More information
Description
The FIXUS project aims to improve the management of cultural heritage in Lithuania by strengthening preventive maintenance. The project focuses on creating a system for monitoring and maintaining heritage sites, increasing awareness among heritage managers and enhancing their skills to ensure effective preservation.
Lithuania has more than 20,000 registered cultural heritage sites, ranging from individual buildings to large complexes. The country’s climate—cold winters, hot summers, heavy rainfall and high humidity—can quickly cause serious damage if small issues like hole roof or worn out downspouts are not addressed in time. A major challenge for heritage preservation in Lithuania is the lack of proper management, maintenance skills and preventive care. Currently, there are no consulting or management services available to support heritage site owners and managers, even though such services are crucial in preventing further deterioration and loss.
To address these challenges, the project will create three mobile teams of specialists. These teams will visit selected heritage sites to assess their condition, provide recommendations, advise owners and managers, carry out minor emergency repairs and develop preventive maintenance plans. During the project implementation period, 200 cultural heritage sites will be selected for monitoring and support.
The project directly benefits cultural heritage owners and managers, helping them take better care of their properties. Key project partners include institutions with extensive experience in heritage conservation, such as the State Enterprise “Lithuanian Monuments” and the Cultural Heritage Department. Additionally, two Norwegian partners—the KA Association for Employers in the Church of Norway and the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage (Riksantikvaren)—will contribute their expertise to ensure the project’s success.
Summary of project results
FIXUS project aimed to improve the management of Lithuania’s cultural heritage by increasing preventive maintenance.
At the time of the project’s application, more than 20,000 cultural heritage sites were registered in Lithuania. These included a wide range of buildings, from local (folk) architecture to magnificent public, defensive or sacred buildings, made of both wood and brick.
One of the biggest challenges for heritage preservation in Lithuania is the harsh and changing climate. Cold winters, hot summers, heavy rains and high humidity cause small, unnoticed damages (such as hole roof or worn out downspouts) to quickly turn into serious structural problems. If these issues are not addressed in time, they require expensive repairs and major restoration efforts.
While Lithuania has a legal framework for protecting cultural heritage and provides public funding for restoration, this support reaches only a small number of heritage sites. Many problems stem from poor maintenance, a lack of knowledge and insufficient preventive care.
Heritage sites in Lithuania are managed by a mix of private owners, companies, state institutions and public organisations. However, their financial and technical abilities to invest in maintenance or even apply for restoration funding vary greatly. Additionally, there are no publicly available advisory or management services to help owners with preventive care.
To address these challenges, the FIXUS project set two main goals:
- Develop a system of preventive monitoring and supervision of cultural heritage objects.
- Enhance the awareness and preventive maintenance skills of managers of cultural heritage objects.
During the project, a preventive monitoring and maintenance system for cultural heritage objects was created. This system was implemented by three mobile teams, each consisting of three specialists (such as an architect and a foreman, etc.).
The teams inspected and maintained 200 cultural heritage objects, preventing further damage and improving their overall condition. Each cultural heritage object received a detailed report outlining the necessary preventive maintenance tasks and recommendations for future management.
To raise awareness and improve preventive maintenance skills, the project also organised:
- 30 public consultations across different regions,
- Hands-on training sessions,
- Public events,
- Educational materials,
- Publications on preventive heritage care.
The main beneficiaries of the project were cultural heritage owners and managers. However, the impact extended far beyond them. Heritage professionals—such as designers and representatives of coordinating institutions—also benefited. They gained a better understanding of preventive maintenance and began to emphasize the importance of preventive maintenance to managers.
The project’s impact was direct for the owners of 200 repaired heritage objects, but it also benefited:
- Other heritage managers who took part in training and consultations,
- Professionals who now share knowledge and best practices,
- The Lithuanian state and society, as FIXUS helps preserve the authenticity and value of cultural heritage for future generations.
Summary of bilateral results
International cooperation was essential to the project''s success. Norwegian partners, Riksantikvaren and KA, played a key role in sharing their expertise. They also organised a conference on climate change, a highly relevant issue in the field of preventive heritage care. This partnership made it possible to adopt best practices, evaluate and refine decisions, and strengthen the developing preventive care system. Additionally, bilateral cooperation contributed to awareness-raising efforts. These partnerships is expected to continue in the future.