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Last week, a delegation from Arts and Culture Norway, based in Oslo and Trondheim, visited Vilnius. The Lithuanian Council for Culture continues their bilateral cooperation in the cultural sector through the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism. The programme’s partner in Lithuania is the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania. The Norwegian representatives engaged in intensive sessions with the Council’s administrative team, focusing on the status of individual artists and enhancing regional culture. They shared knowledge, discussed common challenges and solutions, and participated in the Council’s annual forum, The Power of the Creator.

Focus on bilateral exchange of knowledge and experience

Five representatives from Arts and Culture Norway visited Lithuania to share their expertise: Head of Art Economy and Innovation Sverre Fossen, Senior Adviser for International Cooperation Thea Breivik, Senior Advisers for Grant Programmes Ken Stebergløkken and Berit Skive, and Adviser for Grant Programmes Adrian Aam Refsnes. The Lithuanian Council for Culture’s administration team hosted four working sessions on various topics of interest, exchanging knowledge with their Norwegian counterparts.

“One of the most memorable insights from the Norwegian colleagues was the striking similarity between the two different Councils in terms of activities, methods, processes, challenges, and motivations. Despite one organisation being fifty years older than the other and thus having a different path of experience, colleagues emphasised the importance of recognising oneself in others, as this recognition reinforces the idea that you are not alone in your professional endeavours”, says Rūta Stepanovaitė, Director of the Administration at the Lithuanian Council for Culture.

Meeting between the Lithuanian Council for Culture team and representatives from Arts and Culture Norway. Photo by V. Budrys

Senior Analyst at the Monitoring and Analysis Unit Martynas Tininis provided an overview of the most significant events in Lithuania’s history, along with a review of the country’s cultural and artistic development. He emphasised the influence the Soviet occupation has had on the evolution of culture, discussing both the historical context and the current landscape of Lithuanian art and artistic practices. In a separate session, M. Tininis shared statistics regarding the Council’s grants and funding for cultural and artistic projects. He discussed the distribution of funds across various fields, programmes, and grants, as well as strategic changes that have occurred as the organisation has expanded. During the visit, M. Tininis unveiled his other side as a historian. He guided his Norwegian colleagues on a tour around Vilnius Old Town. Throughout the tour, he provided insights into Lithuania’s history, focusing on the impact of the Second World War on Vilnius, the anti-Soviet resistance, the Reform Movement, and the development of the restored Republic of Lithuania. He discussed various historical landmarks, including the Palace of the Grand Dukes and the Republic of Užupis.

From current activities to future outlooks

Chairwoman of the Lithuanian Council for Culture Asta Pakarklytė provided an overview of the operational context of the Lithuanian Council for Culture. She addressed the country’s cultural policy, emphasising the application of the arms’ length principle, the scale of the cultural sector, the cultural budget, and direct investments in artists. A. Pakarklytė provided details on the Council’s budget structure, funding dynamics, and highlighted the most significant changes in the institution’s history.

Berit Skive, Ken Stebergløkken, Thea Breivik, Adrian Aam Refsnes, and Sverre Fossen. Photo by V. Budrys

Director of the Administration Rūta Stepanovaitė discussed the activities of the Lithuanian Council for Culture from an administrative viewpoint. She provided insights into the organisational aspects of the Council, including its size, structure, and team responsibilities. Additionally, she discussed the daily operations of the Council, the interaction between the members’ assembly and the administrative staff, and strategic changes implemented for the period 2021–2024.

Adviser at the Division of Culture and the Arts Aleksandra Chackevičiūtė introduced the Council’s grant programmes: individual grants, mobility grants, and grants for emerging artists. She provided a comprehensive explanation of the application process, from submission to funding disbursement. This included details on eligibility criteria, application evaluation methods, the grant approval process, and the information required in artists’ reports. In summary, she described the time spent with the Norwegian delegation as an exhilarating experience marked by engagement with the international context, open discussions from various angles, and the exchange of experiences ranging from geopolitical matters to specific administrative practices. She emphasised the importance of immersing oneself in such interactions.

Adviser at the Division of Culture and the Arts Aleksandra Chackevičiūtė Photo by V. Budrys

Senior Adviser for International Cooperation at Arts and Culture Norway Thea Breivik delivered a concise presentation on the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism. This mechanism funds collaborations between the Lithuanian Council for Culture and the Arts and Culture Norway, along with several cooperation projects involving Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein. We are delighted to have had Rita Paičienė, an employee at the Norwegian Embassy in Lithuania, at the meeting, as her represented Embassy plays a role in supporting the development of the EEA Financial Mechanism.

The delegation also toured the cultural complex SODAS 2123. Launched and overseen by the Lithuanian Interdisciplinary Artists’ Association, SODAS 2123 is a community-driven and self-governed venue that hosts over a dozen cultural creators and researchers from diverse fields. Here, they engage in experimental practices, explore unconventional formats, and address contemporary cultural, social, geopolitical, and ecological concerns.

Senior Adviser for International Cooperation at Arts and Culture Norway Thea Breivik, photo by V. Budrys

The Lithuanian Council for Culture will continue its cooperation with Arts and Culture Norway. A delegation from the Council is set to visit Trondheim in the latter part of June to continue exchanging experiences and knowledge, as well as to explore best practices.

Bilateral cultural cooperation is funded by the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism. The programme’s partner in Lithuania is the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.

Learn more about Arts and Culture Norway: https://www.kulturdirektoratet.no/english