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Description
The main aim of project “Creative Community Space in Kuliai” is to solve the critical problems of Kuliai region and the local community, especially the high emigration among young people and lack of cultural entrepreneurship.
One of the main goals of the project is to restore the cultural entrepreneurship skills in the region through the restoration of a buildings complex that is part of a rich cultural heritage. The restored buildings complex will be used for training, teaching and development of new cultural services and activities. Such services will be developed by utilizing the historical, cultural and natural local resources, as well as by drawing on the experiences and skills of young professional artists, creators and Kuliai festival SOFIJA organizers and facilitators. The central focus of the project is the deep history and rich cultural heritage of Kuliai region. The development of unique cultural activities will help to enhance the knowledge and understanding of the region’s history and heritage across Lithuania. Upon the implementation of the project, 5 main goals will be achieved: (1) Kuliai Church buildings complex will be fully restored for the use for cultural activities by the end of the first year of the project; (2) the members of the community will improve their cultural entrepreneurship skills through practical seminars and events; (3) new cultural services will be established; (4) a visual and narrative identity will be developed for the region; (5) the community will be acquainted with diverse and creative cultural expression forms, such as theatre, dance and classical music performances, exhibitions, tours and other forms of cultural activities.
Throughout the project, a dialogue between local cultural institutions, municipality, community and businesses will be encouraged and stimulated.
Summary of project results
Projects goal – improve entrepreneurial skills of community members by strengthening local cultural-historical identity. Main mission – restore building of historical significance, adapt its use for cultural, art and educational activities, create new local products. One of the main goals of the project is to enhance the cultural entrepreneurship skills in the region through the restoration, and subsequent use of a buildings complex that is part of a rich cultural heritage in Kuliai.The role of the cultural partners of the project was to contribute to the development of the identity of the region, as well as the creation of new and sustainable cultural services and activities, which would remain in the community after the project''s completion.
Project activities lasted for two and half years, from September 2021 to April 2024. During the project implementation historical building was restored and adapted to the community''s needs and the organization of different cultural events, educations, art residences and other newly created cultural services. Eleven project partners from Lithuania and Norway participated in implementing the project activities.
Achieved results:
* Culturally-significant building of the 18th century was restored and opened to the community, and public for the use of new cultural activities. The restored buildings complex is used for training, teaching, and development of new cultural services and activities.
* A new brand “Kultūros virenė“ was created with marketing strategy and visual identity. A visual and narrative identity was developed for the newly created cultural space.
*10 cultural entrepreneurship sessions and 4 entrepreneurship events took place in the region. The members of the community improved their cultural entrepreneurship skills through practical seminars and events
* Project partners created 12 theatre plays, which were performed at least 35 times in Kuliai town. The community and other participants from the region were acquainted with diverse and creative cultural expression forms, such as theatre, dance, and classical music performances.
* New educational services in restored building created: informal cultural education for youths, historical tours of the area of Kuliai, theatrical education, art residences and market. Such services were developed by utilizing the historical, cultural, and natural local resources, as well as by drawing on the experiences and skills of young professional artists, and creators in Kuliai.
Summary of bilateral results
The result of joint activities between the partners M. Čiurlionis House and Opera Opus: the mystery concert "Peras Giuntas meets Čiurlionis". The staff of the Norwegian partner "Opera Opus" helped during the preparation in finding, selecting and preparing Norwegian musicians, as well as in shaping the program, the event''s text, musical material and stage solutions. On July 1, 2023, this work of joint creation was presented at the opening event of the Sofia Festival in Kuliai, and on July 2. - in Vilnius Town Hall. Another product of joint creation between the partners "Taško teatras" and Company B.Valiente was the choreographic performance "Traces of Silence", which premiered in Kuliai, July 9, 2023 Sofia Festival in Kuliai.The third product with partners from Norway was an open creative workshop with Company B. Valiente. which was held with the actors of the "Taško" theater in Klaipėda in 2022.