Kaunas is the European Capital of Culture 2022. The preparations took several years of collaboration with international and local partners, numerous tries and some valuable lessons along the way. Therefore, as this eventful year is bustling ahead, it is important to discuss the progress and good practices as well as look into the future.

As there is plenty to cherish and to reflect on, the two-day conference  „Let‘s Celebrate the Rivers & Communities“ will take place on the 8-9th of September in Zapyškis. As the name suggests, the conference will concentrate on two topics, which played a significant role in Kaunas journey to European Capital of Culture – rivers and communities.

The first day of the conference is dedicated to sustainable river tourism practices, while the second day will concentrate on building and maintaining vibrant communities. The agenda of the two-day conference is laid below. Join us by registering here. 

Over five years 6 international partners of STAR Cities project (funded by Interreg Europe) from France, Italy, Germany, Lithuania and Slovenia aimed to improve implementation of policy areas and programme implementation related to regional development, focusing on the sustainable river tourism in their regions.

During the first three years interregional training activities were organised, in order to determine the best cases of cooperation practice. Within second phase – the two-year period of project implementation, each region implemented an Action Plan to improve a political instrument directly or creating a new tourism activities and attractions: from the implementation of the sustainable river tourism strategies to the new festivals and events. Accordingly in the activities of these stages the participants involved the stakeholders from the public and private sector and those activists who act on a voluntary basis.

The second international conference „Let‘s Celebrate the River“ is dedicated to present and summarise the outcomes and very best actions happen in all regions in a lifetime of the project also to discuss the future of raised ideas and developed practices.

The conference will be held on the 8th of September in Zapyškis, Lithuania. Please note that the event will be held in English without translation.

Kaunas 2022 community programme „Fluxus Labs!“ has been gathering communities in Kaunas and implementing creative projects with locals for five years now. As the project of European Capital of Culture comes to an inevitable end, we are holding the Communities conference to celebrate the progress made as well as mark yet another chapter for communities in Kaunas city and district.

The conference is designed to discuss the future of communities in Kaunas and beyond. Besides discussing factors enabling the longevity and vitality of community, the conference will also question its ending. Do communities have to be maintained from the outside? Or maybe the natural decline of one community offers new opportunities for the other(s)? 

The conference will be held on September 9^th in Zapyškis and will host experts working in the field, politicians and other actors interested in the wellbeing of local communities.  Please note that the conference will be held in Lithuanian.