THE ROLE OF THE LITHUANIAN CULTURE INSTITUTE IN INTENSIFYING THE PROMOTION OF LITHUANIAN CULTURE ABROAD IS SET TO GROW
In order to strengthen the potential of Lithuanian culture at the international level and to implement a targeted policy of promoting Lithuanian culture abroad, the government of the Republic of Lithuania, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Culture, approved draft legal acts granting the Lithuanian Culture Institute public administration functions.
From 1 January 2023, the organisational structure of the Lithuanian Culture Institute, currently a budgetary institution subordinated to the Ministry of Culture, will be changed to the Lithuanian Culture Institute under the Ministry of Culture.
The function of the Lithuanian Institute of Culture is to consistently strengthen the role of Lithuanian culture in the world by increasing opportunities for Lithuanian artists and specialists in the field of culture on the international arena and by purposefully promoting Lithuanian culture abroad.
In addition to the role currently performed by the Lithuanian Culture Institute in implementing programmes of presenting Lithuanian culture abroad, coordinating the work of cultural attachés, organising and carrying out visits of foreign cultural specialists, promoting translations of Lithuanian literature into foreign languages, among other activities, the Lithuanian Culture Institute will acquire the power to allocate state funding to cultural organisations engaged in promoting Lithuanian culture abroad, except in the field of film, i.e. will have the opportunity to work more closely with organisations operating in the field of culture and involve them in ongoing international programmes.
It is expected that the institution, upon acquiring additional powers, will be able, in a more focused and effective way and in accordance with the evaluation criteria applied to international projects, to contribute to promoting Lithuanian culture abroad, as well as enhance the quality of presentation of Lithuanian culture at international forums, not only by financing these presentations, but also by participating in their high-standard implementation and dynamic communication.
This change in the organisational structure of the Institute is expected to achieve the aim of the National Progress Plan for 2021–2030 to “Improve the conditions for creatives in Lithuania and intensify the promotion of Lithuanian culture abroad” and address the need identified in the Culture and Creativity Programme of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania for 2021–2030 to create a balanced and sustainable system for strengthening creative capacity to compete internationally.