Key assumptions

In the cultural programme ‘Time – Space – People’, culture is understood as a practice of active participation in public life, fostering individual, community and societal resilience. Its importance and relevance are revealed at a time when fundamental European values such as freedom and human dignity are being tested in many ways, and social cohesion is threatened by disinformation and fake news. With this in mind, the cultural programme aims to promote cooperation between Lithuanian and German institutions and cultural practitioners.

Key themes

The cultural programme invites participants to engage creatively with the following questions:

What unites us? What divides us? How do we differ? How do we usually interact with others and with what is unfamiliar to us? How does our society benefit from diversity? What can we learn from one another?

We invite cultural institutions and artists from all fields to explore and examine these questions through the interplay of time, space and human dimensions.

These three dimensions form a triangle of connections within which funded projects can take artistic form.

Projects directly related to everyday life in Lithuania and Germany, as well as those creating connections between two or all three of the aforementioned dimensions, are particularly welcome. The programme aims to prioritise small stories and narratives, thereby placing them within a broader context of meaning (keyword: microhistory).

Timing

The programme is being developed at a pivotal historical moment for the Lithuanian-German partnership, when civil society in both countries needs to establish itself, grounded in shared European values. With this in mind, it invites us to look to the past and the future. In this way, Germany and Lithuania can form a clearer picture of our shared European present and future, and also explore how our historical experiences differ:

How do we come to terms with our historical origins? How has our everyday life changed over time? What rituals do we cherish? How do we protect our personal and collective memory from oblivion? What do we each dream of and what do we hope for from our shared future?

A creative exploration of these themes may reveal what mutual support between the two nations might look like. Thus, across different time zones, a sense of simultaneity emerges, shaped by the diversity of historical perspectives and intergenerational dialogue.

Spaces

In today’s spaces, we perceive proximity and distance as relative concepts. The distances between city and countryside, or between different social strata, are often harder to bridge than geographical distances. Where community responsibility is embraced and the environment is shaped, spaces are transformed from meaningless storage areas into places of encounter and social interaction that transcend boundaries and walls.

The programme aims to encourage a fresh perspective on spaces, inviting a creative exploration of these questions: How do we organise public and private spaces? How do we treat our natural and man-made environments? Where have spaces become disconnected from natural cycles, and where do they harmonise with nature? How do people take responsibility (stewardship) for shared spaces and resources? What is the significance of transit spaces in an era of increased migration and accelerating mobility? What cultural significance do technological and virtual spaces acquire?

People

The programme is aimed at people and communities in Germany and Lithuania. It is therefore aimed at the entire spectrum of society in both countries, transcending the boundaries of nationality, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, family status or education. It seeks to encompass a diversity of biographies, life stories and life projects.

How do people support one another? What relationship models are fostered? What is the relationship between today’s generations and their ancestors? Where does our society show empathy towards people and groups whose voices are silenced? How do we humanise our relationships with others in the age of transhumanism? How do humans and artificial intelligence complement one another, and where do they compete?

The programme aims to empower vulnerable individuals and groups (keyword: empowerment). It clearly positions itself as a platform for those who are difficult for the established cultural sector to reach and who are usually under-represented. The cultural programme seeks to create opportunities for participation and engagement in public life in ways that encourage the exchange of ideas regardless of political and social differences. In this way, it helps to strengthen civil societies in Lithuania and Germany. This exchange fosters resilience in both individuals and society.

Areas and formats

Areas: Visual arts, performing arts, music, literature, philosophy, publishing, architecture, design, fashion, digital media, cultural heritage, memory culture and community art.

Formats: Priority is given to formats that encourage exchange and are initiated with a view to establishing long-term links and partnerships.