Cultural community’s activity grew during the pandemic period

In 2021, the Lithuanian Council for Culture funded 1 723 projects and 925 grants and distributed more than EUR 21.03 million. This is by EUR 1.65 million more than in the pre-pandemic period. 

The activity of cultural and arts organisations increased considerably during the pandemic period. This year, 368 cultural institutions applied to the Lithuanian Council for Culture for funding for the first time. Most of them (about 60%) were non-governmental organisations. In 2021, the Lithuanian Council for Culture funded a total of almost 800 cultural and artistic organisations.

Project funding

Both in previous years and this year, the largest portion of funding is intended for initiatives in the field of music. In 2021, almost 250 music projects were funded, with more than EUR 3.4 million allocated to them. This year, more than EUR 1.5 million was allocated to the fields of museums, theatre and literature and about EUR 1.4 million was distributed to to cross-field projects. 

In 2021, cultural and arts organisations mainly implemented cultural education activities, arranged creative workshops, published books, organised festivals, and arranged exhibitions. At least every third project funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture implemented activities related to cultural education. This year, EUR 8.3 million was allocated for these projects.

Applicants in the fields of literature and architecture became especially active during the pandemic period. The number of applications in the field of architecture almost doubled, and that in the field of literature increased 1.6 times. Book publishing accounted for almost 90% of literature projects. Therefore, next year, the shelves of book stores and libraries should be filled with exclusive publications of Lithuanian and translated fiction and humanitarian literature. 

Equitable cultural development in the provinces

This year, while the pandemic period continued, cultural and artistic organisations operating in the provinces of Lithuania were also more active in submitting their applications. The number of applications submitted for competitions within the Equitable Cultural Development Programme was 1.13 times bigger than that last year. Representatives of cultural organisations of Kaunas and Alytus counties took an especially active part in these competitions. 

The Lithuanian Council for Culture sought to strike a balance between the country’s major cities and regions by creating a model of equitable cultural development. This year’s data show that the implementation of the Equitable Cultural Development Funding Model, which was launched in 2018, has been successful and contributes to maintaining a balance in meeting the needs of cultural organisations irrespective of their location. In 2021, the funding intensity in both major cities and provinces was uniform at 24%.

This year’s data show that the provinces are still characterised by higher activity of budgetary institutions. In the majority of counties, more than 80% of funded projects are initiated by budgetary institutions. Utena and Alytus counties stand out by a greater diversity of cultural institutions, with the share of projects of budgetary institutions making up about half of the funded projects.

Municipalities are increasingly contributing to the cultural development in the provinces. According to the agreement reached, municipalities are encouraged to contribute to projects funded under the Equitable Cultural Development Programme by at least 30%. From the very beginning of the implementation of the Equitable Cultural Development Model, municipalities go beyond their commitments and annually allocate slightly more than EUR 1 million to the project promoters. In 2020, additional funding from municipalities already accounted for almost 40% of the funding amount allocated by the Lithuanian Council for Culture. These trends are expected to continue in 2021. The results of this year’s co-financing by municipalities can be evaluated at the end of the year.

Grants

During the pandemic period, in 2020–2021, there has been an especial growth in the need for individual grants. This year, 4.6 times more applications were received than in pre-pandemic years. In order to meet the needs of the cultural community, funding for grants has doubled, with 925 individual grants awarded, i.e. 3.5 times more than in 2019.

This growth is observed in all areas of culture and arts. The biggest growth in funding compared to the pre-pandemic period has been observed in theatre (9.5 times), music (5.5 times) and design (4.8 times) grants. A total of EUR 2.4 million was allocated to individual grants for cultural and artistic creators this year. 

Funded projects

Following the decision of the Lithuanian Council for Culture, from now on the website  www.ltkt.lt will publish not only the financing decisions adopted by the Lithuanian Council for Culture, but also  the descriptions of the funded projects. It is planned that this form of presentation of the funded projects will eventually change the practice of publishing the results of funding applied up to date, and the possibility to discontinue publishing the lists of unfunded projects and to inform applicants only in person is considered.