After five years of preparations, Act I of the Contemporary Myth of Kaunas Trilogy, directed by Chris Baldwin, officially opened Kaunas European Capital of Culture 2022 on January 22nd. The focus of the event was on a synthesis of contemporary music, video projections and poetry that tells the story of the city as a living, ever-renewing wonder. The three great events of the Kaunas European Capital of Culture represent three stages in a human’s life: understanding of who you are, accepting yourself and being happy as you are. The remaining two acts – The Confluence and The Contract – will respectively take place on 20-22nd May and 25-27th November.
The annual European Capital of Culture program was first started in 1985, and throughout the years the title given to European cities creates a unique opportunity to discover, strengthen and consolidate a new identity through the creation of culture while highlighting strengths, discovering and creating new traditions and opening up to the rest of Europe. In addition, such title helps to accumulate social and economic advantages. Each year, no more than one city in two European Union countries is awarded the title of Capital of Culture.
The mission of Kaunas 2022 is to be a mediator and networker in the journey of change, aiming to unite cultural organizations and creators in Lithuania and Europe showcasing the diversity and identity of European cultures. With this project the goal is to make Kaunas and Kaunas district famous in Europe accentuating the uniqueness of architecture, the ability to innovate and introducing a community that accepts its history and is open and culturally active, together with young people empowered to build the future.
Kaunas 2022 will offer over 1000 events including more than 60 exhibitions of famous contemporary artists, 250 concerts, 40 festivals, 250 performing arts events and various cultural events will continue throughout all 2022 (see the whole programme here). Among the names of artists from around the globe in the Kaunas 2022 programme are:
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- Jurgis Mačiūnas,
- Emmanuel Levinas,
- Philip Miller,
- William Kentridge,
- Yoko Ono,
- Jenny Kagan,
- Robert Wilson and others.
On-going and upcoming events:
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- International exhibition “Modernism for the Future 360/365” (2022-01-22 – 2022-04-10, Kauno centrinis paštas, Laisvės alėja 102, Kaunas);
- Yoko Ono’s installation “Ex It” (2022-01-22 – 2022-09-11, Lietuvos bankas, Maironio gatvė, Kaunas);
- International Congress On Happiness Presuppositions 2022. Communities (2022-03-17 – 2022-03-19, Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas, K. Donelaičio gatvė, Kaunas);
- Easter concert of Kaunas Gospel & Worship Festival (2022-04-18 18:00 Kauno kultūros centras, Kęstučio gatvė, Kaunas);
- Kaunas Literature Week (2022-05-04 – 2022-05-08).
You will find more information about up-coming events here, at information centres in Kaunas and Kaunas 2022 mobile app (App Store; Google Play).
Cultural Information Centre:
V. Putvinskio St. 56, Kaunas
I – V 10:00 – 19:00
+370 664 22938
Main Tourism information office:
Laisvės al. 36, Kaunas
I – V 09:00 – 18:00
VI 10:00 – 16:00
VII 10:00 – 15:00
+370 616 50 991
info@kaunasin.lt
