On November 22, at an event organized by the National Commission for Cultural Heritage, representatives of state institutions and the Lithuanian community in the USA exchanged ideas on how to preserve heritage significant to Lithuania in America. Special attention was given to the making a list of the most important objects, the architecture created by post-war émigrés, and the fate of art pieces. Participants identified the most necessary tasks not only in the USA but also in other countries.
The Chairwoman of the National Commission for Cultural Heritage, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vaidutė Ščiglienė, greeted participants at the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania and diaspora representatives who joined remotely from America. She expressed her delight that the event, “Heritage Significant to Lithuania in America: How to Preserve It?”, was attended by representatives of major Lithuanian institutions. This, she noted, signifies close cooperation aimed at bringing about changes in the field of cultural heritage significant to Lithuania. The Chairwoman stated that heritage significant to Lithuania abroad also contributes to other important goals, such as nurturing national identity, and promoting one’s culture and history. “We want all Lithuanians, whether living in Lithuania or other countries, to recognize, protect, and take pride in their heritage, which is not only found in Lithuania but is scattered worldwide,” said V. Ščiglienė.
She reminded that back in 2004, the Heritage Commission developed a resolution on the principles and criteria for identifying immovable cultural heritage significant to Lithuania abroad, and in 2016, the U-Heritage database was created. Additionally, in 2023, the Heritage Commission adopted a resolution “On the Protection Policy of Cultural Heritage Significant to Lithuania Abroad.”
This year marked a breakthrough – the Lithuanian community in the USA specified the list of the most important surviving Lithuanian heritage in America, which was also assessed by the Heritage Commission. It is expected that this list will soon be handed over to US institutions with the help of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ensuring better protection of these objects.
Event recording in Lithuanian:
Heritage Commission is an expert and advisor to the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, President of the Republic of Lithuania and to Government of the Republic of Lithuania regarding the national policy of cultural heritage protection, its implementation, evaluation and improvement.