known places for discus- Cube Artists’ Studios (IL), Alto festival (IT). gardening; cooking and sharing; community sports; street dance sions, meetings, making, designing, and co-creating in each Seniūnija. uting to the common cultural context. That’s how we will live together FLUXUS LABS AND FLUXUS FESTIVAL: Alto festival, better – able to enjoy our courtyard, Seniūnija and City and the world at Folkestone Fringe (UK), Silverman Collection of days; artists residencies at private houses and co-production with Industrial music festival takes place in 2020. Magic Carpets project Fluxus, Galway Community Circus, Baltic Nordic small communities; circus in the kitchen; local and international implements 5–6 community based projects in public spaces, firstMy large. circus network, Silence festival (FI), CircusInfo (FI), fishermen festival, international marathon with community in- Cortyard Festival residencies and performances are implemented. Cirkus cirkör (SE), Lene Bang org (DK); Nondberg volvement and cultural activities along the route; creating stories Movement (SE), NoFitState theatre (UK), Aurora and contributing to the Mythical Beast of Kaunas; costume-mak- 2021–2022 EXPLOSION The challenge we face here is to test and establish a sustainable model Nova (DE), RE RIGA festival (LV), Brokentalker (IE), for community building, civic engagement, and empowerment far beyond CIE BAM (FR), Cirko Aereo (FI); Artscenico (DE), The ing workshops; big scale puppet co-production for the summer Fluxus Labs become platforms for community inclusion into Northern and Eastern European Centre of Puppet event; youth projects on subcultures. Grand Events of Kaunas 2022 (Confusion, Confluence, and Cons- 2022. The Tempo Academy of Culture is framed now to tackle this chal- Arts/NEECPA, International Puppetry Association ciousness): the Legend plot is under development, large puppets lenge and to ensure its legacy. UNIMA, National Puppet Theatre (BY), Grodno SCHEDULE of The Mythical Beast of Kaunas theatre play are being construct- Regional Puppet Theatre (BY), S. Obraztsov State ed. Group rehearsals, volunteer participation, story-telling tours Academical Puppet Theatre (RU), Puppet Theatre Guliwer (PL), Baj Pomorski Theatre (PL), NUKU 2017–2018 IGNITION through Seniūnijos and final events implemented: Magic Carpet theatre (EE), Kiev Academic Puppet Theatre (UA), Training agents at The Tempo Academy and recruiting them in- final event in public space, Matters: Post-industrial Culture Fes- Kharkiv Academic Puppet Theatre (UA), Cie Les to Seniūnijos. At least 20 Fluxus Labs start their initial activities. tival celebrates its massive event, Kaunasian Atlantida, and the Choses de Rien (FR). Networking with local stakeholders starts; First 8–10 Co-ope- Yard/Fluxus festivals reach their highpoint in 2022. titions start their co-opetition activities; Magic Carpets project Supplementary funding resources: Lithuanian Culture Fund, Europe for Citizens, Creative Europe implements 3–4 community based projects; Kaunas City and 2023 and beyond LEGACY Platforms strand, Embassies of project partners’ the District cultural agents get in close contact and share ini- Fluxus Labs are established as a Municipality approved model for countries, and private companies. tiatives: fisherman festival, Flowing Cultural Meeting points, Kite empowering individuals and strengthening civil society. Home Festival, etc. Industrial subcultural community starts international residencies act as specific Kaunasian type of residential format, Budget: 4,5 m euros RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS residencies and symposia. Matters becomes an established European platform for alterna- 54 tive music and culture. 55 CONSCIOUSNESS COMMUNITY PROJECT EXAMPLES stated that Fluxus was “anti-art” in order to underscore the revo- thus link communities in Kaunas communities to other European lutionary mode of thinking about the practice and process of art. cities: including Prague, Bucharest, Wroclaw, Yekaterinburg, Berlin, A central Fluxus tenet was to dismiss and mock the elitist world Zagreb, Limerick, Porto, Folkestone, Tbilisi, Riga, Rome, and above FLUXUS LABS of “high art” and to find ways to bring art to the widest possible all, Jerusalem. The title and concept of Magic Carpets is conceived audience. In this way, all the activities of the platform We, the Pe- by the curator Benedetta Carpi De Resmini (Rome, Italy) (full con- Jurgis Mačiūnas (George Maciunas) was born in Kaunas in 1931 ople are Fluxus in their nature, and we will devise ways to present cept: http://www.bienale.lt/2015/en/magic-carpets-2/) and the and he is one of the founders of the Fluxus movement, which all of these activities to the participants as Fluxus. project is led by Kaunas Biennial (Lithuania). is renowned for its non-elitist philosophy. This is why we’ll call our community labs the Kaunas-specific name of Fluxus Labs. LIFE: Fluxus art is characterised by the active involvement of CONFLUENCE CULTURETHON Some 40 Fluxus Labs will be established in the City and the the viewer, who becomes a performer of the work and accessory Confluence Culturethon – an international Kaunas Marathon in District communities. They may be set in local libraries, cultural to the creation of its meaning (not just someone who absorbs 2022 which will be linked to beautiful sites within Kaunas District centres, abandoned schools or private garages, industrial facili- the work of another person); and often introduces an element of and will involve large-scale participation from European runners ties, or even at cafés. The appearance doesn’t matter – what chance to shape the ultimate outcome of the work. My Courtyard of all ages and abilities. The route will contain a rich community matters is the content. These cultural laboratories will begin project shows the art as life concept: in partnership with Alto fes- based arts programme. Programme partners: AIMS – Association with at least one Agent at a specific venue, who will facilitate tival’s artistic directors Giovanni Trono and Anna Gesualdi, Kau- of International Marathons and Distance Races, community cen- nas 2022 will create a festival spread in private spaces across tres and Seniūnijos of Kaunas. Various culture institutions, espe- community involvement after they have been trained by inter- © AA national practitioners at The Tempo Academy of Culture. Agents Kaunas and the District. cially from performing arts field: musicians, dancers, folk tradi- (preferably, local to the Seniūnija or suburb) will conduct re- tionalists, cultural minorities, etc. International Kaunas Marathon search and map community activities and venues – networking My Courtyard Festival: home residency project has a growing worldwide following, with runners coming from the shots taken under the ice where once village communities flour- to recruit a team of activists and local experts. The Fluxus Labs Fluxus Labs will become the starting points for various forms of USA, UK, Norway, Ireland, and other countries. ished. In summer the Kaunas Sea area is perfect for jazz con- will become brainstorm laboratories – places where issues and mutual discovery. A big potential for community building will be certs, yacht regattas, canoeing and windsurfing contests. The problems can be addressed in creative ways. Each community in their “private residency”, especially when hosting international IN FULL FLOW: re-engaging with the waters programme (2017–2022) is initiated and run by VU Kaunas Hu- will be encouraged to suggest and develop its own artistic and contemporary circus performers and dancers who will create per- manitarian faculty in partnership with more than 30 stakeholders creative practice, starting with subjects like gardening, design- formances with and about locals, and will present them in private Europe in the Sky around the Sea – encompassing four Lithuanian Districts. ing a children’s playground, wall painting on an apartment block and public space, other neighbourhoods and even in other Euro- An International Kite Festival will encourage local and international or opening of a local bakery, as artist Jeanne van Heeswijk did pean cities. The open call for residency places at local residential kite clubs to meet on the banks of the river Nemunas near Zapyškis MATTERS: Post-Industrial Culture Festival in Liverpool Biennial during the ECoC period. Agents will work houses, flats or organisations will be announced regularly in the and Kulautuva, in order to celebrate Europe Day (9 May 2022). Each When we speak of communities we not only mean neighbour- closely with Kaunas 2022 team, artistic directors and curators, period between 2017 and 2022. Partner: Alto festival. Seniūnija will create a series of kites, balloons and drones based on hoods, but also ethnical groups and subcultures (their topics are in order to coordinate joint programmes, like fishing festivals, symbols from different European countries, for example flags and covered more broadly by The Memory Office projects). Kaunas is community sport championships, puppet theatre performances Living Room Cinema famous artworks, celebrated portraits of poets, artists and scientists famous for its alternative cultures, and especially its underground on the Waterfront Platform where each community will repre- Various short film series, artistic videos, social documentary, or will adorn the kites. We anticipate an audience of around 20,000 music scene. In fact, many important Lithuanian cultural move- sent themselves by using a particular character. Puppet crea- community initiated video productions will be screened in pri- people from Lithuania and other European countries. ments began in Kaunas as part of its subculture, and so we want tion will be led by international scriptwriters, puppet engineers vate houses. Hosts with the right equipment and who are will- to create a platform for this culture to be more visible in the City, and fashion designers. Ideally, the Fluxus Lab will become a ing to share their living rooms with neighbours will get a pack International Fishermen Festival and at the same time to create a quality event for international place for sharing talents among local inhabitants, cultural and containing 5–10 invitations, a DVD (or USB stick), pop-corn in a Will be organised regularly from 2017 to 2022 and beyond, and will musicians, artists, performers and visitors. Matters will be a plat- educational institutions, businesses and other stakeholders. Al- pizza box and will be able to order a free pizza from the closest take place on the banks of the Neris and Nemunas rivers, as well as form for alternative culture that will seek to discuss the role and so it will become a platform for dialogue between the commu- pizza restaurant. This innovative method is currently used by Kau- the so-called Kaunas Sea. It will unite the City, the District and the the need for the alternative in the context of mainstream cul- nity and Municipality in order to find infrastructural solutions nas 2022 partners “Folkestone Fringe” and has proved to be very wider region for a great family event. Participants will enjoy special ture, and to present a wide variety of music, art and other creative for the common good. The Fluxus Labs are also the basis for popular. The project will be linked closely to the Modernism For food and a staged entertainment programme. With an initial 3,000 content through music, sound, visual and performance art, time- all citizen involvement activities around the Mythical Beast of The Future project Kaunas Modernism 360/365. visitors in 2017, we expect the festival to grow to between 10,000– based media, education activities and bi-annual symposia. Kaunas events. 15,000 local and international participants in 2022 and beyond. CULTURAL CO-OPETITION An itinerant residency for industrial sound artists/musicians/ MACIUNAS IN THE LABORATORY OF LIFE: Each Seniūnija of the City and the District will have the opportu- Flowing Cultural Meetings: The Rivers and Leisure visual artists. A bi-annual residency programme will host musicians nity to be awarded the title of “Cultural Co-opetition” during the This project is about encouraging various initiatives to revitalise and/or visual artists commissioned to compose pieces based on the Fluxus Festival preparatory years (2017–2021), which will last for a six-month the riverbanks, using input from urban activists, artists, as well as soundscapes, history and concepts (defined by a curatorial board) in A Fluxus Festival called Maciunas in the Laboratory of Life will be period. Communities can apply for a grant provided by Kaunas architecture specialists in Kaunas City and the District; including and around abandoned industrial sites throughout the City. the highlight of We, the People platform. On the Soviet side of the 2022 in order to develop and implement through the Fluxus Labs. the waterside areas of Kulautuva, Kačerginė, Lampėdžiai, Santaka, Iron Curtain Fluxus was considered as an art and act of freedom. Community members will decide together how to use their six- Šančiai, Panemunė, Birštonas, Pažaislis, Rumšiškės, etc. The aim is Bi-annual symposia (2018, 2020, 2022) will consist of anti- The musician Vytautas Landsbergis, a childhood friend of Maciu- month period and how to present their local culture to Kauna- to create new meeting points for culture along the riverside in Kau- panels, performative discussions (and discussion performances) as nas and the political leader who took Lithuania out of the Soviet sians and European guests at the final event of the programme. nas. Fluxus Lab points will be established near the water in those well as other forms of presentations. Subjects will revolve around Union, was a keen follower of the Fluxus movement’s activities, and Creative teams will consist of local activists and students of the Seniūnijos that have accessibility to the river or Kaunas Sea banks. themes relating to industrial culture, body art, activism, and post- exchanged correspondence with the main Fluxus artists. It’s not go- Tempo Academy, as well the Centuryans who will have a chance The project will create 10 Meeting Places/Culture Boxes, which will humanism. Possible participants and collaborators would include ing too far to say that Lithuanian independence belongs partly to to practice their knowledge during Ignition and Agitation cycles be connected to each other physically (by raft) and digitally (digi- scholars, cultural actors, free thinkers, and artists. the Fluxus ideology – rather aptly the term “Fluxus” means change. in the cultural actions by local communities. tal map). Scheduled sports and leisure events will be organised to regenerate water culture in our City and the District. The riverside Workshops and industrial labs are very much based on DIY The Fluxus Festival in 2022 will cover three complementary di- MAGIC CARPETS initiative TEKA would be also part of this water platform network. (do it yourself) and DIT (do it together) mentality, where know- mensions: Magic Carpets is an international residency project that invites for- how is gained whilst watching and participating, trying and fail- eign emerging artists to work in Kaunas with local communities Kaunasian Atlantida ing, and trying once again. The ethos will be embedded in hack- HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: will reveal the objects and "relics" and local artists. Resident artists will create new works related to The project is based on the story of the Kaunas Sea, a man-made tivism, activism, participatory practice, participatory art, and from the beginnings of Fluxus; FLUXUS exhibition at Kaunas Pic- current issues of global nomadism, displacement and encounter- lake 80 kilometres long and with an area of 63 square kilometres, community-building activities. ture Gallery of M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art in partner- ing Otherness. Legends, mythologies, tales, superstitions, and cur- which was created on the site of a hydroelectric power station ship with Vilnius Contemporary Art Centre, Jonas Mekas Visual Art rent stories of the cities where artists currently live and Kaunas built in the late 1950s. During the construction and in the subse- An itinerant music and art festival will be staged. The festival Centre (Vilnius), curated by Lewis Biggs and Jon Hendricks, asso- itself will become a unifying narrative of the whole 2017–2022 quent flooding of 45 villages (containing 721 family houses) were will be an annual encounter between musicians, artists, thinkers, ciate curator at MOMA NY on Fluxus (also curator for Yoko Ono project. The project aims to intervene in public zones by creating deluged, involving the loss of not only houses, but cemeteries, and independent alternative culture players both at the national and the Silverman Collection of Fluxus). Emphasis will be on “art situations to interact with, working in and with local communities. churches and synagogues as well. Children who saw their homes and international levels. The festival will be open to all sorts of attitude” – or “anti-art attitude” – as a whole, rather than on any The project will help to spread Kaunas 2022 Contemporary Capi- flooded are of course still alive. The project Kaunasian Atlantida quality industrial music from local and international scenes, per- specific messages of political, economic or social activism. tal topics and values across 13 European countries during this unites the wider region around the Kaunas Sea and proposes a formance extreme body video and cyber arts, and transdiscipli- period: plus around 10 collaborative international projects will year-long project. During winter ice covers the Sea surface and nary experiments. The final event of the 2022 festival will feature

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS ACTIONS: the persistent goal of the majority of Fluxus artists pair local communities with European emerging artists. In addi- people can cross it to get to nearby villages on foot. There will a large-scale audio-visual event – a sort of cross-over between a 56 was to destroy boundaries between art and life. George Maciunas tion, another 40 artists in partner countries will share stories and be fishing championships and photography exhibitions displaying dark circus, extreme body practice and post-industrial opera. 57 CONSCIOUSNESS WAKE IT, SHAKE IT Building a collaborative network of partnerships

A series of initiatives, new projects and PARTNERS: experimental models in this programme Lead Project Hosts: Kaunas will be introduced in order to shake up 2022 Agency, M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art, the existing cultural landscape. We’ll National Kaunas Drama Theatre, encourage our cultural institutions, Kaunas State Philharmonic, Kaunas County Public Library. municipal and public organisations, to- gether with residents of Kaunas and the Partners: Kaunas Cinema Centre Romuva, Kaunas City District to create a collaborative net- Museum, Kaunas District work of partnerships, to improve the Museum, Gallery Meno parkas, Kaunas Photography Gallery, quality of their services and work as a Gallery POST, Creative Space networked civil society institutions that Kabinetas, Gallery Balta, Gallery Meno forma, VMU Art enhance the importance of the City and Gallery 101, Vytautas Magnus empower its residents and visitors. We University, Kaunas University invite them to enable members of dif- of Technology, Kaunas Bien- nial, Kaunas Photo, Kaunas ferent communities to have access to Jazz, Pažaislis Classical Music the “working memory’ of the City and to Festival, Kaunas Culture Centre Tautos namai, Kaunas Culture embrace a modern concept of bonding Centre Girstutis, Psilicon heritage. Besides this, we encourage Theatre, AAT Artūras Areima theatre, Teatronas, Baltic circus, agents from our cultural life to estab- Dansema Dance Theatre, lish a cross-sectoral communication not Kaunas Choreography School, local cultural centres and librar- only amongst local and national muse- ies in each Seniūnija, and CCI ums, cultural, educational and research companies.

institutions, but also amongst partners European partners: in the Baltic and Nordic regions of Eu- Network of European Museum Organisations, Musée national de rope, and other countries, in order to la Résistance (Esch-sur-Alzette), share innovative practices. Brokentalkers (IE), Nofitstate Theatre (UK), The New Theatre Institute of Latvia. IMPULSE Kaunas has a large network of galler- Supplementary funding sources: Creative Europe, ies, theatres, libraries, archives and uni- Ministry of Culture, local busi- versities – in fact the largest number of nesses, and crowdfunding. museums and libraries in the country Budget: 2 m euros per capita are located in Kaunas. Our cultural tally is made up of 13 theatres, 17 cultural centres and more than 30 libraries, plus the State Philharmonic orchestra and a variety of international festivals and events (from contempo- rary art to cinema, jazz to design) take place in the City and the District.

Despite our rich cultural life we are witnessing institutional reticence, civil weakness and a lack of visitors, as well as the centralisation of cultural activi- ties. With this programme we want to shake up our cultural sector, energise our museums, theatres and libraries, and make the delivery of culture more contemporary and accessible.

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS © RŠ MY PLAUGROUND by Remigijus Ščerbauskas. 1st Place – Outstanding Achievement at 58 11th Annual Black & White Spider Awards, 2016 59 CONSCIOUSNESS

METHODS IMPACT The basis of this programme will be initiated and produced dur- This programme will encourage our cultural institutions to con- ing the Tempo Academy of Culture seminars and workshops, stitute new collaborative networks and partnerships and to in- based on principles of consultation, collaboration, partnerships, duce new models for creative interdisciplinary projects. These and outreach projects. projects will decentralise our cultural activities, open up cultural institutions to different communities, make them more accessible Collaborations and partnerships with communities will raise the to people and more visible in our City. They will wake people up visibility of cultural offerings and services; new strategies for to the stories of our City. building audiences and improving the museum/theatre/library- going experience will be created. Groups of local cultural institu- PROJECT EXAMPLES tions will be encouraged to form marketing partnerships to gen- erate joint advertising, collaborate on admission fees to offer joint tickets, and to build purchasing co-operatives to reduce operating DOCUMENTARY THEATRE costs. This project aims to break traditional theatre methods by adding community art strategies to create a new way of art communica- SCHEDULE tion. Different social minority and disadvantaged groups will be included in a collaborative creative process and debates about 2017–2018 IGNITION: consultation relevant issues in today’s world. All of the performances will be Gather feedback from a cross-section of communities, use capac- presented in public spaces such as factories, parks, schools and ity building models and starting the dialogue amongst cultural markets. institutions and different communities. Universities of Kaunas to- gether with artists and CCI sector will be invited to engage in new DIGITAL VISITOR research fields: audience development research, create new social Together with university researchers and creative industries com- engagement tools, initiate new models of experience design for panies, our cultural institutions will change the way they com- museum displays and online exhibitions. municate with their audiences online. Multi-layered narratives # will be delivered through digital media. Online educational pro- 2018–2020 AGITATION: collaboration and partnerships grammes will offer their visitors opportunities to design their Partners always bring fresh perspectives, so during the work- own exhibitions, interactive sites for virtual exhibitions, and the ACCESSIBLE shops and seminars at the Tempo Academy of Culture we will possibility for physical visitors to share their experiences online. encourage new collaborative networks and partnerships, so as This will create increased access to collections and improve the INCLUSIVE to initiate new models for creative interdisciplinary projects, dynamic, user-driven interpretation. Also increased development COMMUNITY communication and audience development strategies. The col- of digital material will be used to recreate the past: creating vir- laborative relationship with community partners will be at- tual versions of destroyed buildings or sculptures that have been tained through our community network, youth board, volunteer lost. programme, ambassadors (people who go on to champion and advocate the work of the organisation), stakeholders and criti- TRAVELLING MUSEUMS cal friends (people who will inform our practice, including the The project is based on the idea of remaking a concept of a mu- © RŠ development of new programmes and displays). For example, seum as a solid institution. This project suggests that everyone a group of stakeholders (community activists, artists, students can create a museum and that a museum can be flexible. Our and cultural workers) will work on a particular cultural organi- museums will prepare several exhibition kits that will travel to sation to identify barriers that prevent individuals participating those who don’t or can’t visit museums – community centres, in culture and help them to improve their accessibility (physical, schools, kindergartens etc. This project will motivate all kinds projects. People will also be encouraged to tell the story of their In addition, libraries will prepare long-term reading programmes social, cultural, and intellectual). of communities, from children to the elderly, to create their own community in photographs, as well as in written and oral form, and open dedicated bookshelves of original books by well-known mini-museums and share them with other communities. This will and turn them into exhibitions in public places (public squares, Lithuanian writers together with their translations into European 2021–2022 EXPLOSION: outreach and inreach projects produce a big network of travelling “mini-museums” and link dif- streets, pubs, shops, libraries, community centres, etc.). The pro- languages. New collaborative and participative approaches to working with ferent communities all over the City. The project will also include ject will contribute to the collection of oral archives that will communities produced and new outreach and inreach projects a Mobile Museum, an exhibition installed in a bus that will drive also supplement an initiative already started in the NGO sector, Į MAGAZINE #1–#7 introduced to local and international audiences to turn cultural across the country. specifically the virtual memory archive called Sites of Memory Kaunas Photography Gallery in partnership with European part- spaces into sites and platforms where art, music, dance, science, (www.atmintiesvietos.lt). ners will create a series of seven international seminars and and audacious experiments meet. Presentation of the Culture PARTNERS ON SITE books – called “Kaunas in Pictures” (2017–2022), it will reveal Road, which will the open doors of cultural institutions to the It is another platform that will be created in different Seniūnijos Museum Theatres – collaborative projects introducing new a multi-layered view of Kaunas as seen from different perspec- public and will introduce exciting events; every institution and of the City and the District. Community groups and members of ways of storytelling. Museum objects, history, arts and theatrical tives. The first edition of an annual į magazine was published in event will be connected by digital stories. the public will have the opportunity to present their own events techniques (historical characters, puppetry, movement and music) January 2017. Its content was created during an eight-day interna- or displays to tell their stories. In collaboration with local com- are going to be used for educational and entertainment purposes. tional workshop that gathered professionals from many different The final project of this phase will include most of our cultural in- munity centres, libraries, cultural centres, festivals etc., cultural cultural institutions and focussed on our distinctive City and its stitutions and a group of teenagers, who will acquire their knowl- institutions will work with their communities and neighbour- Libraries on the Move. The project will unite more than 30 fascinating inhabitants. Texts, images, archives and graphics were edge and new creative ideas at different institutions – music and hoods to co-curate a project to present some aspects of their municipal library points around the City and the District. Libraries incorporated into a bilingual magazine. Kaunas Photography Gal- art schools, libraries, music organisations, museums, theatres, CCI own culture. are still very vibrant places, especially for the older generation, lery has significant experience in art book publishing, and will sector, etc. Children and teenagers of Kaunas and Kaunas Dis- who use them as meeting points and communication hubs where lead this project in partnership with publishing agencies such as trict as well as youth from Esch-sur-Alzette will create the Grand The cultural institutions will move away from their fixed spaces people improve their IT skills (use computers, Internet and Skype). Discipula, Sputnik, Publish Yourself and others. Closing Event AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER which will and will travel to Seniūnijos and rural areas and will work with In most cases our libraries are already becoming innovation advo- be performed in our main cultural venues in the pre-Christmas their new partners on site. cates, they organise annual robotics and information technology period of 2022. events, and a new wave of co-working spaces is spread around Urban Stories. Collaborative cross-sectorial projects that mu- the libraries. 2023 and beyond LEGACY seum professionals will develop together with experts from The legacy of ECoC programme will be sustained by new trans- different disciplines and leaders of community groups. These In this programme we’ll encourage our libraries to introduce new formative experiences through culture and newly formed part- projects will link the methods of museum and heritage workers services to young audiences in order to expand their potential to nerships, new models of cooperation, joint communication and with those of urban anthropologists: they will map the recent work in digital and innovation fields. As future centres for educa-

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS marketing strategies. past of local areas and neighbourhoods, collect pictures and tion and networking, libraries will develop wider networks with 60 neighbourhood stories, combine urban stories with participation IT and CCI sectors. 61 KAUNAS 2022 HIGHLIGHT EVENTS

WAKE UP THE BEAST! The Opening of Kaunas 2022 CITY CROWN: Festival of Modern Lights INTERNATIONAL FISHERMEN FESTIVAL CONFLUENCE CULTURETHON

A once in a life-time experience for trance and rock music fans A true royal celebration of 365 heritage buildings lit and opened This will be the place to be in summer with a variety of events on This is where sports and arts intersect: a full marathon followed with spectacular hologram projections featuring the New Kaunas for visitors throughout the City featuring different scale artistic offer, such as a fishing championship in the rivers Nemunas and by community based arts programme and sports film repertoire. Legend on the riversides and... wait for it! A real life demolition of events. On top of that we want to show off our best - Modernism Neris, market, open kitchen and street theatre show, windsurfing the ghost building in the City centre. festival with exhibitions and events with the unique culture and workshops and concert on the water - everyone will find some- spirit of the 1930‘s. thing they like and enjoy.

KAUNASIAN WINTER ATLANTIDA THE BEAST [CITY] DAY LITVAK WORLD FORUM MY COURTYARD FESTIVAL

♪ Let it go! Let it go! ♪ A roaring and eye-catching musical parade of puppets produced Exhibitions of renowned Litvak artists, Israel/Lithuanian dance My Courtyard Festival: contemporary circus, dance, performance A jam-packed event featuring unmissable tours crossing the fro- by local communities followed by a theatre play suitable for all and music programme, exhibition of scientific and creative in- in neighbourhoods, private houses and yards. zen Kaunas Sea, photographs displayed in frozen ice, ice surfing ages on the waterfront platform on the Nemunas river. The Beasts novations at the National Science Centre), reconstructed Yiddish and sleigh championships. from all over Europe are invited! Theatre performances, conference.

MATTERS: Post-Industrial Culture Festival FLUXUS FESTIVAL MUSIC TRACK AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER: the Closing event

Industrial local and international music alongside performance For fans of George Maciunas and Fluxus art we have a histori- A mobile music programme, involving musicians from Poland, Is- Music and theatre festival, performed by children and teenagers, art, extreme art, body art, video art, cyber art, and transdiscipli- cal Fluxus exhibition, a participatory programme in Fluxus Labs rael, Russia, Latvia, Armenia, Romania, etc. The music will be per- screening of the films produced in the Animation Laboratory, pub- nary experiments taking place in post-industrial sites. The audi- and a very unusual musical parade on Laisvės avenue, where the formed on international trains running between Kaunas and War- lic dinner event in the City centre, theatrical and musical perfor-

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS ence will discover a different side to Kaunas! musicians will play from hot air balloons, rooftops and windows saw, Berlin, Riga, Tallinn, and St Petersburg and in special stops. mances with the appearance of the Kaunas‘ Beast, finished with a 62 of the buildings. 24-hour touring cultural party - the biggest party in town! 63 How will the events and activities that will constitute the cultural How will the cultural programme combine local cultural heritage and traditional art forms with new, innovative and experimental Q14 programme for the year be chosen? Cultural and Q15 artistic content cultural expressions? Cultural and artistic content

The current programme is based on re- explore the architectural and urban search that has been carried out by the Ar- heritage of the City. tistic Team and has been filled with more —— Pixel Tunnels to Europe project will than 100 completed proposal forms from ensure the sharing of traditional and Kaunas and Lithuanian cultural organisa- street culture, dance, drawing, panto- tions and artists. Before announcing an mime, etc. with other European cities open call for ideas in October 2015, Kau- by using live digital broadcast chan- nas 2022 team analysed the context of nels in public spaces. the local, national and European culture —— We will initiate the digitisation of mu- actualities and included the main topics seums, but not just for purely techno- and objectives for programme preparation logical or archiving reasons. The main as guidelines. We now have a programme aim is to animate museums and their which is a clear and reason based frame- collections, and to connect museums work for activities, but further content will with communities. Museums will have still need to be created together with lo- to leave behind the “traditional‘ (inef- cal and international cultural institutions, fective) ways of just preserving and practitioners, artists, communities, NGOs presenting content, open their collec- and creative industries sector. tions and staff (human resources) to communities, bring parts of the col- The Tempo Academy of Culture will serve lection outside the museum, encour- as the main platform for new programme age communities to create their own initiatives and new partnerships to emerge. exhibitions and present their own cul- Representatives of the sector will work to- ture as intangible local and European gether regularly through 2017–2022 in heritage (Remix Culture). © JB order to programme and implement long- —— City as Public Art and Design Centre: term projects dedicated to audience devel- contemporary murals, street dance, opment and revitalisation of institutions is welcome to propose an idea, activity or art thinking will only be achieved for many if The combination and necessary interde- ways of using their traditional skills temporary sculptures, installations (Wake It, Shake It). The Tempo Academy partnership in some existing programme we can make our programme fun and excit- pendence between old and new is embed- and crafts unlocking creativity, engage- and street performances will interrupt will provide capacity building courses for strand or new initiative. This online ques- ing for everyone. ded in the field of tension of CONTEMPO- ment and social art. the traditional way of living, consum- community activists and mediators in 2017 tionnaire will be active until the end of RARY VS. TEMPORARY. With the concept —— In Digital Diplomacy project we trans- ing and using the City‘s environment. and 2018, after which the programme in 2017 (during 2018–2021 the main plat- Each project selected for the inclusion and slogan of Contemporary Capital there mit the stories of Kaunas as a tempo- —— 40 Fluxus Labs spread in Kaunas and each Seniūnija of the City and the District form for programming will be The Tempo in the programme should meet some of is simply no other choice except to create, rary capital and temporary centre of the District will unite professionals will be further developed and implement- Academy of Culture). these requirements: present and participate in the latest and diplomatic missions from all over the and non-professionals, local and for- ed in partnership with communities and innovative cultural activities. Our whole world into augmented/digital reality eign actors, traditional culture ele- various stakeholders (We, The People). Par- Kaunas 2022 team will continue organ- —— European dimension and Europe-rel- artistic vision hinges on this. Our aim is to and initiate an online-based heritage ments and contemporary art. Twin- ticipation of schools, ethnic minorities, the ising meetings with different organisa- evant topics, create an art attitude in people by picking mapping project, which also contains ning of communities internationally elderly and families with children will also tions, business sector and communities to —— European partnerships, international up from where people are already confi- live meetings and story-telling events. will be based on digital technologies. be developed in cooperation in the frame- explain objectives of the programme and exchange of ideas and producers, dent about culture – popular culture, social —— Traditional events like Kaunas/Hanse- Contemporary circus and dance pro- work of The Tempo Academy. possible ways of participation (we have —— Memory projects, media, traditional art forms, and sports. As atic Days based on medieval culture gramme will be developed in remote had more than 700 meetings with groups —— Heritage bonding projects, we have said before: it is, above all, shared or folk dance and song festivals will communities and based on their rural Some of the programme projects will use and individuals so far between January —— Strengthening of the cultural and cre- memories and experiences that connect be enriched by updated content. culture and local stories. open calls for local and international art- 2015 – February 2017). Facebook, Insta- ative industries’ sector, people – and the whole point of our pro- —— The Mythical Beast, a traditional fig- —— Besides only looking for technology- ists, namely Kaunas Modernism 360/365, gram and other social networks are used —— Design for All (accessibility for all) ini- gramme is to give the citizens of the City ure and story will emerge through driven innovative approaches towards Magic Carpets and My Courtyard Festival. regularly to update followers with the lat- tiatives, and our visitors some meaningful shared traditional artistic forms and will also local traditional culture, we are go- These three projects are focused on boost- est information and invitations. —— Fostering art thinking or art attitude memories and experiences (in whatever be celebrated with the use of the lat- ing to revive a story-telling tradition ing the local artists’ scene by creating a in playful and imaginative ways, contemporary package they might come) est technologies: traces of the Beast for heritage animation and commu- platform for their collaboration with inter- After the bid book hand-in deadline in Feb- —— Contributing to the happiness and en- and revive those that have been lost. in the City made visible and audible nity projects. The story-telling course national artists and local communities. ruary 2017, Kaunas’ bid will be published joyment of many, by augmented reality, a theatre perfor- will be one of The Tempo Academy of online. Everybody who has an interest to —— Appealing to basketball fans as well Innovations work both ways for us – the mance combined with 3D visuals and Culture courses, during which several We still have topics that are important participate in the preparatory process and as notorious couch potatoes, latest technologies and tools (especially 7D holograms, and many more. unique “talking heritage” programmes both at local and European level – e.g. the implementation may apply referring to six —— Contributing to the story of the Mythi- used for communication and information) —— Latest technologies will be used to will be created. Lithuanian language (one of the oldest in special platforms and two horizontal pro- cal Beast of Kaunas, and a new approach towards traditional animate cultural heritage objects and the world, proto Indo-European language) grammes or directly to a particular project. —— Decentralisation of culture, communi- cultural forms and how they are used. We stories around them – audio-visual or the Singing Revolution topic, which will ty building and broadening the acces- have many contradictions. This is not one routes through the City, animation be developed into detailed international The main aims and requirements for new sibility of cultural production, of them. films, animated heritage videos and programmes and projects during the run- project proposals and participation are based —— Ensuring possibilities to local commu- digitised comics will be accessible via up years. on a set of criteria that corresponds with our nity members to participate in crea- A new approach to what we call traditional Kaunas 2022 online platform. Aug- challenges and objectives as well as with tive processes, mented reality products, which extend To ensure the information and openness basic requirements for a European Capital —— Interdisciplinary and inter-institution- —— Platforms like Wake It, Shake It and traditional approach to environment of the programme we proceed with a of Culture programme including a European al partnerships, We, the People transcend approaches will enrich Digital Diplomacy, and

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS questionnaire on the Kaunas 2022 web- dimension and European partners. But we re- —— Collaboration between art and sci- to traditional art forms and involve the other projects. VR products will allow 64 site (www.kaunas2022.eu) where anyone ally believe that a contemporary mindset and ence practitioners. community into new and experimental local audiences and distant visitors to 65 How has the city involved, or how does it plan to involve, local artists Q16 and cultural organisations in the conception and implementation of the cultural programme? Please give some concrete examples and name some local artists and cultural organisations with which coop- eration is envisaged and specify the type of exchanges in question. Cultural and artistic content

The initial idea of applying for ECoC title the most modern trends and technologies —— The Museum will also participate in the was raised by the local cultural operators of that time. It is an inspirational example production of new public art installa- and introduced to the local administration, of Modernist architecture. Today it repre- tions based on the works by the most which later provided the requested sup- sents the non-commercial, alternative film famous Lithuanian artist M. K. Čiurlionis. port. Kaunas 2022 bidding team consists culture and has become one of Kaunas’ bo- of culture professionals who represent a hemian spots. —— The Museum will become one of the variety of culture fields including visual core members of the Tempo Acade- and performing arts, literature, heritage ACTIONS ENVISAGED: my and Wake It, Shake It programme and architecture, philosophy, contempo- in which new collaborative interdisci- rary circus, etc. The ideas which came up —— Ladislas Starevich Animation Labora- plinary productions such as the Trav- by working together were voiced to a wide tory will include animated storytelling elling Museum and the Learning Mu- circle of cultural organisations and artists workshops for children aged 7–15 and seum will be implemented. during many public meetings that raised will involve over 300 school students, a lot of interest and generally showed big who will develop their own animated Based on the proposal received from support from the local cultural community. films in groups accompanied by profes- the independent artist collective Daina sionals. During the proposed Ladislas Pupkevičiūtė and Vaida Tamoševičiūtė, At the end of 2015, Kaunas 2022 bidding Starevich festival all of the newly pro- Kaunas 2022 will support the develop- team announced an invitation to share duced films will be screened to a wide ment of a new international platform Ma- © LV ideas and suggestions on themes, projects, audience at the film centre Romuva. tters for thinkers, artists and activists of creative partnerships for Kaunas 2022 the industrial (sub)culture. The festival —— Kaunas Biennial will facilitate a science —— Baltic Watercolour Biennial Baltic —— The Bard Festival Akacijų Alėja is an programme. By the end of 2016 the invita- —— A film repertoire dedicated to subcul- programme will involve local sound artists and art programme (Designing Happi- Bridges (autumn period) will show open-air event that takes place in a tion resulted in more than 100 proposals tures, minorities, ethnic cultures in- (like Arma, Artūras Bumšteinas, Body Car- ness), collaborate with the National the best examples of works on pa- small town of Kulautuva in the Kaunas from different NGOs, communities, public volving communities in the creation go, Budrūs, Extravaganza, N.O., Ganzer Ma- Science Centre, and lead international per by artists from the Baltic and District each year, attracts thousands institutions, artists from Kaunas City and of a repertoire based on their collec- chine, Girnų Giesmės), visual artists (Dar- residencies for artists Magic Carpet. The Nordic countries. It will connect with of people and has a long standing his- the District. All of the suggestions were tive memory, history and relevant top- ius Žiūra, Gabrielė Gervickaitė, Saltmira, Biennial has contributed to the Tempo the Confluence programme strand tory. For 2022 the Festival will extend considered, discussed and developed fur- ics (Tear Down the Walls project). Danius Kesminas) and thinkers (Audronė Academy (2017–2022) by suggesting a by dedicating an exhibition, special its international profile by inviting ther during more than 700 individual and Žukauskaitė, Jurijus Dobriakovas and oth- broad spectrum of European level part- outdoor events and workshops to the bard music performers of other Euro- collective meetings, and thematic working Established in 1921, the M. K. Čiurlionis Na- ers). It will aim to culturally re-activate the nerships and will help in developing riverside topic. pean countries. groups to merge all of the proposals into tional Museum of Art has turned into one former industrial sites and humanise the them further. The Biennial team will cu- a coherent and solid artistic programme. of the oldest and largest art museums in operating industrial areas in our neigh- rate the Reconciliation Oratory project —— Each year AURA Dance Festival (Octo- —— Representatives of these and other Group workshop sessions involved repre- Lithuania. It is the best place in Lithuania to bourhoods. (composed by Philip Miller). ber) presents a high-profile interna- prominent festivals in Kaunas will sentatives from the local theatre, music, become acquainted with the development tional dance programme. The Festival participate in the Tempo Academy museum, arts, library, heritage, architec- of Lithuanian and international art history The participation of Kaunas’ festivals and —— Kaunas Photo Festival will develop a will contribute to Yiddishe Mame by and Wake It, Shake It programme by ture, educational and sports sectors. Pro- and culture, from ancient times to the pre- their operators is essential for Kaunas year-round programme of indoor and staging dance performances in collab- not only joining the training sessions jects in the current Contemporary Capital sent day. The museum has 10 locations in 2022 programme because of their high- outdoor photographic exhibitions and oration with Israel-based choreogra- but also sharing their practices and programme involve over 150 local culture Kaunas that include everything from im- quality production, long-standing Euro- installations, organise artist residen- phers such as Renana Raz, Yossi Berg partnerships. operators and individuals who are the pressive ancient, classic and modern art pean and global partnerships, rich expe- cies for the Fluxus Labs project. The and Oded Graf on the local history of strength of our bid and a high guarantee of displays, four historic house museums and rience and dynamic nature. The meetings festival will work in collaboration with the Holocaust at the IX Fort Museum. Finally, should our Application succeed, Kaunas’ potential to implement the ECoC even a one of a kind devil collection. with organisers have led us to integrate the Street Art Festival Nykoka, Media The organisers of the festival will also Kaunas 2022 plans to involve as many lo- programme with local cultural operators them in all of the Kaunas 2022 pro- Art Festival Centras, the proposed produce dance tours directed by in- cal artists and performers as possible in the and broad European partnerships. ACTIONS ENVISAGED: gramme parts, agree on integrating their Post-Industrial Culture Festival MA- ternational choreographers in public Fluxus Labs programme and three Grand human resources, facilities and possibili- TTERS and Litvak Forum. and industrial spaces, as well as her- events of Kaunas 2022 mobilising thou- We continuously work on developing a vast —— The Museum will host a special exhi- ties of contributing to the aims of the itage sites unveiling hidden places of sands of local young talents and profes- network of ambassadors who support Kau- bition of the Russian born expression- ECoC programme. —— Kaunas in Art Festival (summer pe- Kaunas. sionals. For example, the Liberty Music Pa- nas’ candidacy and now includes 27 signifi- ist painter Marianne von Werefkin who riod), led by Meno parkas gallery and rade on Liberty Avenue in celebration of the cant figures in literature, theatre, music and lived in Kaunas and the Blaue Reiter —— The Kaunas Jazz Festival (April) will co-curated by Krzysztof Stanislawski —— Puppet Theatre Festival organised Beast Day will involve more than 2,000 par- other fields of culture. They are actively in- painter group that she belonged to. organise special concerts at the Kau- (PL), will organise artist residencies by the Kaunas State Puppet Theatre ticipants, including local and national mu- volved in the conception and communica- nas Synagogue. Special events within and contribute to public art initiatives is held May–July every year. The fes- sic collectives and performers (orchestras, tion of the programme. Link to the full list —— An exhibition of Litvak (Jews with the festival will be held in some of the (Designing Happiness and Fluxus tival coincides with one of the main choirs, singers, soloists) who will play and of Kaunas 2022 ambassadors: http://kau- roots in Lithuania) artists will pre- residential neighbourhoods of Kaunas Labs programmes). outdoor events of Kaunas 2022 pro- sing European authors’ compositions about nas2022.eu/en/about-the-ambassadors/. sent famous École de Paris painters (community projects). gramme dedicated to the Kaunas freedom through the windows of the Liber- and sculptors with the Jewish Lithu- —— Live Art Festival CREATurE will present Legend (20–22 May 2022). Thus, the ty Avenue. The same weekend digital artists Some of the examples of partnerships with anian origin. The exhibition will in- —— Pažaislis Classical Music Festival (sum- a special performance art programme organisers of the festival will be di- will introduce their work in a form of out- local cultural organisations are listed be- clude works by Jacques Lipchitz, Marc mer period) will spread its geographi- within the proposed Industrial Art rectly involved in implementing a door animated 3D projections and Kaunas low. Chagall, Arbit Blatas, Theo Tobiasse, cal location to a wider area covering Festival MATTERS. The organisers of unique animus puppetry workshop in State Puppet Theatre directors and actors Max Band, Emmanuel Mané-Katz, the Kaunas District. Organisers of the CREATurE will also develop a unique different neighbourhoods across Kau- together with their international partners Kaunas Film Centre Romuva is the oldest Pinchus Krémègne, Michael Kikoïne, festival have also contributed and will international Performance Art Archi- nas and directing the performance will participate in a specially created large-

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS functioning cinema theatre in Kaunas es- Jacques Missene, Ossip Zadkine, Si- further participate in the development ve in Kaunas which is planned to be in a special parade that will tell the scale puppet performance on the story of 66 tablished in 1939 just before the war with mon Glatzer and others. of the main outdoor events. launched by 2022. Legend of Kaunas. The Beast. 67 Please confirm and supply evidence that you have broad and Q17 strong political support and a sustainable commitment from the relevant local, regional and national public authorities. Capacity to deliver

Kaunas’ initiative to bid for the ECoC ti- actively supporting the implementation of for the final stage of the competition, in- tle was introduced and developed by a this strategy and providing Kaunas 2022 cluding the updated programme structure, group of independent representatives bidding team with all required support. management model, and the previously of different culture fields based in Kau- confirmed budget, and showed support of nas. From the very beginning the initia- On 15 March 2016 the City Council voted all political parties. tive has enjoyed the unanimous political and unanimously agreed to provide the support from the major political parties. requested budget of 12m Euros for the The National Government has made a In spring 2015 the previous Kaunas City ECoC programme (Kaunas City Munici- commitment regarding their financial con- The visualisation of Science Island by 1st Place Winner Council voted to accept the new Kaunas pality Council decision n. T-98, March 15, tribution on 20th April 2016 with an offi- SMAR Architecture studio (ES/AU). City Strategy for the years 2015–2022 in 2016) and the District Council has shown cial decision of the Strategic Committee of which the aim of securing the European the same support when they agreed on the National Government to support up to venues in the Kaunas District which programmes and a variety of public spaces, National Museum of Art. Its current Capital of Culture title for 2022 is de- participating in the ECoC programme to- 50% of the cultural programme budget of also houses the Kaunas District Muse- squares and parks offer great settings for building, designed specifically to host clared as a stepping stone to unite Kau- gether with Kaunas City and confirmed the any selected city, however, no more than um. An exhibition of antique and rare open air public events and parades. temporary exhibitions is well located nas culture operators and citizens as well proposed budget of 4m Euros for the pro- 10m Euros in total. prints as well as international Kau- in the City centre and provides op- as to optimise cultural infrastructure and gramme by voting on March 24, 2016 (22 nas 2022 opening and closing dinner CURRENT GAPS portunities for further development achieve better quality cultural service. votes for, 0 against and 3 abstained). meetings are foreseen to take place of the building to not only meet the here. Although there is a satisfactory variety of current needs but to become one of After the election in spring of 2015 the On 7 February 2017 the City Council vot- culture spaces around Kaunas, there are the leading national institutions in current municipal government has been ed and reconfirmed the City’s application There are plenty of unique heritage build- still some insufficiencies that need to be contemporary arts. The possibilities ings around the City which lack attention or resolved. Building on the key priorities list- of development of this site are being have not been adapted to fit current needs ed in the Culture Strategy and in the Urban discussed by the Kaunas Municipality but could be creatively incorporated into Development Plan of Kaunas (2013–2023), and the newly appointed state gov- Kaunas 2022 programme. Building on the we have identified these possibilities for ernment and have a lot of potential. new Kaunas Cultural Strategy and in order further urban development in the cultural Please confirm and supply evidence that your city has or will have to make better use of these buildings, Kau- field: Besides that, the construction of the Na- Q18 adequate and viable infrastructure to host the title. To do that, nas municipality has undertaken the task tional Science Island, which will feature a please answer the following questions: of creative adaptation of heritage objects. —— A black box stage for performing arts. temporary exhibition space and the Con- Since March 2017 the municipal cultural Absence of such event and rehearsal cert Hall (described below) that is being Capacity to deliver organisation Menininkų namai is respon- space leaves the famous AURA Dance planned provide additional opportunities sible for registration of disused heritage Theatre as the only theatre in the City for developing modern spaces for con- buildings and negotiating their potential with no stage to show their perfor- temporary visual and music culture. De- cultural use (artistic hubs, artist studios, mances and no space for emerging spite the infrastructural plans and having EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE Located centrally, the Centre has a startup spaces, alternative event spaces, choreographers and dance perform- in mind the uniqueness of local Modern- a) Explain briefly how the European well-equipped theatre hall for 500 etc.) with building owners. For example, ers to train and rehearse. The evident ist era buildings we also intend to focus The Žalgiris Arena is built on Nemunas Is- viewers and provides space necessary the Central Post Office building, one of the lack of such space could be resolved on public spaces, disused heritage build- Capital of Culture will make use of land in the very centre of the City in 2011. for rehearsals, preparatory workshops most important heritage jewels of Lithu- by converting some of the local indus- ings (forts, Modernist buildings, industrial and develop the city‘s cultural infra- It can fit up to 20,000 viewers and was vot- of the highlight events, performances anian Modernism. In 2015 Kaunas Biennial trial/heritage buildings. The Munici- sites) and unconventional spaces through structure. ed the best arena by the managers of the and concerts of Kaunas 2022 pro- opened their main exhibition in this dis- pality is seeking to resolve this insuf- temporary creative interventions and site Euroleague clubs in 2016. Explicitly well gramme; used building and attracted thousands of ficiency. Currently one of the potential specific projects. designed acoustics, the most modern tech- curious heritage and art enthusiasts. Main solutions is proposed by the National nologies inside the arena allow hosting of —— The Cinema Theatre Romuva is the events of Kaunas Design Week as well Kaunas Drama Theatre to develop FUTURE PLANS AND GOALS top scale events. The arena will be used oldest functioning cinema in Kau- as the AURA Dance Festival were held in one of their buildings into a black box for our main events, especially during our nas and an inspirational example of an equally important modernist building stage for emerging artists. The pro- The infrastructure development plan for The general offer of spaces and cultural in- cold seasons. Modernist architecture. By 2022 the Pieno Centras, re-animating the building posal is being discussed on local and Kaunas includes some big developments frastructure for events in the City is already reconstruction of the cinema will be and attracting more people to visit it. We state levels trying to find possibilities and visions for the upcoming years. extensive. Existing gaps are addressed by Most of the local cultural venues provide completed and it will host Ladislas plan to keep this tradition of cultural inter- to attract funding. an Urban Development Plan (2013–2023) not only effective basis for cultural events Starevich Animation Laboratory and a ventions in heritage buildings going as we The National Science Centre is one of the that the City Municipality is currently im- but also a chance to study the local char- special European film repertoire; believe it not only attracts a wide audience —— Considering the large variety of con- most important national cultural projects plementing. acter of Modernist architecture and inte- who wish to learn about their heritage but temporary art events and festivals in of recent times. In an open competition, riors: —— which was built in generates public attention and change in Kaunas, the City does not have enough Kaunas City was selected as the location However, the existing cultural infrastruc- Kaunas Sports Hall 1939 and hosted one of the first Euro- care and preservation of these buildings. contemporary exhibition spaces for of the future Centre by the Education and ture needs to be used more effectively and —— hall which pean Men’s Basketball Championships visual arts. However, the Develop- Science Ministry of Lithuania. The propos- therefore, our main urban development Kaunas State Philharmonic was built in 1928 has been lately re- will be converted into a multifunc- Other important infrastructure objects in- ment Plan of Integrated Territories of al prepared by Kaunas Municipality envi- priorities are retention and functional ex- furbished and can fit up to 530 view- tional events space by 2018. We plan clude the National Kaunas Drama Theatre the Culture Ministry includes renova- sioned the new building to be built on the tension. Consequently, capacity building ers. In 2022 it will host classical music to use this space for contemporary cir- and Vytautas Magnus University Grand tions of the main exhibition spaces at Nemunas Island close to the City centre. In and institutional renewal programmes concerts; cus and dance performances; Hall, both of which can fit large audi- M. Žilinskas Gallery (subunit of the M. autumn of 2016 the Municipality made an such as Wake It, Shake It, the Tempo Aca- ences and are often used for theatre and K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art), international call for architectural propos- demy and Designing Happiness are also —— Many of the local amateur collectives —— Another important location for Kau- music festivals. A network of libraries and which is planned to begin in 2018. als and selected the winner. The building is key methods in making our cultural infra- are located at nas 2022 programme is the Renais- community centres around the City and Another important site for visual arts to be completed and inaugurated by 2018 structure serve our population more effec- Kaunas Culture Centre

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS which is another exam- sance Today it is the District area provides a good basis is the Kaunas Picture Gallery, which for the occasion of the 100 years State- tively and support our key values. Tautos Namai Raudondvaris Manor. 68 ple of local Modernist architecture. one of the most modern and popular for outreach and community involvement also belongs to the M. K. Čiurlionis hood anniversary. The new Centre will host 69 By Ship Accommodation capacity c) What is the city‘s absorption ca- Kaunas has five passenger pacity in terms of tourists‘ accommo- According to official statistics, there are 60 piers on the rivers. However, hospitality businesses in Kaunas City: 28 the waterway routes and water tourism dation? hotels, 4 motels, 2 camping parks, 6 hos- is developing very slowly mainly due to tels, 1 sanatorium/rehabilitation centre lack of business interest and tourism in- and 19 private accommodations. In 2015 frastructure. We are negotiating with the According to the statistics, the number of there were in total 1,235 hotel rooms in tourism departments of Kaunas City and inbound tourists in all of Lithuania has Kaunas and 2,450 beds. Based on the ho- the District Municipalities on possibili- been gradually increasing since 2009 and tel occupancy statistics for 2015, which ties to reopen the water route to Nida, in 2013 has finally exceeded 1m per year ranged between 41% and 62,5% depend- develop more attractive water routes and for the whole country – which shows that ing on the season, the accommodation ca- provide a bigger offer of such services to Lithuania is not yet a classical tourist des- pacity fully meets current needs and would tourists. tination. Moreover, Kaunas remains a tem- consequently suffice even if the influx was porary halt for foreign tourists, who come more than doubled at the peak during the By Public Transportation here to spend an afternoon in between vis- busy seasons. The types of hotel accom- iting Vilnius, Trakai and the seaside – de- modations vary from 1 to 4 star hotels, Kaunas is a compact City spite a vast offer for tourists, good acces- with several of the latter offering high-end and nearly any cultural site can be sibility of the City and close proximity to luxury suites. reached using public transport which major tourist attraction sites. takes passengers from the City centre to Kaunas District can offer another 16 ac- the its outskirts in less than 30 min for a commodation places with 720 beds and price of under 1 euro, so that the trans- another 23 rural tourism accommodation portation even from the most remote NUMBERS OF TOURISTS sites in close proximity to Kaunas City with areas to the centre is affordable for the a possibility to explore local cuisine, eth- locals. Kaunas public transport system nic traditions and architecture, and enjoy st The visualisation of Science Island by 1 Place Winner was awarded the EU CIVITAS Award for calm nature surroundings or active forms SMAR Architecture studio (ES/AU). 220,000 modernisation of the transport system, of tourism. thus many of the public bus stops have 200,000 an exposition of the latest scientific exhib- an open-air amphitheatre. The vision of By Car digital information screens announcing Kaunas is very affordable in overnight its, provide educational programmes for the new site also covers the functions of a departure times and delays and individ- 180,000 stays for young people with the cheapest different audiences and create a platform conference centre and an exhibition space Kaunas is situated in the centre price for accommodation in a centrally lo- ual routes can be planned using a special 160,000 for scientific research. The temporary- ex that can serve the needs of the visual art of the country and is one of its most impor- mobile app. cated hostel being just 10 euros per night. hibition and event space will feature not scene. The City has implemented a feasi- tant logistic intersections. In fact, within 140,000 Many of the university dormitories offer in- only scientific but interdisciplinary exhibi- bility study and is currently seeking to at- one-hour drive Kaunas can be reached by Alternative Transportation expensive accommodation for young trav- tions on innovative explorations and will tract investment for the project in which 2 million people, that’s 2/3 of the Lithuani- 120,000 ellers in the summer, during the student be directly linked to the ECoC programme ECoC’s designation could become one of an population. Kaunas is served by a num- In 2016 a new low cost city car 100,000 holidays. There are many other accommo- via Memory Office, Designing Happiness, the key elements of success. ber of major motorways. European route rental self-service, Citybee, was launched, dation options in Kaunas like AirBnB offer- We, the People and other projects. E67 is a highway running from Prague in allowing anyone with a valid driver’s li- 80,000 ing over a hundred of private apartments the Czech Republic to Helsinki in Finland cense to rent a car by using a computer/ for rent and over one thousand hosts on The reconstruction of the S. Darius and S. through Poland, Kaunas, Riga, and Tallinn, mobile app for any period ranging from a 60,000 CouchSurfing platform. Girėnas Stadium is an important project b) What are the city‘s assets in terms known as the Via Baltica between Warsaw couple of minutes for a short drive through 40,000 for the sports community of the country of accessibility (regional, national and Tallinn (670 km). It is the most impor- the City centre to a weekend rental for And speaking of conTEMPORARY struc- at large. However, the reconstruction will tant road connection between the Baltic longer trips. 20,000 tures we will explore other alternative ac- and international transport)? also extend the function of the stadium States. Kaunas is also linked to Vilnius in 2012 2013 2014 2015 commodation concepts and novelties in a by providing new spaces for the local NGO east Lithuania and Klaipėda on the Baltic Since 2010 the Municipality has been ex- 0 dedicated project under our design topic. sector. It will feature a space called Inno- Sea via the A1 motorway, and Daugavpils panding the network of bike roads seeking Together with young design and architec- Hub for the Kaunas Challenge project of (Latvia) via E262 (A6) highway. In total to reach 176 km of bike roads in the City – National ture practitioners we will initiate some Kaunas 2022 and will become the hot spot By Plane Kaunas is connected with other cities via area. In summer 2016 Kaunas launched – International temporary accommodation structures of- for local active youth, their professional 17 motorways of national significance. a new self-service bicycle rental system, fering tourists not only acceptable value development seminars and trainings as Just 14 km outside the City which allows anyone to rent a bike in spe- but an extraordinary experience too. We well as mentorship programmes in crea- is Kaunas Airport that can By Rail cial self-service points located in different Recent statistics are showing a slow but want to take advantage of our spaces and tive and business entrepreneurship. The reached by car, bus (from the city centre in places around the City. steady growth in numbers of tourists who buildings which are neglected or ineffi- reconstruction is to be completed by 2018 a bit more than half an hour for the price In 2015 an important stay in Kaunas overnight, amounting to a cient as well as set up experimental and and has a confirmed and allocated State of 1 euro) or taxi (for an average price of railway infrastructure build, Rail Baltica, By 2020 a newly constructed wire cable total of 227,925 overnight stays in 2015. environmentally friendly structures like and Municipality budget. 18 euros). At the moment, Ryanair and Wiz- was completed in Kaunas. The project will ferry over the Nemunas river will connect transparent bubbles, tree houses or reused zair are the two main airlines operating at link Finland, the Baltic States and Poland Kulautuva and Zapyškis resort towns. It is Year Total International National shipping containers in easily accessible Concert Hall Kaunas airport, which has recently gone and also improve the connection between bound to become a tourist attraction. locations around the City thus adding to through a major development project. The Central and Northern Europe and is being 2015 227,925 150,750 77,175 accommodation capacity for ECoC year as One of the major projects listed in the cur- companies offer 19 destinations across Eu- implemented in sections. Since the sum- One of major attraction points in Kau- 2014 215,130 145,993 69,137 well. Of course, we know this kind of ac- rent Urban Development Plan of Kaunas is rope. There is no doubt that Kaunas airport mer of 2016 the new railway allows pas- nas City are the two funiculars which are commodation is not to everyone’s taste but the construction of a Concert Hall near the is an important asset in seeking to attract sengers to travel between Bialystok (PL) among the oldest remaining in Europe. 2013 204,186 138,250 65,936 we hope students and adventurous souls Nemunas river which will provide the most tourists from Europe. However, nearly 80% and Kaunas and in 2019 the new railway Constructed in the 1930s, the funiculars 2012 179,414 128,493 50,921 will take the risk… Snow castles and ice up-to-date conditions for professional mu- of all airway passengers reach Lithuania is planned to reach the northern border of bring you up and down Žaliakalnis and hotels in Scandinavia also had many scep- sic performances and attract high-ranking through Vilnius Airport (100 km distance the country and will be continued further Aleksotas hills for city panoramas. Be- The tourist numbers during the year are tics at the beginning. professional musicians and orchestras to from Kaunas) which is another important north. Kaunas can be accessed by railway sides being a tourist attraction, the fu- unevenly distributed, with an emphasis on perform in the City thus becoming one of access point to Kaunas. Trains and buses from other major Lithuanian cities, such as niculars still carry a considerable num- the second and third quarter of the year the top cultural landmarks in the coun- take passengers to Vilnius Airport in 1.5 Vilnius, Klaipėda and Šiauliai. ber of citizens to and from their work being busier in terms of both local and in-

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS try. The building will include a 1500 seat hours (average cost of 6 euros by train and every day. ternational tourism. 70 main hall, a smaller hall of 720 seats and 12 euros by bus). 71 d) In terms of cultural, urban and tourism infrastructure what are the projects (including renovation projects) that Explain how the local population and your civil society have been your city plans to carry out in connection with the European Capital of Culture action between now and the year of Q19 involved in the preparation of the application and will participate in the title? What is the planned timetable for this work? the implementation of the year? Outreach

The projects listed below include the new partial financial support to private -herit and 22 owners were sponsored. In 2017 The Kaunas 2022 Outreach programme is declare they must leave their neigh- a) The Cultural Co-opetition construction of a multifunctional Nation- age building owners for reconstruction of the Municipality increased the budget of a fundamental driver in our passion to cre- bourhood when they have leisure time This programme will invite each Seniūnija al Science Centre, Athletics Stadium and, the exteriors and has been running since the programme up to 1 m euro, thus aim- ate the kind of inclusive, decentralised cul- to spend and think that there should be to test out the model of the Capital of Cul- for the most part, reconstruction of exist- 2015. Since many of the projects in our ing for an even bigger improvement in her- tural city in which people live happily ever more cultural events organised in there. ture on a smaller scale and thus build a ing public buildings and spaces. These re- programme are related to our Modernist itage preservation. The projects mentioned after. It’s time to wake up, shake up the Some of the neighbourhoods stood out stronger cultural identity of their area. It constructions are ongoing and having in heritage, this public investment makes a in the table below include only the ones neighbourhoods of Kaunas that are full of in the survey. For example, Vilijampolė is meant to ignite a positive neighbour- mind the risk of not completing them on significant contribution to the programme that are confirmed by main financing bod- potential but, culturally, still rather sleepy. Seniūnija, where citizens have shown a hood cultural competition for the title time, it would still be possible to host the and the opportunities of cultural activities ies, are relevant institutions and are listed They are sleepy for one big reason: cul- deep dissatisfaction with their local cul- of the Kaunas Community Capital of Cul- planned programme parts in all of these in these heritage sites. Each year the budg- in the Urban Development Plan of Kaunas, ture in Kaunas is much too centralised. To tural offer and the quality of their sur- ture which will be handed over every six spaces. It is also worth mentioning here et of the Heritage Renovation Programme Development Plan of Integrated Territories change that, we have planned a set of ac- roundings. Ironically, it is the territory of months during the period of 2017–2022. the Kaunas Municipality Heritage Renova- is increased. In 2016 400,000 euros were of the Culture Ministry and other strategic tions and programmes, e.g.: the former Jewish ghetto and it doesn’t tion Programme. The programme provides allocated to the needs of this programme documents. —— Community mapping; have enough public spaces for citizens The programme will seek to: —— Cooperation and competition in the to gather, but it is also one of the closest —— explore and present the contemporary Planned Funding Seniūnijos; neighbourhoods to the City centre which identity of local neighbourhoods Nr. Object Time period Connection with the programme budget sources* —— Fluxus Labs network of community ac- offers good links to the main cultural or- —— help build a diverse narrative of the tivists; ganisations and has an active commu- City’s different communities Culture infrastructure —— The Tempo Academy – capacity build- nity to build on. Therefore, Vilijampolė —— identify and involve the active mem- 1 Construction of National Science Centre 2016–2018 23,076,500 EU, SIP, KCMA, PF Memory Office: Litvak Forum, Exhibition: Science+Art ing programme. Seniūnija will become one of the focal bers of local communities on Nemunas Island points in our Fluxus Labs and We, the —— build capacities within the communi- 2 Modernisation of M. Žilinskas Art Gallery 2016–2020 4,923,369 ITDP: EU, MC Exhibition of Marianne von Werefkin, exhibition of Lit- In delivering these aims we are strongly People programmes. The activities there ties to ensure the continuity of cultur- (M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art) vak painters, museum related projects of the Wake It, relying on the help of our local creative will start in 2017 with some pilot activi- al revitalisation Shake It programme community, in particular freelance commu- ties of the Fluxus Labs programme. —— create momentum and spirit through nity-oriented artists, community activists engaging in a competition which will 3 Modernisation of Kaunas State Puppet 2016–2020 1,000,000 ITDP: EU, MC Theatre Flux Festival; Workshops for the parade of Theatre puppets; Festival for the families and infants, Ladislas and creative professionals who will be the The other finding of the survey shows that be a learning and sharing experience Starevich Animation Laboratory main contributors in the implementation the library network, which covers almost rather than “the winner takes all”. of the Fluxus Labs, Cultural Co-opetition every existing Seniūnija in Kaunas is more 4 Modernisation of Kaunas State Music 2016–2020 4,982,000 ITDP: EU, MC Theatre Flux Festival, IFTR conference and other related programmes. popular than any other local cultural in- The programme will partly re-create the Theatre stitution and has the highest rating. The structure and logic of the ECoC programme, 5 Actualisation of Kaunas Film Centre 2016–2018 1,505,309 ITDP: EU, MC, EC Ladislas Starevich Animation Laboratory; Café du Monde, WHAT WE DID network provides a great opportunity to having the title awarded in a rolling pro- Romuva special European cinema repertoire during the build- access local communities and a basis for gramme to the neighbourhood that pro- up and in 2022 The Community Laboratory and Cultural developing community-based cultural pro- vides the best programme proposal. It will 6 Reconstruction of cultural part of NGO 2016–2018 1,345,312 ITDP: EU, KCMA Theatre Flux Festival; Fluxus Labs Accessibility Mapping jects within the programme. Based on this, provide the organisers of each communi- Girstutis culture and sports centre Kaunas is divided into 11 Seniūnijos with we have agreed on co-operation with the ty’s programme with community engage- another 25 in Kaunas District. To involve Kaunas City Library (with 25 locations in ment, communication, artistic and other Community infrastructure Kaunas citizens in the development of the the City) and Kaunas District Library (con- advice from the experts. It will be based on 7 Infrastructure modernisation in Kaunas 2016–2018 1,027,512 ITDP: EU, KCMA Fluxus Labs; Main spot for City events preparation (re- programme we simply asked them how nects more than 20 library divisions in the the structure of the Fluxus Labs network Culture Centre Tautos namai hearsals and meeting point), Tempo Academy workshops, they feel about the current cultural offer District area) in We, the People and other and will be partly overseen by the students Kaunas Challenge workshops, Yiddishe Mame projects in the City and what are their ideas and parts of our programme. of the Faculty for Community Culture Ac- 8 Actualisation and modernisation of 2016–2020 4,998,000 ITDP: EU, KCMA Fluxus Labs; Wake It, Shake It library programme; Tempo expectations on its improvement. The ex- tivism (Tempo Academy programme). Kaunas District Library Academy; intergenerational activities tensive citizen survey involved almost We will continue with this comprehensive 1,300 participants and covered all of the mapping exercise to find the communi- b) Fluxus Labs Public spaces 11 Seniūnijos in Kaunas and citizens from ties’ potential and conduct cultural audits Fluxus Labs is a programme being de- 9 On-going reconstruction of Laisvės 2015–2021 23,248,641 SIP, KCMA Main space for outdoor events – the opening, closing different Seniūnijos in the Kaunas District. of assets for culture in all Kaunas areas veloped by culture activists across all 11 alėja (Freedom Avenue) (6 stages) events, the Mythical Beast of Kaunas and Modernity for It served as a check-up of the cultural cli- (2017–2018). Seniūnijos in the City and 25 in the Dis- the Future festivals and other festvities of the year mate across these different neighbour- trict facilitated by Kaunas 2022. It is meant 10 Construction of wooden amphitheatre 2015–2016 150,000 EU, KCMA Open-air venue for the The Beast Day celebrations, hoods in the City and beyond, helped to WHAT WE WILL DO to ensure active citizen participation in next to Kaunas Castle youth summer camp events and other identify their creative and community po- the programme across all living areas of 11 Development of Nemunas Island into a 2016–2020 5,000,000 ITDP: EU, KCMA Main space for outdoor events – the opening, closing tentials and start a discussion with local The implementation of our Outreach pro- our City and make our neighbourhoods multifinctional leisure space events, the Mythical Beast of Kaunas Festival and other activists. The survey was mostly imple- gramme has already been introduced in much more active cultural places. It will festivities of the year mented during open-air community gath- Q13. Community participation and cul- be launched in 2017 starting with pilot ering events. It allowed hundreds of eye- tural development are mainstream both projects in several Seniūnijos – namely Sports and active leisure infrastructure to-eye and public discussions to happen in the 2022 programme itself and, espe- Šilainiai and Vilijampolė, and will grow 12 Athletics stadium 2016–2017 9,525,963 SIP, KCMA Kaunas Marathon between the Kaunas 2022 team and the cially, in the build-up years 2017–2021. within six years to cover all of Kaunas. The citizens. During this period, the sleeping beauty activist groups in the neighbourhoods, sup- 13 Refurbishment of S. Darius ir S. Girėnas sta- 2016–2018 14,118,000 SIP, KCMA, ITDP Main hub for the project Kaunas Challenge dium tribunes, playfield and ground floor through MIA of our communities will be awakened ported by Kaunas 2022 will facilitate the The key questions in the survey targeted through the introduction of a coordinat- local communities by co-operating with 14 Reconstruction of Kaunas Sports Hall 2016–2018 5,000,000 ITDP: EU, KCMA Theatre Flux Festival (circus and dance performances), the topic of accessibility and quality of ed programme of projects, training and other Kaunas 2022 projects (circus pro- and conversion into a public multifunc- Modernity for the Future educational events cultural services in different Seniūnijos events which will also change the val- gramme, the Mythical Beast, Modernity for tional centre of Kaunas. What we found out was that ues and characteristics of the neighbour- the Future, Tearing Down the Walls, etc.). between 40–50% of citizens never use hoods themselves. From passive, cultural The Fluxus Labs programme will culmi- * Abbreviations: KCMA – Kaunas City Municipality Administration MC – Ministry of Culture RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS EU – European Union MES – Ministry of Education and Science MIA – Ministry of Internal Affairs the services of their local cultural, educa- indifference to a lasting sense of creative nate in the year of 2022 with a parade of 72 SIP – State Investment Programme ITDP – Integrated Territory Development Plan PF – Private funding tional or social centres. Between 60–85% participation. large-scale puppets produced by different 73 neighbourhoods in Kaunas, accompanied We will invite experts on community devel- encourage people to feel that they are part by local and international artists and di- opment and culture for a series of creative of cultural institutions and that culture is How will the title create in your city new and sustainable opportunities rected by some of Europe’s best profession- talks starting from summer 2017. for everyone. Q20 for a wide range of activities, in particular young people, and volunteers, als, which will take place on 22 May 2022. the marginalized and disadvantaged, including minorities? The Tempo Academy will particularly aim Citizens will also be encouraged to attend c) The Tempo Academy of Culture at creating stronger links between cul- and interactively participate in different Outreach Members of Seniūnijos communities will ture institutions and local communities. culture and arts courses, including social also be able to take part in in the Tempo Thus, the Academy will feature a special design and innovation, participative cul- Academy of Culture. We will launch special project for the culture stakeholders. The ture and arts, community arts, etc. to learn community arts and activism courses with- programme aims at promoting better un- different artistic languages and the impor- As well as the programmes in Q19 which in our Tempo Academy. The course will train derstanding of the needs of different au- tance of creativity in everyday life. address the City wide challenges our lo- new community agents who will then be dience groups and should result in new cal culture institutions face in connecting able to join the Kaunas 2022 programme. innovative culture practices. It aims to their audiences we are also giving par- ticular attention to some specific groups where we feel it is important to invest more. The Kaunas 2022 programme will alert to local institutions to focus their at- tention on the audience and start acting to ensure equal rights to culture. How are we going to achieve this?

The following areas are specific priorities for us: 1. People with disabilities 2. Our Minority Communities 3. Elderly 4. Volunteers 5. Young people © RŠ

1. Accessibility for All account for 6% of the population of Kau- Future as both will be aimed at collecting In We, the People activities, people with nas, but are very proud of their heritage, some personal memories, real stories and disabilities will benefit directly from Desi- memory and stories. And they are keen to family archival material to better under- gning Happiness programmes, particularly share them with their fellow Kaunasians stand some of the most intricate periods the project Design for All the aim of which and with the rest of Europe. So, during the of the City’s past. These memories will be is to maximise accessibility to cultural he- build-up years we will invite our minority brought to life by digital and innovative ritage sites, providing smart decisions for communities to create Community Cultur- technologies in the form of virtual and infrastructural renewal and informational al Consulates – linked to the Digital Diplo- augmented reality tours and they will be KAUNAS DISTRICT KAUNAS CITY gaps. By 2020 we will have developed a macy programme. Exactly a hundred years published on an already existing virtual in- culture accessibility plan, adopted by many after the establishment of the original teractive platform Sites of Memory (www. local cultural organisations, that will cover consulates in the Temporary Capital – the atmintiesvietos.lt), that serves as a digital design and smart technology-based ac- Contemporary Capital will enable people free archive of Kaunas. The newly indexed cultural tempo of Kaunas‘ Seniūnijos Slow Downtempo Moderate Dynamic tions to ensure physical and intellectual from our valued minority communities to access, as well as representation and in- co-create projects which will enable them Our libraries will facilitate special foreign clusion. to shine a light on their culture and contri- language and computer courses that will bution to Kaunas. be taught by school and university stu- 1. Aleksotas: residential area dominated by pri- Technology student town located here, how- newly emerging community arts initiatives As envisioned in our Cultural Strategy, the dents, thus stimulating intergenerational vate houses, also home to the famous Avia- ever, the young population does not relate to that uncover the authentic and sometimes main culture venues will have the neces- Memory Office Tear Down the Walls pro- communication. The new language skills tion museum and one of the oldest airfields in their neighbourhood strongly and the local even poetic character of Šilainiai. sary infrastructure for visitors with dis- grammes will be the two main occasions will serve perfectly in the contemporary Europe, as well as the main market of Kaunas. cultural offer doesn‘t trigger them too. 10. Vilijampolė. Despite its proximity to the City abilities to access all the permanent col- to speak of the legacy of the coexistence circus programme, where locals, includ- 2. Centras – the City centre, covering New Town 6. Panemunė, literally meaning the ‚shore of Ne- centre and the quite active local community, lections, which is still absent in main of different cultures in Kaunas and will ing seniors, will be able to host the visiting and Old Town areas holds the most of the cul- munas‘ is famous for the former resort status Vilijampolė is outside of the City‘s cultural tural capital of the City. The spine of the cen- and distinctive wooden modernist architec- borders. The very few public spaces feature museums and some other cultural venues. restore some of the lost connections with circus and performance artists to introduce tre is the pedestrian street Laisvės alėja, with ture. Features a park and a public beach en- Sąjungos square, one of the notable sites of The National Kaunas Drama Theatre pro- the multicultural memory of the City. One them to local ways of living and partici- many of the local cultural institutions and or- joyed by many Kaunasians. the area. Previously the Jewish cemetery, later gramme of 2018–2022 and beyond will of the main partners in these programmes pate together in the creation of new artis- ganisations located in the surroundings. Many 7. Petrašiūnai. Heavy industry and working class destroyed and turned into a memorial square visibly increase the inclusion of disabled is the Kaunas Centre for Various Nations, tic works. green areas such as the Santaka park (Con- housing in this area neighbours with a natu- for the Komsomol youth, today Sąjungos persons. Since 2016 they have initiated connecting different minority communities fluence Park) and the Nemunas Island can be ral forest and a Pažaislis Monastery baroque square has turned into a shabby and unsafe signing for people with hearing impair- of Kaunas. Their folk collectives will star 4. Our Volunteer Programme is described enjoyed here too. ensemble surrounded by it. Petrašiūnai lie place illustrating the memory voids of the ments, and for 2022 they will create spe- in an extensive contemporary world music in detail under the Tempo Academy of Cul- 3. Dainava fits most of the local industry and by the the Kaunas Sea – the favourite place City. cial performances dedicated to visually programme Music Track that will highlight ture. A dedicated Volunteer and Welcoming is one of the most densely populated areas of the locals for winter fishing and summer 11. Žaliakalnis, a pre-war residential area which of Kaunas. The factories that used to employ yought regatas. until today is strongly associated with intelli- impaired, who will be introduced to the the importance of different cultures mixing Faculty within the Tempo Academy will be thousands of locals have decreased their pro- 8. Šančiai. Formerly a military area, which also gentsia. It contains some distinctive examples story through sound and tactile participa- together for the development and diversity responsible for training volunteer manag- duction and some of them are now empty, but used to be inhabited by the multiethnic com- of residential modernist architecture as well tion. Special tactile-visual-sound installa- of music and will include the local Kaunas ers, attracting new volunteers to the pro- many of the former factory workers continue munities, which formed the distinct culture as one of oldest urban woodlands in Europe, tions are planned in the visual arts section Roma musicians, Russian and Armenian gramme and assigning them tasks, as well living here. in the area and even a local type of cusine. the Ąžuolynas Park. and a special programme the Museum for folk collectives. as giving special hospitality and welcom- 4. Eiguliai. Developed in the 1980s, Eiguliai il- Mostly populated by workers, it is also one of the Blind will introduce the audience to ing courses to the citizens and the hospi- lustrates the typical Soviet planning residen- the most interesting community artistic ini- unconventional forms of contemporary art. 3. Elderly tality service staff (see Q13). tial area dominated by uniform architecture tiatives. The elderly generation of Kaunasians is and centered around market area, desperately 9. Šilainiai, the most densely populated area de- lacking cultural meeting points and leisure veloped in the late Soviet period inhabited 2. Ethnic Minorities of Kaunas at the core of making some of the biggest 5. Our work on young people is included in One of our success criteria for the pro- projects in the programme. Their partici- Q21 where we have a set of complementa- spaces. by more than 55,000 Kaunasians. Dominated More information on

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS 5. Gričiupis has a significant part of young by grey monumental Soviet bloc housing ar- the Cultural Acces- gramme is the inclusion and participa- pation is a key factor in projects such as ry strategies for young people and schools. 74 population due to the Kaunas University of chitecture, it recently became the ground for sibility Mapping tion of ethnic minorities which may only the Memory Office and Modernism for the 75 Our discussions confirmed that although in their close environment. Therefore, we It must be noted that schools in some Explain your overall strategy for audience development, and in the school communities wish for more will design programmes to encourage neighbourhoods are also the only cultu- Q21 particular the link with education and participation of schools. active cultural participation, the formal the schools to become more friendly and ral centres. And we need to acknowledge learning schedule is very tight and doesn’t safe places both for students, but also the that and use it as another opportunity to Outreach always motivate the teachers and the stu- teachers’ and parents’ communities. For reach local audiences. Due to the decreas- dents to dedicate extra time for cultural that we will launch an innovative partici- ing number of students, the Kaunas City activities. We will address this in our pro- patory programme where they will learn Municipality, which gives 60% of its an- gramme by encouraging local culture or- tools and ways to address it and overcome nual budget to education, has decided to ganisations to better integrate their edu- aggressive behaviour. close some of them down. During the ECoC cational services, events for children and year we are planning on using these emp- workshops with the school curriculum that More broadly, our long-term goal is to de- ty schools which will serve the programme would provide more innovative creative velop a functional partnership and active by providing local communities with plac- forms of learning school subjects. communication with schools. There are es to gather or have temporary events/ 62 of them in the City and another 30 in themed gatherings/exhibitions, etc. As in every country, the schools of Kaunas the District area. During our meetings, we are dealing with bullying which we think agreed together to have a network of Kau- Our aim is to work closely with the local is important to address in our programme. nas 2022 schools ambassadors who will be educational institutions and we already However, we do not see it as the topic that the mediators between Kaunas 2022 pro- have some activities to illustrate the kind should be solely discussed with the stu- gramme, the school community and wider, of approach we are keen to implement for dents. Quite the opposite, we think that local community. A number have already different age groups. children tend to repeat the kinds of be- agreed to join this team and will begin our haviour that is demonstrated by the adults common networking activities in 2017.

KAUNAS SCHOOLS’ MODEL

Age and educational profile Objectives Activities presented in Q13 – Artistic Programme

3–6 (Kindergarten) Cultural education through play Family festival with special theatre, dance and music performances, Learning Museum

7–10 (Primary School) Learning more creative behaviour, Ladislas Starevich Animation Lab, antibullying project, cul- tolerance of difference tural visits integrated with school curriculum

11–15 (Secondary School) Tolerance of difference, learning Learning Museum, antibullying project, cultural visits inte- forms of creative expression grated with school curriculum

16–19 (High School/Gymnasium) Involve in skills building programmes Kaunas Challenge at the Tempo Academy (getting involved and programme implementation in citizen advisory groups), cultural visits integrated with school curriculum, volunteer programme

© KČ

Firstly, the strategic level. Over the last contradiction in our cultural system – lots We are also absolutely clear on the impor- We also complement our schools pro- event programme for families with small filling up themselves by contributing ob- couple of decades, the arrival of digital of culture but where is the audience? tance of a similar initiative to reverse the gramme with an extensive project suite from babies. This will feature participative art jects they find interesting or extraordinary. technologies brought constructive dis- current lack of significant cultural engage- our Emerging Kaunas platform for young installations, interactive storytelling, the- It will also provide stories that make these ruption to the cultural sector everywhere To put it in simple terms we want to wake ment in schools and with young people as people and their families. This includes: atre performances, special music perfor- objects special for them. The project will which continues to face an inevitable need up and shake up our culturally sleepy sub- shown below. mances, etc. run in co-operation with the Kaunas Mu- for a makeover. Attendance at many cultur- urbs. To get them to move The Kaunas Challenge seum of Children‘s Literature and M. K. al venues has declined in many countries • from beer and basketball to museums TOWARDS A NEW CULTURAL EDUCATION The programme is designed and mod- Children of school age Čiurlionis National Museum of Art. across Europe, not only due to economic and Modernism; elled for school students aged 15–19 (we For children between 7 and 14 we have reasons, but also as a result of a lack of • off the couch and into creativity; Kaunas has a lot of young people living call them Centuryans since they will reach projects such the Ladislas Starevich Ani- And finally… interest. • to “culturise” the curriculum; here. We want them to grow, develop and adulthood with the centenary of Lithuania mation Lab dedicated to the famous Kau- The artistic programme platform Emer- • and to put a smile back on the face of stay in Kaunas. So to create the natural as a modern state) with different cultural nas-born pioneer of animation. It will take ging Kaunas will become a key factor in In order to sustain themselves, cultural Kaunas culture. connection between culture and commu- backgrounds and educational profiles and young participants on a story trip where the co-operation with schools and reach- institutions have to gain a deeper under- nity in its widest sense we need to start is meant to provide them with cultural en- the characters will be invented, drawn, ing out to the young. It is planned as a standing of their audiences, particularly Contemporary Capital will help us de- early – with children from kindergartens trepreneurship, teamwork and creativity and animated by young people themselves sustainable eco-system and will con- Generation Z, and to co-operate in finding velop a new kind of relationship with the and young people from primary and sec- skills. The project was launched in 2016 with guidance from graphic design, anima- tinue its activities long after 2022. The new models that work within the context breadth of culture that Kaunas has to of- ondary schools. We plan a programme of and is integrated with other flagship pro- tion and IT experts, and presented on a big platform will strive to contribute to- of our changing society. The most success- fer. Most of our work has been explained cultural education which makes active cul- jects of Kaunas 2022 programme. screen during the final event. The project wards the successful implementation ful have done that and are flourishing. Less more fully in the previous questions and tural participation as natural as learning to will involve over 300 participants from dif- of the Youth Policy Strategy in Kaunas. successful have not and are struggling. So in the Artistic Programme where we show read and write. To discuss and better identi- Young families ferent schools across the Kaunas City and The sustainability of Kaunas 2022 pro- the extensive consultation with our peo- how projects like our Museum sector are fy needs and challenges of this programme There are some special projects in plan the District. gramme will greatly depend on the audi- ple and our communities – just the start aiming to revitalise its offer to people who we invited the teachers, students and direc- for the youngest ones aged 0–7 and their ence development we pursue in Emerging of an ongoing process – will continue are still sat on the sofa watching TV. So we tors of local schools to a series of meetings families that include a dance and perfor- The project Travelling Museum is devoted Kaunas (youth platform), We, the People throughout our build-up so our activities are at the same time waking up our au- to connect them to our 2022 programme. mance programme with a dance class for for the same audience. It will introduce (community platform) and Wake It, Shake It

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS really deliver innovative and practical re- dience and shaking up the sector because We also spoke extensively with young peo- 8–14 month old babies that will stimulate children to the concept and creation of (cultural networking platform). 76 sponses which help us solve that inherent we need to do both. ple and with youth organisations. learning and socialising as well as a whole a museum collection which they will be 77 What has been the annual budget for culture in the city over the Which amount of the overall annual budget does the city intend Q22 last 5 years (excluding expenditure for the present European Q24 to spend for culture after the European Capital of Culture year (in Capital of Culture application)? Management: euros and in % of the overall annual budget)? Finance Finance

Year Annual budget Annual budget was granted financial support to integrate Theatre, Kaunas Culture Centre “Tautos The culture budget in Kaunas Municipality The extra funding will be used to strength- operators which will significantly add to for culture in for culture in cultural, touristic and social educational namai”, Concert Institution Kauno Santaka, is one of the highest percentages among en new priorities, laid out in the new Cul- their annual budgets in the period be- the city (in €) the city (in % of functions. Another heritage building was NGO Artkomas, NGO Culture and Sports’ Lithuanian municipalities and has been an- tural Strategy, which include participatory tween 2017–2023. We also believe that the total annual restored and converted into an arts incu- centre Girstutis, NGO Kaunas Small Thea- nually increasing for the past three years. culture, capacity building of culture pro- Kaunas 2022 programme will allow local budget for the bator as well as heritage restoration of the tre, Kaunas Film Centre Romuva, NGO My We intend to continue in this direction and fessionals, revitalisation of cultural herit- organisations to build more partnerships city) two towers of Kaunas Šv. Pranciškaus (St. Theatre, NGO President Valdas Adamkus’ would like to achieve an increase in the an- age objects, partnerships with educational and gain more international experience Francisco’s or Jesuit) Church. Library, and municipal organisations Thea- nual culture budget by 1.5% of the City’s institutions, etc. Current descriptions of which will encourage them to participate 2012 11,640,263 5% tre Projects and Ąžuolyno Meškučių Cirkas. budget by 2023 (that would increase it to regular cultural financing programmes and become leaders in European projects 2013 10,770,447 5% Strengthening the City’s image. The pro- The sums do not include some major infra- a total of 7.03% of the overall annual Kau- have already been updated according to and attract funding from more diverse gramme supports: structure projects that were or are being nas budget). Taking the overall 2017 Kau- the new priorities and the budgets of re- funding sources. 2014 9,866,920 4.2% —— annual and biennial international cul- financed from the municipal and national nas budget as a reference point, the rise in lated financing programmes, like the her- 2015 11,107,500 4.4% ture, art, and music festivals, budget and/or with the help of European percentage we are aiming for would mean itage renovation programme, were raised. —— youth projects. structural funds and programming ex- an annual increase of the budget for cul- 2016 14,500,000 5.29% penses which are allocated through dif- ture from 16,466,400m euros (2017) to Above all, the ECoC programme will di- 2017 16,466,400 5.53% The nurture of common culture of the po- ferent municipal and/or state funding pro- 20,930,193m euros (2023). rectly involve many of the current local pulation. The programme supports: grammes. Listed above are the annual budget assig- —— strengthening of accessibility to cul- nations for culture. ture through professional arts, The annual cultural budget for the City has —— continuity of traditional / ethnic cul- been growing for the past few years and The figures include maintenance expenses ture and intercultural dialogue, has reached one of the highest percent- for cultural infrastructure as well as op- —— creation of new culture services and ages devoted to culture among all munici- Please explain the overall operating budget (i.e. funds that are erating budgets for cultural activity. They products for community inclusion, palities in Lithuania. Q25 specifically set aside to cover operational expenditure). do not include some major infrastructure —— promotion of cultural inclusion in projects that were and are being funded by preparation for the centenary of Lithu- Apart from the listed numbers, Kaunas Finance different sources. anian statehood (2018). cultural operators are receiving financial support from the national culture budget, Most of the sums are allocated to organ- Programme for municipal cultural organi- including the funding programme of Lithu- isations and individuals through a list of sations: anian Council for Culture which co-financed INCOME TO COVER OPERATING EXPENDITURE funding programmes: Apart from the support fund mentioned Kaunas cultural projects with 2.4m euro in above, the yearly budget sums include 2016. Kaunas is also home to Kaunas State Adaptation of public spaces to cultural partial costs of 17 municipal cultural in- Musical Theatre, National Kaunas Drama functions: stitutions including Kaunas City Museum, Theatre, Kaunas State Puppet Theatre, M. From the private sector For example, in 2014 one of the main tour- Kaunas Dance Theatre Aura, Kaunas City K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art, and ist attractions in Kaunas Šv. Arkangelo Symphony Orchestra, Kaunas City Pub- many other cultural institutions which are 6.7% Mykolo (St. Michael the Archangel’s) Church lic Library of V. Kudirka, Kaunas Chamber supported from the national budget. From the public sector 93.3%

In case the city is planning to use funds from its annual budget for Q23 culture to finance the European Capital of Culture project, please indicate this amount starting from the year of submission of the bid until the European Capital of Culture year. Total income to cover From the public sector From the public sector From the private sector From the private sector Finance operating expenditure (in €) (in %) (in €) (in %) (in €) 30,000,000 28,000,000 93.3% 2,000,000 6.7% None of the funds will be withdrawn from 30 m euro budget allocated through 2017– the City’s annual cultural budget. 2023 is planned as extra financing for the unique programme of Kaunas Contempo- The regular State funding for Kaunas- rary Capital 2022. based national institutions and competitive co-financing of NGOs’ cultural projects by the Lithuanian Council for Culture are also not included in planned budget for Kaunas 2022 programme. RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS 78 79 What is the breakdown of the income to be received from the public What is your fund raising strategy to seek financial support from Q26 sector to cover operating expenditure? Q28 Union programmes/funds to cover operating expenditure? Finance Finance

EU (with exception of the Kaunas 2022 organisation was established Kaunas Photo Gallery is going to apply to academic partners, who will be initiating Melina Mercouri Prize) National Government at the beginning of 2017. However, accord- the Small Cooperation projects strand in research projects on Kaunas architecture, 6.7% 33.3% ing to the regulations new institutions are 2017 with a proposal for a photographic urbanism, public art, and community art. not eligible to apply to main European residencies programme the outcome of Universities will initiate professional con- funds for the first few years. Therefore, which will be several photo books with ferences in the context of Kaunas 2022 Kaunas district the Artistic Team of Kaunas 2022 and the texts, analysing features of a contempo- e.g. the Faculty of Arts at Vytautas Magnus 13.3% main cultural operators/partner organisa- rary city. University will organise the IFTR conferen- tions will initiate, lead and partner in in- ce; Kaunas University of Technology will ternational projects to apply for EU fund- For translations envisioned for Kaunas focus on Design Forum, Vilnius University City ing. They all have considerable expertise 2022 programme we will apply to Crea- will organise an international conference in various European Union sponsorship tive Europe: Literary Translations strand on the topic of Creative Cities with extra 40% programmes. In the first stage of prepa- (2019–2020). This funding will also relate research on the Creativity Index of Kaunas ration, Ignition phase (2017–2018) the to the translation of several Emmanuel as well as post-conference publications. programme funding will be partly raised Levinas and Lea Goldberg’s poetry books For these activities, directly linked to the Income from the public sector to cover operating expenditure in € % *Here we are calculating funds that by partner organisations and Kaunas City and some other publications into Lithu- programme, universities will apply to Ho- are fed into the programming together Municipality. Kaunas 2022 will be able anian language. rizon 2020 and to the Research Council National Government 10,000,000 33.3 % with partners like universities, thea- to apply to European Funds as the main of Lithuania, which administers European City 12,000,000 40 % tres, museums and other cultural or- organiser starting from 2019. If applica- Kaunas 2022 will also apply to Creative funds for research e.g. ERA-NET Co-fund ganisations applying for additional tions are successful, the EU sponsored ac- Europe programme MEDIA, specifically to Smart Urban Futures and similar strands. Kaunas district 4,000,000 13.3 % EU funds to finance co-productions of tivities through the official Kaunas 2022 the strand Development of video games EU (with exception of the Melina Mercouri Prize) 2,000,000* 6.7 % Kaunas 2022 projects. organisation will be held between 2020 (in 2019) with the aim to make a real im- Beside these fundamental funds Kaunas Total 28,000,000 93.3 % and 2023. We know that applying to any pact on usage and appropriation of herit- 2022 organisation will apply with spe- EU fund doesn’t guarantee sponsorship, so age. On the basis of our cultural heritage cial projects to the European Foundation we only may count on our previous experi- we wish to bond together our history, pre- (when the activity is clearly linked to cul- ence and percentage of previous success- sent and future by using the latest tech- tural innovation in the European context), ful applications. nologies, games and other new forms, Mondriaan Foundation (when the activity attractive for the young generation. The involves Dutch artists such as Jeanne van Have the public finance authorities (City, Region, State) already voted In the first preparatory years several Kau- application will be prepared in partnership Heeswijk or diplomatic heroes, like con- Q27 on or made financial commitments to cover operating expenditure? nas cultural operators (Kaunas Biennial, with the Design Cities of UNESCO Creative sul Jan Zwartendijk who saved thousands If not, when will they do so? Kaunas Photo Gallery, Gallery Meno parkas City Network, which Kaunas is a member of Jews in Lithuania and Poland issuing etc.) will apply to the Creative Europe pro- of since 2015. The MEDIA programme will them with visas), and Nordic Culture Fund Finance gramme in two strands: Cooperation pro- also be relevant when applying for funds (with special projects uniting the cultural jects and European platform. for a documentary film Urban Landscapes institutions and practitioners of the Nor- of 1930’s: Explosion of Modern Movement. dic and Baltic Regions). We will also col- The last call and deadline of the 2013– laborate with the Japanese Embassy which Kaunas City Municipality voted on the pro- 2020 applications for the European Plat- During the first years of preparation administrates a special ECoC participation posed project budget on 15 March 2016 form was delayed by more than half a year. (2017–2018) Kaunas Municipality will ap- grant in relation to Japanese culture (The and unanimously agreed on a 12m euro Kaunas Biennial together with other 13 ply to the Creative Europe strand Europe EU-Japan Fest Committee). There is a close budget for Kaunas 2022 programme fol- European organisations has prepared a for Citizens. The Municipality will keep ap- relationship between Kaunas and Japan: lowing the proposed budget timetable project proposal and is applying to Crea- plying to these programmes with a clear while serving in Kaunas, the Japanese con- for the period between 2017–2023 (Kau- tive Europe Platform strand (deadline is vision of renewing partnerships and twin- sul Chiune Sugihara saved around 2,000 nas City Municipality Council decision n. April 2017). The Magic Carpets project will ning communities from twin cities and Jews, issuing transit visas to Japan in 1940, T-98, 15 March 2016). The budget was re- include emerging artists from more than some of the other ECoC cities around Eu- http://www.sugiharahouse.com). Japanese affirmed on 7 February 2017 by voting on 14 European countries and will seek to rope. Between 2019–2023 Kaunas 2022 sponsorship will serve as big support to the City’s final application. re-approach public space, which closely organisation may apply to these funds for our Digital Diplomacy programme which relates to our Contemporary Capital con- extra sponsorship for distant travels and will commemorate and actualise those Kaunas District Municipality council has cept of encouraging the civil society and cultural exchanges of communities. historical moments in Kaunas in the con- also accepted the proposed budget of the the We, The People programme. In case text of the Jewish history (Yiddishe Mame programme on 24 March 2016 with the Kaunas Biennial is successful in its ap- Our partner universities regularly use the project). majority (22 votes for and 3 abstained) plication, the project will be financed by EU funds for research and studies: Eras- voting for participating in Kaunas 2022 the EU in 2017–2020 (up to 500,000 eu- mus+, Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP), We are in close partnership with Creative programme and securing a budget of 4m ros each year shared among the partners) as well as the sub-programmes Comeni- Europe Desk in Lithuania - an office which euros for 2018–2022 period according to and would serve as an international plat- us, Erasmus, Grundtvig, Jean Monnet, and provides all needed information and sup- the proposed budget timetable. form for artist exchange, who will create Leonardo da Vinci. These funds will be es- port for researching the EU funding oppor- new pieces of art in site specific/city-spe- pecially helpful for the Emerging Kaunas tunities and schedules. The commitments of both municipalities © GČ Kaunas city municipality, Council Hall. The interior with window ceiling is one of the cific environments in Kaunas and beyond, programme, which is based on students’ constitute more than half of the project’s most inherent example of the Modernist working closely with the local communi- initiatives and programming the City’s fu- budget from the public sector (16m of the to 10 m euros to either City securing the architecture in Kaunas. ties. Thus, Kaunas 2022 concept will be ture. LLP programme funding is used to total 30m euros). 2022 title. spread through 14 European countries ac- support Universities of The Third Age. cumulating 100 project related artists and

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS The National Government confirmed its There are no regional authorities in Lithu- helping to broadly open cultural services Horizon 2020, which is a research-based 80 financial contribution to the project of up ania that provide funding. to the communities in Kaunas and beyond. funding opportunity will be used by our 81 According to what timetable should the income to cover operating Q29 expenditure be received by the city and/or the body responsible for preparing and implementing the ECoC project if the city receives the title of European Capital of Culture? Finance

Source of income for 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Later Total operating expenditure ECoC year EU* 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000 2,000,000 National Government 500,000 500,000 1,000,000 8,000,000 10,000,000 City 474,400 1,000,000 500,000 2,400,000 2,400,000 3,903,600 1,103,000 219,000 12,000,000 Kaunas District 310,000 594,000 739,000 1,037,000 1,320,000 4,000,000 Sponsors 50,000 200,000 750,000 1,000,000 2,000,000 Total 474,400 1,310,000 2,144,000 4,339,000 5,687,000 14,723,600 1,103,000 219,000 30,000,000

*without the Melina Mercouri Prize

What is the fund-raising strategy to seek support from private Q30 sponsors? What is the plan for involving sponsors in the event? Finance

Each year Kaunas City and the District at- Responsible Kaunas business network on partnership with the Hotel Association tract a steadily growing amount of interna- We will organise an issue-focused network in Kaunas and the digital technology clus- tional and local investments mostly based of socially responsible businesses and of- ter Blaster, as well as some other private © AA in client service, production and digital fer a number of practical ways to work to- companies. We are working to extend the technologies. However, charity and culture gether and take action to help tackle some network and mobilise more businesses to the programme by agreeing to accept for communities to collect donations Pixelmator will be invited to sponsor the organisations find it challenging to attract of the key issues facing the local commu- through our programmes from small enter- promotional Kaunas 2022 project material and mobilise the residents of their Pixel Tunnel. Through this project every partnership with businesses due to weak nities. And we have already started a cam- prises to international companies. (posters and event programmes) or giving neighbourhood to contribute to the citizen can contribute and crowdfund the connections between culture and busi- paign to invite local businesses to join the special discounts for participants of Kaunas improvements of their living environ- project with an “instant gratification”. ness sectors. Nevertheless, we hope Kau- programme by contributing to the initia- Global support for Kaunas 2022 2022. They will also be able to contribute ment, revitalisation of public spaces, nas 2022 programme will have a lasting tives in their neighbourhoods. For exam- We are working internationally to mobi- by hosting events in special event pro- reconstructions of public heritage as- The commercialisation of the Beast cha- legacy of strengthening these links. ple, we will invite members of our business lise the vast Lithuanian diaspora abroad grammes such as Café du Monde. sets, ecological or artistic projects in racter: gamification, 3D printing, books, network to host some of the artist residen- to support the programme and engage the area. In exchange for their dona- merchandising. The new cultural legend of We will start our fundraising campaign as cies. The employees of the companies will in raising funds. Given the positive sup- Individual contributions and crowdfunding tions, contributors will get rewarded Kaunas will include a set of unique crafted early as 2017 by establishing an advisory be able to participate in the conception port we have already received from Lithu- To generate additional private support for by being invited to a series of cultural characters which will be used for merchan- group for sponsorship which will include and implementation of the projects by the anians abroad, we are very positive about specific projects of the programme we are events set up in the refurbished build- dising. For example, computer games and representatives of business companies artists in residency that will be contribut- the possibilities of fundraising within this going to use crowdfunding tools which ings and public spaces during the apps will be developed. An open collabora- (Global Lithuanian Leaders, Rotary clubs ing to their local neighbourhood environ- community. We are also very proud of our among many projects will include the fol- ECoC year as well as offering incen- tive platform will be created where every- and new partners). We will also form a ment. Thus, the programme will aim not partnership with Global Lithuanian Lea- lowing: tives such as special places where all one can customise their favourite charac- sponsorship and fundraising team, who only at strengthening the links between ders, a high impact, non-profit Lithuanian —— The project Kaunas Challenge will the names of the donors are inscribed ter from the Mythical Beast story and buy will work with the advisory group and will businesses and local communities but also platform connecting international profes- have a special training course for as part of an artwork or display within a personal 3D printed model. Income from be responsible for analysing big data, pro- at fostering a more creative working envi- sionals building global opportunities for youth within the Tempo Academy on the space. the attractive merchandise will be used to viding the potential partners with unique ronment and family activities for the em- Lithuanian economy (connects 700 mem- creating crowdfunding campaigns support community participation projects, proposals, managing sponsorship projects, ployees of our sponsors. bers from almost 40 countries around the (how to create a good promo video, an Pixel Tunnel to Europe. We are planning to such as puppet theatre productions for the monitoring the return of the partners‘ in- world). By involving the members of the appealing description of the project, build a two ended “screen” tunnel in the Grand Summer Show. vestments, managing integration of spon- And some of the businesses have already GLL community we hope to attract more raise visibility of their campaign, etc.). city centers of several European cities. A sors in our marketing campaigns, etc. Our agreed to co-operate with us. We have si- opportunities for creative partnership with The skills young people will acquire round shaped projection that shows e.g. It is worthwhile mentioning, that recent- proposal inventory for potential sponsors gned a partnership agreement with eight the global Lithuanian business community. in this course will later be applied in Esch in Kaunas and Kaunas in Esch in real ly (November 2016) the Lithuanian State will include marketing offers such as audi- Rotary and Rotaract clubs in Kaunas that their own projects within the Kaunas time. When somebody looks at the screen Government started working on the Pa- ence involvement, artist support, original connect more than 200 socially active lead- Small businesses Challenge project to raise additional in Kaunas, s/he sees somebody in Esch tronage Law which still doesn’t exist in content, integration with our digital mar- ers from different fields of economy who Small businesses are vital to Kaunas 2022 sponsorship; looking at Kaunas and vice versa. If visitors Lithuania. This law is supposed to be ap- keting, hospitality and special events. The have agreed to support the implementa- programme and will be encouraged to get —— The crowdfunding method will also want to send a message or greeting to the proved by 2018 and will bring very positive sponsorship team will also set up a Kaunas tion of the programme. It is envisioned that involved in the programme on different lev- be applied in the Fluxus Labs and Mo- other city they can do it by buying a pixel changes in fundraising from the private 2022 membership club with special offers, each of the eight clubs will act as a patron els. Each willing enterprise will be able to dernism for the Future programmes. from the screen. Contactless credit cards or sector not only for big projects such as

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS discounts, events from Kaunas 2022 or- of community projects in different neigh- receive marketing offers as well as a special Their websites will feature a crowd- mobile paying systems can be used. World- ECoC or the Centenary celebration, but also 82 ganisers and our partners to its members. bourhoods of Kaunas. We have also agreed banner/sticker announcing its contribution funding platform. It will serve as a tool wide famous Lithuanian startup company to small cultural enterprises and NGOs. 83 Please provide a breakdown of the operating expenditure, What is the breakdown of the income to be received from the public Q31 by filling in the table below: Q33 sector to cover capital expenditure in connection with the title year? Finance Finance

BREAKDOWN OF OPERATING EXPENDITURE Income from the public sector to cover capital expenditure in € % National Government 28,078,939 € 29.08% Programme Programme Promotion and Promotion and Wages, overheads Wages, overheads Total of the expenditure expenditure marketing marketing and administration and administration operating City 30,699,988 € 31.80% (in €) (in %) (in €) (in %) (in €) (in %) expenditure EU (with exception of the Melina Mercouri Prize) 37,775,587 € 39.12% 19,500,000 65% 6,000,000 20% 4,500,000 15% 30,000,000 Total 96,554,515 € 100%

Note: The table does not include sums National Governmental support, which has Wages, overheads and which are not yet allocated or confirmed previously bypassed Kaunas too often. administration but are still at a planning stage for the de- 15% velopment of infrastructure. In Kaunas City In Kaunas District the planned (but not yet it relates to: Kaunas Concert Hall, Stage confirmed) financial support for the infra- Art Incubator (black box), museum renova- structure, adds up to a total of 18,969,028 tion for contemporary art needs (Kaunas Euros from the public sector which in- Promotion and markting Programme expenditure Picture Gallery). Budgets of these infra- cludes funding from the District Munici- 20% 65% structural improvements are supposed to pality 3,520,697 Euros (18.56 %), State be combined from all of the three sources budget 5,784,786 Euros (30.5 %) and mentioned in the table above. We believe 9,663,545 Euros (50.94 %) from the EU. the ECoC title will become a real driving force in solving these infrastructural chal- lenges, especially when applying for the

Q32 Planned timetable for spending operating expenditure: Finance Have the public finance authorities (City, Region, State) already voted on or made Q34 financial commitments to cover capital expenditure? If not, when will they do so?

What is your fund raising strategy to seek financial support from Timetable for Programme Programme Promotion and Promotion and Wages, over- Wages, over- Total spending expenditure expenditure marketing marketing exp. heads and ad- heads, adminis- Q35 Union programmes/funds to cover capital expenditure? (in €) in % of total (in €) (in % of total ministration tration Finance Programme marketing (in €) (in % of total exp. exp.) administration exp.) 2017 296.400 1.52% 60,000 1 % 63,000 1,40 % 419,400 All of the projects listed in this section and/or Integrated Territory Development 2018 856,050 4.39% 120,000 2% 180,000 4% 1,156,050 have been voted on by all of the relevant Programme (EU funding). The finances authorities. for these projects are secured, they are 2019 1,677,000 8.6% 120,000 2% 360,000 8% 2,157,000 listed in the budgets of the mentioned 2020 2,659,800 13.64% 1,200,000 20% 630,000 14% 4,489,800 We excluded those projects which are programmes and approved by the Lithu- planned to be implemented in the Kaunas anian Parliament, Prime Minister, Ministers 2021 3,550,950 18.21% 2,400,000 40% 990,000 22% 6,940,950 District. The District’s plans for infrastruc- and other responsible authorities. Kaunas 2022 ECoC year 9,907,950 50.81% 1,620,000 27% 2,142,000 47.6% 13,669,950 ture were prepared by the Municipality’s City Council has secured finances for par- Investment Division and are being sub- tial funding of these projects by voting on 2023 464,100 2.38% 420,000 7% 90,000 2% 974,100 mitted to different EU funded investment these investment programmes. EU support Later 87,750 0.45% 60,000 1% 45,000 1% 192,750 programmes related to integrated urban is also planned to be used to cover part Total 19,500,000 100% 6,000,000 100% 4,500,000 100% 30,000,000 development (for parks and public spaces), of the expenditure (12.5 m Euros through actualisation of culture heritage (for cul- the Ministry of Education and Science of tural objects), rural area renewal and have the Republic of Lithuania) for the new con- yet to be confirmed. struction of the National Science Centre. Projects will also include investments The largest part of the City’s infrastruc- from private investors. ture projects are or will be financed by the State Investment Programme (SIP) RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS 84 85 According to what timetable should the income to cover capital THE SUPERVISORY COUNCIL Q36 expenditure be received by the city and/or the body responsible for preparing and implementing the ECoC project if the city receives the title of European Capital of Culture? Finance GENERAL DIRECTOR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Source of income for capital 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 expenditure ECOC year EU 3,841,101 15,898,293 12,210,561 2,912,816 2,912,816 ADMINISTRATION COMMUNICATION AND ARTISTIC PROGRAMME FINANCE DEPARTMENT National Government 1,390,900 13,997,059 11,662,927 514,026 514,026 DEPARTMENT MARKETING DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT City 5,335,945 7,646,369 7,233,052 4,806,702 3,310,215 2,367,705 Private sponsorship 72,500 1,636,796 1,636,796 FINANCE MANAGER ADMINISTRATION COMMUNICATION CURATORIAL TEAM Finance management (grants MANAGER MANAGER Capacity building, from public and support from Human resources, Press, PR, Partnership building, private sector), Community outreach, Health and safety, Internal communication, Budget plans and reports Grand events, Contracts, Local, regional, and inter- Contemporisation of cul- Public procurement pro- national communication, If appropriate, please insert a table here that specifies which tural offer cedures Persuading Q37 amounts will be spent for new cultural infrastructure to be used in the framework of the title year. Finance FUNDRAISING MANAGER PRODUCTION MANAGER MARKETING MANAGER PLATFORM LEADERS Business involvement, Production, Advertising, Audience development, National and EU funds, Logistics (venues, travels, Sales Cultural education, Private sponsorship, transportation etc.) Decentralisation of No. Object Time period Planned Funding sources* Executor* Crowdfunding cultural offer budget, € 1. Construction of National Science Centre on Nemunas Island 2016–2018 23,076,500 EU, SIP, KCMA, PF MES / KCMA 2. Construction of wooden amphitheatre next to Kaunas Castle 2017–2018 150,000 KCMA, EU KCMA 3. Athletics Stadium 2016–2017 9,525,963 SIP, KCMA KCMA MONITORING and PROJECT MANAGERS and EVALUATION MANAGER COMMUNITY AGENTS Actions and results database Community outreach, * Abbreviations: KCMA – Kaunas City Municipality Administration shared with external auditors Project implementation EU – European Union MES – Ministry of Education and Science and media in cultural institutions SIP – State Investment Programme PF – Private funding and Seniūnijos.

What kind of governance and delivery structure is envisaged for THE STRUCTURE OF KAUNAS 2022 The Artistic Director is hired by the ap- The support of the City and District Munici- Q38 the implementation of the European Capital of Culture year? Management: GOVERNANCE: proval of the Supervisory Council and has pality is expressed in being part of the main Organisational a right of final decision about the artis- funders and founders represented in the Su- structure Founders of the organisation Kaunas 2022 tic programme. The Artistic director is re- pervisory Council of Kaunas 2022. It comprises are Kaunas City Municipality and the as- sponsible for the overall programme and seven players from all walks of the City’s life: sociation Cultural Tempo Academy. They its integral parts: capacity building and Kaunas Municipality, the association Cultural have established a Supervisory Council of cultural education, partnership building, Tempo Academy, Kaunas District Municipal- The Statute of an administrative non-profit 7 professionals to represent them, other planning and implementing of projects ity, the National Government and independ- body Kaunas 2022 was confirmed in Feb- principal funders (The Government and and grand events as well as community ent experts from cultural, economic, and social ruary 2017 by two co-founders: the Kaunas The District Municipality) and public inter- outreach. Communication and marketing spheres. The Supervisory Council organises City Municipality and the association of est (independent experts). are also managed in coherence with the open calls for the General and Artistic Director The Cultural Tempo Academy, which unites artistic vision of the Artistic Director. To- positions, selects and confirms the candidates. representatives of Kaunas cultural sector. The organisation is headed by its General gether with the General Director the Ar- The council members gather at least twice a Director, who is hired and will be account- tistic Director is responsible for the local, year for approving (1) year activity and budget The spirit and ethos which has served us able to the Founders through Supervisory national and international representation plan and (2) report on implementation of the well so far in the development of this Appli- Council, which prepares annual plans and of Kaunas 2022. plan and budgetary balances. The information cation will be central to our organisational reports. The General Director is respon- exchange meetings between Kaunas 2022 model. Independent professionals working sible for all administrative, managerial There are a lot of decisions which will have Council and Kaunas 2022 team will be held with the complete support of the Munici- functions of the organisation and for pro- to be made in agreement between the regularly in order to ensure smooth communi- palities. Connected but independent. gramme-related financial goals. The Gen- General and Artistic directors. The consen- cation among all partners of the project. The eral Director will organise the Agency’s sus of both should be found in decisions Supervisory Council members also advocate staff structure, he/she will select his/her on the artistic programme when it relates Kaunas 2022 interests for fluent flow of financ-

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS associates through a public tender, except to budget amendments and communicati- es from the committed parts: City and District 86 © RŠ the position of the Artistic Director. on strategies. Municipalities, government and private sector. 87 How will this structure be organised at management level? Please make clear who Q39 will be the person(s) having the final responsibility for global leadership of the project? Organisational structure

The GENERAL DIRECTOR is the person through the capacity building programme administration department for monitoring KAUNAS 2022 EMPLOYMENT DEMAND AND DRAFT SCHEDULE having the final responsibility for global The Tempo Academy of Culture. and evaluation, and will be responsible for leadership and financial stability of the collecting data and providing all informa- Abbreviations: P– person, FT – Full time, PT – Part time, SE – Self-Employed, Ex.A – External Audit, Ex.S – External Service, project. The Artistic Director has a final Community Agents (around 40 [emerging] tion to external experts, funders and citi- decision for the cultural content of the artists, creative industries professionals, zens. In addition to the two annual reports programme following the financial and ti- sociologists, etc.) will work on the project to Kaunas 2022 Supervisory Council, the POSITION / YEAR 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 metable framework decided in consensus Fluxus Labs within local communities un- General and Artistic Directors will also re- with the General Director. der the guidance of the Platform Leader port annually to Kaunas’ cultural sector at for We, the People. Most of them will work the annual Culture Forum which will be General Director FT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P ARTISTIC DEPARTMENT several hours per week combining commu- managed by the newly established asso- nity activity with other jobs, most probably ciation The Cultural Tempo Academy. Artistic Director FT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P The ARTISTIC DIRECTOR will work with a in the same area. The most active Agents Curatorial Team, which consists of profes- will choose to work more and more hours ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT FT / 1 P FT / 2 P Curators FT / 4 P FT / 4 P FT / 4 P FT / 4 P PT / 4 P sional managers in specific cultural and and then their status will change from PT / 3 P PT / 2 P educational fields: music, architecture and self-employed to a contracted team mem- The Administration Manager is responsible heritage, theatre, contemporary dance and ber of Kaunas 2022. for human resources (employment, time- Platform Leaders PT / 6 P PT / 6 P PT / 6 P PT / 6 P FT / 6 P FT / 6 P PT / 6 P circus, visual and public arts, literature, sheets, work conditions and safety) and (6 platforms) communication, life-long learning, etc. COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT administration (contracts, services, pro- duction, rent, venues, utilities, transport, Project Managers Four to six Curators will be responsible for Beside the programme the Artistic Direc- etc.) for Kaunas 2022 programme. Some of (mainly represents SE / 10 P SE / 12 P SE / 15 P SE / 20 P SE / 20 P SE / 30 P SE / 10 P international networking and ensuring Eu- tor will be working in close collaboration the services will be subcontracted, such as partner institutions) ropean partnership based programmes in with the Communication department and audits, facility care, transportations, travel these areas: Communication Manager. The Communi- planning, etc. The main task of the admin- Community Agents —— Capacity building programme (The cation Manager’s responsibilities cover istration department will be to organise for Fluxus Labs SE / 5 P SE / 20 P SE / 30 P SE / 40 P SE / 40+ P SE / 40+ P SE / 10 P (freelancers trained Tempo Academy of Culture) internal and external communication, PR, public procurement procedures for goods at Tempo Academy) —— Unifying narrative of Kaunas and pro- press, marketing, monitoring procedures and services, organise all productions gramme (The Mythical Beast of Kau- and evaluation. Communication and mar- needed for the programme: building stag- Administration PT / 1 P PT / 1 P PT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P PT / 1 P nas), Grand Events, literature, cinema keting strategies have to consolidate the es, waterfront platform, costumes, public Manager —— visual and public arts, community cul- main concept of Contemporary Capital and sculptures and Happiness Hedonometer, ture to support the artistic vision of the pro- publishing books, producing and hanging PT / 1 P PT / 1 P PT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 2 P FT / 3 P FT / 1 P —— performing arts (theatre, dance, circus, gramme, that’s why the Communication street posters and banners, video advertis- Logistics music) as a form of participatory cul- Manager also will report to the Artistic Di- ing, organising safety for public events, etc. ture rector. Some of the services, such as inter- Human resources PT / 1 P PT / 1 P PT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P PT / 1 P national media communication, branding, FINANCE DEPARTMENT The six programme platforms (Modernism etc. will be partly or fully subcontracted. PT / 1 P + FT / 1 P + FT / 1 P + FT / 1 P + FT / 2 P + FT / 2 P + FT / 1 P + Finances for the Future; Memory Office; Designing Public relation managers will be working The GENERAL DIRECTOR plays a cru- Ex.A Ex.A Ex.A Ex.A Ex.A Ex.A Ex.A Happiness; Emerging Kaunas; We, the Pe- to supply local, national and international cial role in ensuring a fluent flow of the ople; Wake It, Shake It) are managed by media with information. We will have the planned grants from both municipalities Communication FT / 1 P + FT / 1 P + FT / 1 P + FT / 2 P + FT / 3 P + FT / 3 P + FT / 1 P + Platform Leaders who will follow and up- Persuader in Kaunas 2022 team as well. involved in the project, as well as State and PR Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S date the year-to-year development of the This person will be available for appoint- funding and is responsible for additional platforms’ aims and objectives through the ment at any organisation, group or com- fundraising from private sources and the Persuading FT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P FT / 1 P 2017–2023 period. The Platform Leaders munity to answer any question Kaunasians EU funds. Finance managers will be re- will work closely with the Curators and want to know about the programme and sponsible for annual budgeting, reports FT / 1 P + FT / 1 P + FT / 1 P + FT / 1 P + FT / 1 P + the Artistic Director to make all of the pro- managerial issues. He or she will be meet- and audits. Fundraising managers will be Marketing Ex.S Ex.S gramme platforms and programmes work ing people in formal and informal environ- working with the General and Artistic Di- Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S in sync. Additionally, there is a team of ments, private houses, parks to discuss and rectors and Communication Manager in PT / 1 P + FT / 1 P + FT / 1 P + FT / 2 P + FT / 2 P + FT / 2 P + Fundraising Ex.S Project Managers to manage single pro- to propose forms of participation. order to look for specific sponsors for dif- Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S jects under the guidance of Platform Lead- ferent programme parts. They will also be ers. Project Managers are representatives In order to provide objective monitoring responsible for applying to various local, Evaluation PT / 1 P + PT / 1 P + PT / 1 P + FT / 1 P + FT / 1 P + FT / 1 P + FT / 1 P + from partner organisations, responsible for and evaluation, an external evaluation sys- national, EU, and international funds for and Monitoring Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S programme parts – museum, library, thea- tem is provisioned (see also Q8), however co-funding of the programme. tre, university etc. They will be networked there will be one person employed in the 5 FT 8 FT 11 FT 17 FT 8 FT 26 FT 27 FT POSITIONS 15 PT 12 PT 10 PT 6 PT 12 PT 60+ SE 70+ SE 15 SE 32 SE 45 SE 60 SE 20+ SE PER YEAR Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S Ex.S

YEAR 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS 88 89 How will you ensure that this structure has the staff with the According to which criteria and under which arrangements have appropriate skills and experience to plan, manage and deliver Q42 the General Director and the Artistic Director been chosen – or will Q40 be chosen? What are – or will be – their respective profiles? When the cultural programme for the year of the title? Organisational structure will they take up the appointment? What will be their respective fields of action? Organisational structure

Since the beginning of programming and people have signalled their interest to 2022 projects is the most powerful plat- lots of international meetings and discus- work for this project already and we have form for new cultural agents to train and sions, Kaunas 2022 project has received a compiled a CV database at Kaunas 2022 gain skills, and it serves as a tool to em- lot of interest. This is also the case in peo- office. power young professionals, especially es- ple wanting to become part of the team. tablishing a previously absent community A number of experienced independent cul- The Artistic Director will gather an Artis- artist institute. tural professionals in Lithuania and some tic Team. He/she will propose the curators international cultural leaders who have to lead horizontal programmes and grand For building up the team of Kaunas 2022 worked at a very high level, including the events, also the Platform Leaders to start not only structure and skills are important. delivery of major components of other Ignition initiatives. Some internationally Passion, openness, approachablity, willing- ECoC projects or major Creative Europe recognised artists, composers and direc- ness to learn and to go the extra mile will projects have expressed a strong interest tors have already been invited and have become the embodiment of the values of in joining our team or in working with us. kindly agreed to contribute (if the title inclusive creativity which is a key element is awarded) to Kaunas 2022 with certain in our long-term vision. We would also ex- If the title is awarded to Kaunas 2022 an productions, which will be discussed and pect anyone joining the team to be able to open international call will be announced contracted to professionals from all over demonstrate a real commitment to those to fill the positions of the General Direc- Europe and beyond (see also Q10). Local values. tor and Artistic Director with clear require- and international open calls for artists are ments in terms of appropriate education, planned and significant contributions from skills, and experience in international cul- partner organisations are provisioned in tural context (more in Q42). each platform. Those activities will be co- ordinated by the team of Curators. Marketing, communication and finance # professionals will be selected by the Gen- In addition to internationally recognized eral Director through a public tender. The cultural producers Kaunas 2022 also aims requirements for these positions will be to boost the potential and skills of local PASSION complex, valuing education, international cultural operators, youth and emerging ar- experience and motivation. Lithuania and tists. Our vision is to create a network of OPENNESS especially Kaunas has a huge potential of main programme operators through the APPROACHABILITY experienced culture managers, marketing regular programme of The Tempo Acade- and finance professionals, because of the my of Culture. This capacity building pro- rich networks of cultural institutions and gramme is a must to enter a Project Ma- List of the academic environment with big num- nager or Community Agent position. The Executive bers of graduates in CCI professions. Many Tempo Academy and its practice in Kaunas Team

© RŠ Vaidotė Žilinskaitė. Final BA work at Textile Department of Kaunas Faculty of The Vilnius Academy of Arts. Presented in Laisvės al. (Liberty Avenue), Kaunas, 2011.

An open international call for the General —— Flawless reputation in previous inter- In 2015 Dr. Virginija Vitkienė was appoint- How will you make sure that there is an appropriate cooperation and Artistic Directors will be announced if national projects. ed as the Artistic Director for the prepara- Q41 between the local authorities and this structure including the Kaunas is awarded the title. The competi- —— Capacity in managing complex human tion of the Kaunas 2022 programme and artistic team? tion for these positions will be announced resources. ECoC title bid book. If Kaunas receives the Organisational in late June 2017 and the results are ex- title, an open call for this position will be structure pected in autumn 2017. The requirements for the Artistic Director announced internationally together with will be an extension of these main char- the call for the General Director’s position. The General and Artistic Directors will acteristics: The current Artistic Director will be able start their work in Kaunas 2022 office —— Experience in leading international take part in the open call. The General Director will be accountable productively with Kaunas City Municipality with the Lithuanian Culture Ministry re- within 2017 in order to prepare a clear ac- artistic and/or cultural projects. to the Board of Kaunas 2022, which will and Kaunas District Municipality. Vice May- garding UNESCO Heritage Site nomination tion plan for 2018 – 2023. —— Research and/or practise based knowl- If for any reasons changes occur in the po- include also the members of Kaunas City ors of Kaunas, the Cultural Department, for Kaunas Modernist Architecture, etc. edge on audience development, com- sitions of the General or Artistic Director Municipality and Kaunas District Munici- the Community development department The requirements for the General Director munity involvement, and participatory during the preparation and implementa- pality (including either Mayors or their and a lot of permanent staff members of In case Kaunas wins the title, we would will be an extension of these main char- culture. tion period, an open international call un- representatives) and a National Govern- the Culture, Communication, and Tourism like to proceed our communication based acteristics: —— A prepared strategy for the implemen- der the above mentioned requirements ment's representative. The regular meet- Departments in Kaunas and Kaunas Dis- on the existing model: one of the Vice —— International experience in long-term tation of the programme detailed in will be announced within one month af- ings of the Board and the Artistic Team trict Municipality were and are continuing Mayors will be the official contact and rep- cultural projects in the scale compa- the bid book. ter the resignation of the previous direc- should become the platform for exchange to enrich the Kaunas 2022 programme by resentative of the programme on the local rable to ECoC. —— Experience in leading capacity build- tor and the new Director will be selected of the current and relevant issues of the commissioning research documents, inte- and national level. Regular meetings (once —— Knowledge and expertise in European ing programmes. and confirmed by the Supervisory Council project. grating ECoC aims into the city’s strategic a week) will be provisioned in a schedule and national cultural strategies and —— Knowledge of the local cultural scene of Kaunas 2022. documents, promoting infrastructural de- of the Vice Mayor, the Head of Culture De- policy. in order to be able to lead networking During the preparation of this bid, the ar- cisions related to culture objects and pro- partment and representatives of the ECoC

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS —— Strong skills in communication, mar- among local cultural institutions and 90 tistic team was working regularly and very grammes, and working in close relation artistic team. keting, and fundraising. individuals. 91 Have you carried out/planned a risk assessment exercise? Risk Probability Body responsible for Contingency/Risk management Q43 control of the risk Financial: failure to secure Medium General Director, —— Detailed budget structure is in place approved by the City planned budget, irrespon- Supervisory Council, and District Municipalities. What are the main strengths and weaknesses of your project? sible use of project budget Monitoring team —— Detailed and transparent financial planning and public ac- Q44 allocated to the partners countability. —— Financial monitoring and evaluation scheme and Supervi- sory Board. How are you planning to overcome weaknesses, including with —— Clear partnership terms and responsibilities and high ac- countability of project partners to the ECoC body. Q45 the use of risk mitigation and planning tools, contingency plan- Management: ning etc. Contingency Political: Loss of political/ Low Kaunas City and Voted Council support from the Kaunas District Municipality and planning administrative support District Mayors, Kaunas City Municipality. ECoC included in the main strategic plans General Director of Kaunas City Municipality and supported by main political par- ties and movements. The support of ECoC programme has been expressed by the Culture Minister of LR. Recommendations of all aforementioned political bodies have been taken into account Our approach to identifying risk and con- forming main administrative, managerial, financial decisions. tingency has been: STRENGTHS: WEAKNESSES: Bad publicity: negative me- High Kaunas 2022 team, —— Communicating clearly the aims and priorities of Kaunas 1) To undertake a thorough analysis of our —— Ensuring legacy of long-term need- —— Weak bonds between local culture or- dia attention, effect on City’s Communication 2022 programme to the public. strengths and weaknesses based programmes that are inter- ganisations and the public. The cultur- self-confidence in case of Manager —— High publicity and transparency through active public com- 2) To learn from other ECoCs about the dif- linked with the strategic development al institutions lack interest from the failure to secure the title munication, encouraging locals to actively get involved in ficulties and risks they have identified and plans of the City. younger audience, underdeveloped planning and contributing to the programme. how to deal with them —— Programme as a capacity-building traditions of inclusive participation of 3) To develop a risk framework which takes platform for the whole cultural sec- the audience, community based arts Managerial: Medium General Director, —— Managerial structure foresees a team of experts for each the major risks, their likelihood of occur- tor. Many projects aimed at renewing and culture productions, centralised unexpected changes (resig- Administration member of management. rence and the severity of impact, and a the offer and methods in the cultural culture. nations, long-term leaves, Department —— The Tempo Academy (2017–2021) will incorporate profes- series of actions to mitigate those risks. sector. —— Underdeveloped community culture personal problems, etc.) in sionals in the organisation of the ECoC year. As such, we have grouped the answers to —— Strong commitment to the develop- and civic participation, difficulties mo- the managerial staff, lack of —— Involving students and youth in voluntary programme. these questions together. ment of civic and community culture bilising citizens to interact and con- qualified young profession- —— Youth-friendly environment by fostering young initiatives as well as diversity. tribute to cultural actions. als to recruit through open calls. Exchange with colleagues from previous —— Thorough, long-term preparation for —— Underused innovativeness and the —— Attracting qualified professionals from other regions. and running ECoC programmes and visits the project and open and inclusive potential of academic and creative in- Cultural Connectivity Medium Artistic Director, —— Involving culture operators in programming of Kaunas 2022 to their cities (including Mons, Riga, Wro- preparation process. dustry fields. Insufficient involvement and Tempo Academy, at an early stage (over 85 local organisations are already claw, Donostia/San Sebastian, Lille, Liver- —— Young people oriented programme —— Young people leaving the City, lack of collaboration of local culture Curatorial Team, involved). pool, Essen) taught us that most risks and that includes youth as active con- qualified young professionals and dif- operators in the programme, General Director —— Network building for collaborative projects, marketing and difficulties revolve around topics such as tributors and ensures training for the ficulties in attracting them to work in weak volunteering and ac- communication actions, focussing on community involve- organisation models, mobilising society, upcoming generation of culture pro- Kaunas. Ageing of culture professionals. tive participation traditions ment projects and stakeholders’ research. managing negative media attention and ducers. —— Cultural and community infrastructure —— Active involvement of local operators encouraged through initiating a good legacy process. —— Improving representation of the requires reconstructions. additional funding from Kaunas 2022 budget to create new youth’s needs in the cultural services —— Weak popularity of the City among the ideas and projects for the programme. The public meetings we led with the cul- of the City. local and international tourists. —— Setting up a volunteer centre for mobilising citizen groups ture, education, tourism professionals as —— Sufficient capacity for welcoming visi- —— Weak volunteering traditions. for volunteer activities. well as the two research activities we did tors and well-developed cultural net- —— Underdeveloped traditions of private on community culture and creative indus- work. sponsorship and relations between tries in Kaunas gave enormous feedback —— A variety of cultural services, creative, cultural and business sectors. and insight to the way culture works in the innovation and IT potential, easy ac- —— Insufficient partnership among cultur- City and what must be improved. Discus- cessibility for visitors, sufficient tour- al and educational institutions. sions we had with the wide public showed ism infrastructure. —— Bad publicity and pessimism about a strong support of our candidacy but also —— Strong regional support for the pro- the ECoC after the first project Vilnius Could your artistic programme be summed up by a slogan? showed that the community cultural pro- gramme. Big support network and 2009. Management: grammes will require a lot of special at- high participation of culture and com- Q46 Marketing and tention as there was still a relative lack of munity organisations, and both City communication positive engagement. and District Municipalities. —— Realistic budget for ECoC project vot- The meetings, workshops, discussions, vis- ed upon and confirmed by the Kaunas its and research have enabled us to devel- City, Kaunas District and the National The major risks have been grouped and are Our programme slogan is made-up of two letters is actually a giant leap in the im- slogan into action. The programme is cut- op risk assessment and define strengths Government. included in the following Risk Matrix. keywords, that reflect the core definition of age of the City (in Lithuanian also: Laikinoji ting edge, contemporary, oriented towards and weaknesses that can be summarised —— Experience and networks. A solid, high- Kaunas’ identity. They talk about the most -> Šiuolaikinė). Kaunas, which for the past European values and constructed to leave as follows. ly experienced team with a big support important shift that the City faces in the eighty years has been pointlessly labeled a long-lasting productive legacy. network and high participation of cul- next decade. and mocked as a “Temporary Capital”, re- ture and community organisations with invents itself as a contemporary city in the In English “contemporary” might be asso- strong international orientation. KAUNAS 2022. Contemporary Capital. context of Europe. This is the point at which ciated with contemporary art and evoke KAUNAS 2022. Šiuolaikinė sostinė. European Capital of Culture meets, inspires the opposite to inclusiveness and open- and helps Kaunas to find a new self-identity. ness. However, in Lithuanian the word just The slogan clearly reveals and indicates means “something that is happening in the

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS the transition from “temporary” to “contem- All of the artistic programme in its es- present” – we use it every day and nobody 92 porary”. A small difference of three added sence is a translation of the concept and is afraid of it. 93 strong storytelling practices (e.g. in the pro- Most visitors to Kaunas come from Rus- Pixel Tunnels to Europe (2021–2022) – What is the city‘s intended marketing and communication strat- gramme platform Memory Office) to return sia, Germany, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Be- a two ended “screen” tunnel installed in Q47 egy for the European Capital of Culture year? the erased multicultural history to Kaunas larus, Finland, United Kingdom, Italy and open and closed public spaces in different Marketing and identity. Jewish heritage is one example France. The second level target markets in cities in Europe which will broadcast spe- communication worth reviving, celebrating and using the the tourism strategy include Norway, Swe- cial events (concerts, talks, flash mobs, the- Modernist architecture is another, as well as den, the Netherlands and Denmark – this atre and dance performances) from Kaunas creating “new celebrities”, like Emma Gold- means that through our activities with the and Esch-sur-Alzette in 2021 and 2022 to man or Emmanuel Levinas for a communi- Tourism Boards we can already reach a sig- public audiences in previous or upcoming Our marketing and communication strat- strategy: to move from beer and basketball and will continue involving the local press cation of multicultural and multinational nificant number of countries and potential ECoC cities. egy is built around a roadmap made of to museums and Modernism; to move off for support and communication. We already pride throughout the country. visitors in Europe. Some of the attractions three essential elements: the couch and into creativity; to “culturise” agreed on a partnership with one of the ma- for an international audience have been The project will work as a marketing tool the place we are, the curriculum; to put a smile back on the jor Lithuanian online news portals 15min.lt. Channels and partners (examples) detailed in Q10 – here are the channels and help to announce the artistic pro- the place we want to be, and face of Kaunas culture. In the Agitation and Explosion phases we National Television. We are negotiating with which we will convey them. gramme in many cities across Europe. how to get there. will reach out to international media. an agreement for a long-term partnership Focus target group: local communities with the Lithuanian National Radio and Tourism fairs like the Vakantiebeurs in Kaunas Digital Games. We are commission- What we are: a temporary capital. One of the biggest challenges is to create Digital presence is planned to give a deeper Television (LRT) in terms of regular col- Utrecht, ITB in Berlin, WTM London, Salon ing computer games and virtual tour-games No city in Lithuania has more stereotypes a new identity for Kaunas’ “sleeping dis- look at the analogue reality by audio, video, laboration with Culture LRT channel for du Tourisme in Paris and Matka in Helsinki the stories of which will be incorporated in- about itself than Kaunas does. And most of tricts”, industrial areas and their aging in- augmented reality, bluetooth and location coverage and broadcasting. Also national will be platforms to approach tourism op- to digitised Kaunas environments: them are highly critical and non-productive. habitants, for example through the Fluxus services based apps. Digital technology can TV has agreements with many European erators from all over Europe and overseas (1) The Mythical Beast and the fortress Labs. Waking up Kaunas starts with new add the dimension of time to spaces in the TV stations (such as DW and other) for (as visitors from Israel and Japan are be- system (legend says they are connected by What we want to be: a Contemporary Capital. points of action in the most unexpected City. The digital is an ongoing and growing exchange of cultural programmes, which coming increasingly important). underground tunnels), (2) Modernist build- locations by involving citizens into the activity that has already started with our would also be used for dissemination of ings with their hidden stories, secret clos- We can create a destination for parallel making of the Beast and the playful activi- launch of a social media campaign which the cultural programme Europe-wide. Airport. Airlines. Airviews. We will invite ets, roof terraces and spy rooms, but also trends like a young look and feel of the City ties for young and old. reached over 450,000 people. We have set pilots, stewards, bus and taxi drivers to be storytelling tours and augmented reality and a growing line-up of arts and science up a bilingual website www.kaunas2022.eu Municipality. We plan to set up a destination aware of the programme and help guests content e.g. in the Digital Diplomacy pro- activities mixed with a blend of community Channels and partners (examples) and we are going to further extend its func- marketing campaign together with the Mu- navigate the cultural programme. ject and (3) an augmented reality game arts and traditional crafts and knowledge – Sports. Kaunas Žalgiris club is the no. 1 tionality. Single projects that start(ed) in nicipality’s International Relations Division (next generation Pokemon) e.g. using and encourage people who live here. team in the no. 1 sports in Lithuania – bas- 2016/2017 like Fluxus Labs, Kaunas Chal- and put project advertising in public and in- Flying Europe balloon in a shape of a char- M. K. Čiurlionis paintings to virtually aug- ketball. We are negotiating with our local lenge (with the Centuryans), the collabora- ternational transport as well as on highways. acter of the Mythical Beast designed by ment the environment or old photographs How to get there: by waking up the City. basketball, football and other sport clubs to tive fiction methods and physical form cre- Current international partnerships of Kaunas Patricia Piccinini, gliding over the skies of to superpose streets for virtual time travel. contribute to each other’s marketing cam- ation of the Mythical Beast of Kaunas will City Municipality include the Hanseatic net- European cities in 2021 and over Lithuania The Mythical Beast has a key role in our paigns. We have already invited our major need digital platforms, coding, apps and so- work, more than 20 twin cities, and the UN- and Kaunas in 2022 is envisaged to attract Additionally, some of the games/pro- programme as well as in our marketing basketball leaders to participate in Kaunas cial media channels for their internal and ESCO Creative City network. international attention to Kaunas 2022 pro- grammes and documentaries will be and communication plan. 2022 ambassadors’ network. Kaunas 2022 external communication, and virtual exhibi- gramme. Land art piece (related to the My- adapted to VR (virtual reality) products, logo on the T-shirts of Kaunas Žalgiris bas- tions for citizen votings. Businesses. We will mobilise local logistic thical Beast of Kaunas) will meet everyone allowing digital tourists to experience A number of advertisement teams have al- ketball team can communicate our project companies and arrange that branded ban- landing at Kaunas International Airport. Kaunas uniqueness from any place of the ready confirmed their intent to work with locally, nationally and internationally. Key festivals and exhibitions. Through our ners promoting Kaunas 2022 programme world. Kaunas, including Rio Olympic Games visual connections with Kaunas Biennial, Kaunas are used on their trucks travelling across Diaspora. We are working with our part- identity authors from Sao Paolo and some of Designing Happiness. The “hedonometre” Photo, Kaunas Jazz, AURA Dance and other Europe and beyond. ners like the Lithuanian Confederation of LEGACY (2023 and beyond) the best local and national agencies. that will be designed and produced will festivals we have good contact points to Industrialists, Global Lithuanian Leaders, The communication will continue be- be accompanied by marketing activities so reach the local and national audience as Digital presence. The Agitation phase will Rotary Clubs and other networks to invite yond 2022 to ensure that the evaluation STAGES, TARGET AUDIENCES, CHANNELS that it will become in itself a means of com- well as a basis for a network of local, na- include programme taking place in the them as Kaunas 2022 ambassadors. Every and monitoring results are distributed in AND PARTNERS munication through which local citizens as tional and international media. digital realm like the fun interactive per- fan of Kaunas at home or abroad can get a meaningful and useful way to benefit well as visitors can share their moods. formance platform with scenes from the a variety of instruments which will enable future cultural and social activities. The Like our programme, our communication Points of information. Our official Kaunas Mythical Beast. A digital game will be pro- participation and promotion. hedonometre will continue to receive and strategy goes through four stages. Urban marketing. We will use the City 2022 information point will be a new struc- duced featuring the Mythical Beast and send until the next generation is launched space for marketing campaigns. For ex- ture located centrally (preferably in a Mod- fellow characters. A smartphone app “Cul- Merchandising. The new cultural legend or until it indicates perpetual happiness of Ignition (2017–2018), Agitation (2019– ample, prints from the M. K. Ciurlionis ernist building) to promote local cultural tural Awakening” will give notifications for around the Mythical Beast of Kaunas will Kaunasians :-). Some of the projects, espe- 2020), Explosion (2021–2022), Legacy National Museum of Art collection will events and City tourism. It will also host a cultural events online and offline. include a set of unique community-created cially the Tempo Academy of Culture, the (2023 and beyond). Each of them will fo- be displayed in unexpected spaces of the café where our intercultural learning Café characters which will be used for conven- community platform We, the People as cus on a specific target group and activi- City promoting Kaunas 2022 programme du Monde events will take place, and a mar- EXPLOSION 2021–2022 tional and innovative merchandising. For well as Emerging Kaunas are created as ties but a lot of it will criss-cross different and the Travelling Museum programme; ketplace of opportunities to get actively in- Finally the ECoC action takes place and example a digital “kiosk” will allow every- long-term development tools and do not stages and different audiences. we will also commission murals and work volved in Kaunas 2022 programme. we introduce the City where culture never one to customise their favourite character have a “sell-by-date”. Communication and with local street artists; traces left around sleeps. Communication includes the level from the new legend and buy a personal marketing will continue through the creat- IGNITION 2017–2018 the City by the Beast will awaken the cu- AGITATION 2019–2020 of European and international audiences 3D printed model. ed tools as well as newly developed ones. This early phase is key in the transition riosity of the local population and media. At this second stage we will continue with next to continued efforts towards local The Mythical Beast is there to stay and set- from the bidding to the preparation phase communication on the local level at full and national audiences and participants. Digital presence. Web, apps and social. We tles into becoming the long-known symbol so that momentum is created and main- Through the looking glass. With the help output but will also focus increasingly on will develop a mobile application in sever- and guardian of the City. Merchandising, tained. New target groups will include of our partners in the Artistic Programme the national and international level. Focus target group: Europeans and inter- al languages which will inform its users of guided tours to the Beast sightings and e.g.: the abundant communities of sport we are planning on inviting bloggers and national audience Kaunas 2022 programme, allow purchas- the unbroken interest in Modernist herit- and basketball fans, senior citizens, peo- vloggers from all over Europe for short- Focus target group: Lithuanians in the en- The hardest part is getting people to trav- ing tickets, providing an interactive map age is communicated by the citizens them- ple who live in remote areas, residents of term residencies an outside perspective. tire country el to Kaunas from outside the country. The of Kaunas, connect into the “hedonometre” selves as well as permanently integrated dorm-towns and sleepy Seniūnijos, busi- We intend Kaunas Contemporary Capi- most visited places by foreign tourists are for evaluation, link with online sources of in the communication of the Municipality ness companies and their employees, chil- RAAAAWWWWRRRR. Dealing with the My- tal to become a celebration for the whole Vilnius and the Curonian Spit on the coast. heritage and history information and will and the local and national Tourism Boards. dren, youth and families, and public serv- thical Beast of Kaunas artistic and commu- country. Kaunas is mostly associated with Rarely visitors stop for more than a few allow indulging in a series of games relat- ants. “Translating” the messages of our nication actions go hand in hand. a mono-national, deeply Lithuanian narra- hours in Kaunas but with tailor-made tour- ed to fun facts about Kaunas and its multi- programme into individually tailored lan- tive: it’s the most Lithuanian city, the “heart ism packages for an overnight stay with faceted identity. guage will help us reach out to a local and Public Relations. We have built-up partner- of Lithuania” – perhaps understandable cultural events and special Kaunas 2022

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS regional audience and achieve some of the ships with newspaper publishers, televi- since our country has been unable to live guided tours we intend to attract new au- Communication and marketing tools will 94 targets set in our audience development sion, the cultural press and online portals its national identity for so long. We need diences to Kaunas. include a digital technology based project 95 How will you mobilise your own citizens as communicators of the Q48 year to the outside world? Marketing and communication

KAUNASIANS AS HOSTS FOR EUROPE – al experience, which will provide more GLOBAL KAUNASIANS – CITIZENS ABROAD HOSPITALITY SPIRIT AWAKEN than 100 teenagers with basic skills and AS KAUNAS 2022 AMBASSADORS. One of The inclusion of citizens in Kaunas City support for the development of the pro- the much spoken about problems in Lithu- and District from all walks of life will be gramme within the youth platform Emer- ania is emigration. The official statistics the basis of a citizen-led communication ging Kaunas. The decision making on the of the Migration Department shows that to the outside world. The citizens are our programme will serve as a powerful mo- there are more than 500,000 Lithuanians media group. No money can buy the en- tivation for young people to speak loudly living in other European countries. The thusiasm and love that a convinced par- about being a part of the team through largest Lithuanian diaspora lives in the UK ticipant and citizen can radiate to the out- various media channels. (around 123,000), other large communities side – to friends and family at home and can be found in Poland (ca. 62,000), Ger- abroad, to business or university partners SLEEPY DISTRICTS. We will mobilise each many (ca. 43,000), Ireland (almost 40,000) in Lithuania and far beyond, through social Seniūnas (head of the Seniūnija) and em- as well as Latvia, Norway, Ukraine, Spain, media and word of mouth. It is legendary ployees of all 36 Kaunas and District Sweden and Denmark. for human communication that a single Seniūnijos to contribute to the project by message or post can reach viral dimension becoming ambassadors for Kaunas 2022 in You can leave Kaunas, but Kaunas never which reaches more people than any ex- their communities and areas. The Seniūni- leaves You. Under this motto we will build pensive campaign. Raising the happiness jos represent the municipalities in differ- a strong PR campaign around the theme factor through design is another driver for ent areas of the City and District and have that every former emigrant can now be enthusiasm and communicative citizenry. a direct link to the communities who live an ambassador for Kaunas 2022. There is Our community involvement projects in there. Their contribution will be vital in a growing number of initiatives aimed at We, the People and Emerging Kaunas tar- communicating the project. closer involvement of the émigrés into get exactly this communicative aspect as a the domestic affairs of Lithuania since the positive side effect. The direct involvement THE FLUXUS LABS in each Seniūnija will overwhelming majority of them have re- and participation of many local people and be hot spots for citizens taking over their tained their citizenship. Organisations like communities in Co-opetition, the Tempo City, Kaunas 2022 project and the commu- the Global Lithuanian Leaders, Global Lith- Academy and Fluxus Labs will therefore be nication of it. Every citizen will receive an uania Network, World Lithuanian Commu- a great marketing tool as well – and one information pack, car stickers and other nity, World Lithuanian Youth, World Litvak which people will be able to share with special souvenirs and each business lo- communities and their branches in Israel their friends and networks. cated in the City and District will receive and the USA are influential organisations a sign marking their support for Kaunas which at the same time closely cooper- VOLUNTEERS’ PROGRAMME. The Tempo 2022. Through a contest aimed at emerg- ate with the governmental programme Academy of Culture has a special Volun- ing designers and artists we will create launched in 2012 and called “The Global teers’ programme for Kaunasians involv- a special collection of Kaunas 2022 pro- Lithuania”. ing different generations and commu- gramme merchandise and attributes for nities in all phases and actions of the the abundant fan community of the leg- Some of the members of our team are al- project, including communicating the endary Kaunas BC Žalgiris (fan flags, cloth- ready well connected to those organisa- event. The hospitality course and the ing, new fan chant connected to Kaunas tions working on “Lithuania as a Social knowledge on the main spots and parts 2022 slogan). Network” concept. Our aim is to cooperate of the programme will be taught at the with the above mentioned organisations Tempo Academy to seniors, taxi drivers, GUERRILLA COMMUNICATION. We will not and to appoint motivated ambassadors staff members of shopping malls, restau- hesitate to apply somewhat revolutionary (many of whom are originally Kaunas ci- rants and hotels, hostels, public trans- means of communication. We are talking tizens) to spread information about our port drivers... We will use the potential about the collective positive culture jam- programme in their countries of residence of online volunteering which will include ming, public street parties against TV ad- and into their international networks. posting information to social media chan- diction and temporary highway blocking nels, blogging and organising online cam- against people leaving the City, online paigns in social media. crowdsourcing campaigns for culture con- sumption instead of brand consumption YOUTH ACTIVATION. The Faculty for and similar participatory campaigns which Youth at the Tempo Academy will pro- will mobilise citizens to act together for # mote a self-sustaining model of capac- culture and will catch the attention of a ity building and practice-based cultur- broader public. CITIZENS AS MEDIA GROUP RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS 96 © RP 97 How does the city plan to highlight that the European In few lines explain what makes your application Q49 Capital of Culture is an action of the European Union? Marketing and Q50 so special compared to others? Additional communication information

We do not feel we are in a position to tell questions of distribution of wealth, poten- ECoC project and a perfect ground to test what makes our application special among tial, accessibility of culture, regional devel- drive cultural initiatives for the future EU. other applicants. opment are always there. In this respect we are special by being exemplary. Kaunas was a temporary capital of Lithu- But we can tell what makes Kaunas a spe- ania between the two World Wars. In this cial applicant. There is one more field where we are spe- respect, the City has performed its duty for cial in being exemplary. the Country, stood tall in tumultuous years Kaunas is a second city and everyone living and then became a donor of every possible in Gothenburg, or Birmingham, or Tartu, or Kaunas has entered the European Union potential and strength to a reappearing Plovdiv, or Krakow, or Cluj, or Marseille, or as the most euro optimistic among the Vilnius. It has been left neglected, mocked Milan, or Cork or any other second city of big cities of Lithuania. In the referendum by still being called “temporary” and to its the EU member states can relate to that. on 10–11 May 2003 Kaunas had come in own devices since. That makes quite a club… Being a second the first place among big Lithuanian cities city is probably the most complicated cul- with a staggering 94,98% “yes” vote. The This City having preserved its knightly tural phenomenon in terms of identity. The City still remains euro optimistic, which virtues deserves better. inferiority complex is inherently there, the makes Kaunas a perfect laboratory for

Add any further comments which you deem necessary Q51 in relation with your application. Additional information

In loving memory of a member of our team, a man of honor and inspiration to every one of us, professor and friend Leonidas Donskis (1962 – 2016).

© AA

First and foremost: on the 7 February 2022 thinkers. The forum has every chance to of 9 Europe Direct centres), which pro- it will be a 30 year anniversary of the Tre- become a central event of the year for the vides information and literature on aty of Maastricht. This means it’s 30 years EU intellectuals and policy makers thus ef- the EU, mediates with other EU ser- since the European Union was born. The fectively putting Kaunas on the European vices and organises public events in Treaty on European Union was signed in political map. By inviting representatives Kaunas and the District. We will con- Maastricht in the Netherlands. It is a major from other cities which hosted the ECoC tinue by working together to promote EU milestone, setting clear rules for the fu- program and those yet to become Euro- understanding of the ECoC program ture single currency as well as for foreign pean Capitals of Culture as well as mem- and its coverage through media, press and security policy, and closer cooperation bers of the relevant EU institutions we will and other information tools using re- in justice and home affairs. Under the Trea- develop a discussion on the legacy of the gional, national and international dis- ty, the name “European Union” officially re- ECoC program on many different levels semination networks. places “European Community”. The Treaty and areas. —— In 2022 we will celebrate the Europe has set criteria for new member states like Day with a focus on the European Lithuania to join in. Kaunas (if awarded the Other measures will include: identity and accentuate the origins European capital of Culture title) will mark —— A hand-over of the title from the 2021 of the program by organising a series this day with a special event held simulta- ECoC cities Elefsina (Greece), Tim- of events dedicated to the topics of neously in the European Parliament (with isoara (Romania) and Novi Sad (Ser- European identity. The International the help of Lithuanian MP’s) and the City bia) and a hand-over to Hungary and Kite Festival in Kaunas District on the of Kaunas. the UK ECoC 2023 cities during the same day will also focus on the cel- opening and closing ceremonies of ebration of the union and diversity of Kaunas will host the conference “After Kaunas 2022 program will be organ- the European Union countries. Maastricht. The Legacy of Temporariness” ised. We will invite representatives of —— Other forms of communication will in- with special focus on the European dimen- these cities as well as representatives clude the EU logo in communication sion and the situation and problematics of of the EU institutions to participate of Kaunas 2022 programme, Kaunas the EU. The fact that Lithuania and Kaunas in the programme and open the four Contemporary Capital website, social remain pro EU could be a good opportuni- highlight events. networks and mobile application, in ty to organise an important forum for the —— We are in partnership with the Kau- printed and media advertising, bill-

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS EU itself raising crucial questions with the nas Europe Direct information centre boards and posters, flags and signage 98 participation of influential politicians and (that belongs to a Lithuanian network at programme venues. 99 Final stage bid book, 2017

The Applicant KAUNAS CITY MUNICIPALITY

in partnership with KAUNAS DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

Bid Book Team: VIRGINIJA VITKIENĖ ANA ČIŽAUSKIENĖ RYTIS ZEMKAUSKAS DAIVA CITVARIENĖ VAIDAS PETRULIS VAIDA VENCKUTĖ-NAGĖ JŪRATĖ TUTLYTĖ LEWIS BIGGS LEONIDAS DONSKIS RYTIS JUODEIKA GINTARĖ MASTEIKAITĖ

Special thanks to all contributors to the content of this project:

Published by KAUNAS CITY MUNICIPALITY

Design DARIUS PETREIKIS Creative Team Mamaika

Photos © Andrius Aleksandravičius (AA) Julius Balašaitis (JB) Gediminas Bartuška (GB) Teodoras Biliūnas / zmones.lt (TB) Artūras Bulota (AB) Tadao Cern (TC) Linas Citvaras (LC) Gintaras Česonis (GČ) Kristina Čyžiūtė (KČ) Guda Koster (GK) Lukas Mykolaitis (LM) Artūras Politovas (AP) Romualdas Požerskis (RP) Rimantas Steponavičius (RS) Remis Ščerbauskas (RŠ) Laura Vansevičienė (LV)

Cover photo: Black Balloons by TADAO CERN

Printed by Spausdino wwwwww.kopa.lt.kopa.lt

Useful links www.kaunas2022.eu

RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS www.facebook.com/kaunas2022 100 #kaunas2022 101 RARY CAPITAL 2022 CAPITAL RARY TEMPO CON KAUNAS 102