Lithuania to host European Culture workshops

There are only 506 days to go before we can greet Vilnius as the European Capital of Culture 2009. The Lithuanian capital is the first city in the post-Soviet block to be awarded this distinguished status. The 20-year-old tradition, which has seen a total 30 European cities being designated European Capital of Culture, will now enable Vilnius to present its distinguished cultural identity to the world.

Work on projects related to the designation has already begun. On 21st – 23rd September Vilnius will host European Culture Workshops. In September Vilnius habitants and visitors will be able to visit the exhibition Art in Unconventional Space and also try to create art in all unconventional spaces by themselves.

The projects will bring art to places in which it has never existed before – the city’s medieval yards and cellars, bunkers left over from the Soviet era, basements and market places of Vilnius and other most incredible places.

Watch how human imagination changes the city!

The world-famous artist, sculptor, stage director and choreographer Jan Fabre will start off proceedings. In abandoned Vilnius Sports Palace in Vilnius he will present his newest international project, Requiem for Metamorphosis, daring all of us to act out stereotypes.

The Requiem for Metamorphosis will be one of Jan Fabre’s biggest projects. “We are very fortunate that such a renowned artist as Jan Fabre will create an installation in Vilnius. I am sure that Requiem for Metamorphosis by its significance and scale will publicize the transformation of Vilnius to all of Europe”, said Elona Bajoriniene, the Director of Vilnius – the European Capital of Culture 2009.

In September the inhabitants of Vilnius will see ten additional impressive projects including: Fashion Night, when Vilnius Central Post Office will become a place of fashion and beauty; a mobile pavilion created from local materials by Dutch architect Jan Korbes in Calvary market; fans of electronic dance music will run riot in the former music club Kablys; an improvised poetic rock opera will be put on in a stadium; and in the old town and on bridges sculptures made from beehives and tarpaulin will be seen.

Another event will take place in November – the worlds of science, medicine, nature and the arts will join forces in the LUX International Light Festival to uncover the mysterious world of colours and light and help us get over the usual November depression.

Both of these events will take place not only this year, but also in 2008 and 2009.

For more about Vilnius, which will become the European Capital of Culture in 2009 visit: Culturelive.lt or Vilnius-tourism.lt

For more about Lithuania visit: Lithuaniatourism.co.uk