PROJECT „CONTEMPORARY NEIGHBORHOODS”

This is a continuous creative project being developed in Kaunas district, during which the aim is to mobilize and strengthen local communities and foster the cultural sector of Kaunas district. The project “Contemporary neighborhoods” started taking its first steps in 2019. At that time, 7 neighborhoods joined it. In 2020 the number of wards participating in the project increased to 15. Each neighborhood, as soon as they joined the project, undertook a search for traits identifying the identity of the local community. They are all related to the stories of the settlements, the experiences of the people living in them before and now, the way of life and the pursuit of positive change. The search for the identity of the local community was carried out by communicating with the residents of the neighborhoods. The data collected during this phase became a strong foundation for generating ideas for the organization and implementation of cultural and artistic community activities. Various Lithuanian and foreign artists, educational representatives and partners join local communities and, working together, they contribute to the dissemination of art and culture and the strengthening of community in Kaunas district: organizes creative workshops, educational activities, creates works of art, interactive guides, organizes cultural events. “Contemporary neighborhoods” – a project that reveals how diverse and unique Kaunas district neighborhoods are, but despite the unique uniqueness of each neighborhood, they all become a proof of Kaunas district’s strength and constant motivation to grow and create favorable conditions for both residents. both for those coming to visit. We believe that this project is just the beginning, on the path of strengthening local communities, initiating and implementing original creative, cultural activities and creating sustainable, positive and long-term change in Kaunas district.

PROJECT „CONTEMPORARY NEIGHBORHOODS“ VISION:

A broad horizon of local communities‘ attitudes towards art and culture, involving as many community members, Lithuanian and foreign artists, representatives of the cultural field and partners as possible in the creative processes that are the basis for emerging works of art, cultural activities and mutual dialogue between local communities and cultural institutions in Kaunas district.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE “CONTEMPORARY NEIGHBORHOODS” PROJECT?

Together with the local community, cultural institutions, partners and artists, create sustainable art and culture projects in Kaunas district based on local identity and involving the local community.

TASKS OF THE “CONTEMPORARY NEIGHBORHOODS” PROJECT:

  • To broaden the attitudes of local communities towards art, creativity and culture;
  • To create conditions for the use of local infrastructure and human resources by strengthening the dissemination of culture and art in Kaunas district;
  • Increase opportunities for mutual dialogue between local communities and cultural institutions by providing space for communication based on horizontal practices;
  • To develop and strengthen the skills of creativity and implementation of cultural activities of local communities and cultural institutions;
  • To strengthen the desire of local people to nurture and be proud of the living environment.

THE BEGINNING OF THE “CONTEMPORARY NEIGHBORHOODS” PROJECT

In 2019, the project “Contemporary Neighborhoods ” and its concept were presented to Kaunas district neighborhoods and cultural institutions during public presentations and individual consultations. Neighborhoods were invited to submit applications that helped identify their motivation and potential to participate in the Modern Neighborhoods project. In the mentioned year, 16 neighborhoods submitted applications, which were evaluated by Kaunas 2022 curators and external specialists. After the application review project, 7 neighborhoods were invited to participate in the project: Linksmakalnis, Garliava districts, Ringaudai, Rokai, Akademija, Vilkija and Karmėlava. 2020 13 applications were received from different neighborhoods. After the evaluation of the applications, 8 neighborhoods joined the project: Raudondvaris, Kačerginė, Kulautuva, Lapės, Samylai, Domeikava, Ežerėlis and Babtai. So, in the end, we can rejoice as many as 15 neighborhoods that participate in the “Contemporary Neighborhoods ” project.

After the involvement of each neighborhood in the project, a research part of community identity was started. Using different methods, representatives of local communities were interviewed to find out: their relationship to art and culture; the ways in which they would like to engage in cultural and creative activities; what cultural and artistic content they would most like; what problems they would most like to solve or change through art and culture in their living environment. Community surveys provided an opportunity to better understand the identity of local communities. Representatives of cultural institutions, who represent their own neighborhoods in the project “Contemporary Neighborhoods”, together with the curators of Kaunas 2022, evaluated the information gathered during the community surveys and selected the most suitable areas of art for each community and possible directions of project implementation. This stage was followed by searches for Lithuanian and foreign artists. Artists who not only corresponded to the identified fields of art, but also applied community involvement methods in their activities were invited to generate projects and creative processes together with the communities. In many neighborhoods, activities with communities were also carried out by artists representing different fields of art. In this way, the aim was to discover the most acceptable field of art for the community and the one that could best reveal its identity.

WHO IS PARTICIPATING IN THE “CONTEMPORARY NEIGHBORHOODS” PROJECT?

We are glad to be able to count as many as 15 districts of Kaunas district, which have joined the project and contribute to the strengthening of the spread of creative, community processes in Kaunas district. Neighborhoods participating in the project: Academy, Babtai, Domeikava, Ežerėlis, Garliava districts, Kačerginė, Karmėlava, Kulautuva, Lapės, Linksmakalnis, Raudondvaris, Ringaudai, Rokai, Samylai and Vilkija.
The neighborhoods participating in the project are represented by local cultural centers, leisure halls and community centers. The partners of “Contemporary Neighborhoods” help to increase the accessibility of culture and art in Kaunas district: Linksmakalnis Primary School, Linksmakalnis eldership, Linksmakalnis Community, Ringaudai Community Center, Ringaudai Primary School, Rokai eldership, Kaunas Rokai Gymnasium, Public Institution Kačinės seni , Kaunas kindergarten “Rokutis”, Rokų school-kindergarten, Girininkai community, “Rokų keramika”, Kaunas faculty of Vilnius Academy of Arts, Kaunas college, LRT, Juragiai community center, Kaunas fortress park, Karkazai community, Academy eldership, Vytautas Magnus University, Karmėlava eldership, B. Buračas gymnasium, Kaunas FEZ, Kaunas district. Karmėlava kindergarten “Žilvitis”, Vilkija gymnasium, A. and J. Juškai museum.

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED SO FAR?

From 2019 until 2021 The participants of the “Contemporary Neighborhoods” project managed to achieve inspiring results. In Kaunas district, in 15 neighborhoods, almost 500 various cultural and artistic activities and half a hundred different events were organized. More than 3,000 participants took part in the implemented activities, and over 10,000 spectators came to the events and enjoyed their content. Almost 150 artists from Lithuania and foreign countries, such as: Spain, Italy, Latvia, Chile, the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, contributed to the strengthening of community and the organization of cultural and artistic activities in Kaunas district. During the project “Contemporary Neighborhoods”, so far more than 30 long-term works of art have been created in Kaunas district, which invite to discover the uniqueness of Kaunas district.
Activities, initiatives and events organized in all neighborhoods were related to the result of the search for the identity of local communities. The Lapiai community chose to explore and nurture sustainability through creative activities, the Lapiai Sustainability Festival was held, Rokai embarked on an engaging clay road trip, Domeikava creates community history through the development of an interactive creative game, Ežerėlis began to spread his identity through the prism of photography in 2021, after the Ežerėlis Photo Club was open to the public, Kačerginė gathers the community on musical picnics and intends to look back at the relationship of the country‘s famous writers with the town and create its own history and the COOLAUTUVA game, which is the result of a joint creative process between artists and the community, develops the idea of an angel city in Linksmakalnis, and Garliava area can be proud of its interactive atlas, Raudondvaris invites the community to share good emotions with the dance rhythm, Babtai seeks to establish a traveling creative food laboratory, when the community gathered at the Academy, the doors were opened by local suppliers Lokali: Made in Akademija, a shop selling products and works, Samyla is on the path of learning about earth art and can invite locals and guests to enjoy nature in the newly established amphitheater. The symbolism of the town is marked by souvenirs and is preparing to start the journey towards the preparation of the Midsummer celebration. In addition, long-term works of art and objects have emerged in many neighborhoods, the source of inspiration for which has become local communities and their relationship with the living environment and its uniqueness.

WHAT AWAITS „CONTEMPORARY NEIGHBORHOODS“ IN THE FUTURE?

2021 are designed to further strengthen local communities by developing and implementing cultural and artistic activities that build on what has already been achieved. Until 2022 is expected to prepare for creative and engaging activities and events that will culminate several years of work. The year of the European Capital of Culture – 2022 – in Kaunas district will be a period of presentation and enjoyment of the results of the activities developed and implemented during the “Contemporary Neighborhoods ” project, generated ideas. In that year, plein airs, festivals, events fostering contemporary and traditional art, presentations of works by foreign and Lithuanian artists, and effective performances await the residents and guests of Kaunas district. It will be a year that will inspire you to enjoy and be proud of communion, art and culture in Kaunas district, celebrating the title of “Kaunas and Kaunas district – European Capital of Culture 2022”.

„Contemporary neighborhoods“ project coordinator: Milda Rutkauskaite. E. mail for more detailed information and inquiries: [email protected]

We invite you to get acquainted with each neighborhood participating in the “Contemporary Neighborhoods” project and the activities taking place there, creating artists, by clicking on the links of active neighborhoods below.

We thank A. Aleksandravičius and M. Plepius for the immortalized moments of the “Contemporary Neighborhoods” project.