For the fourth consecutive year, Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) invites everyone to actively explore the Lithuanian diaspora throughout October – its history, the activities of its communities and Lithuanian schools, as well as the work of diaspora writers, film makers, artists, etc. “October – Lithuanian Diaspora Month” is a series of events that bring together initiatives related to the Lithuanian diaspora from VMU, other organizations, institutions, and individual representatives of science and the arts.
The Lithuanian Emigration Institute at Vytautas Magnus University is organizing a scientific conference on September 27, 2024, dedicated to the memory of Liūtas Mockūnas (1934-2007), titled "Rebels on the Ship of Rebels." Scholars from various fields (historians, political scientists, sociologists, cultural theorists, literary scholars, journalists) are invited to participate, focusing on the historical, intellectual, and cultural heritage of the Lithuanian diaspora.
Venue: President Valdas Adamkus Library-Museum (S. Daukanto st. 25, Kaunas)
We kindly invite students from Lithuanian schools abroad and in schools in Lithuania to participate in the acronym contest "Turning the Diaspora Into Verse".
Contest conditions:
The acronym must be related to the Lithuanian diaspora and consist of one to three interconnected words.
The text can be written in verse or prose, and the theme may involve family migration stories, everyday life abroad, Lithuanian language schools, the history of the diaspora, or notable figures.
The year 2024 has been declared the Year of the Lozoraitis Diplomats, so the acronym may also focus on the history of this family and the activities of its members.
Acronyms should be submitted by October 31 via email to gerda.pilipaityte@vdu.lt. The most creative entries will receive gifts 😊
Good luck with your creativity!
On October 1st at 4:00 PM, the presentation of Laima Vincė's book "Vanished Lands: Memory and Postmemory in North American Lithuanian Diaspora Literature" and a lecture titled "How Historical Trauma and Collective Memory Are Expressed in the Writings of Subsequent Generations as a Post-Traumatic Narrative" will take place at the President Valdas Adamkus Library-Museum (S. Daukanto St. 25, Kaunas).
You are warmly invited to attend!
On October 2nd at 5:00 PM, a lecture by Venezuelan Lithuanian Gabriel Orentas titled "The Lithuanian Diaspora – A Witness to Two Venezuelas" will take place at the President Valdas Adamkus Library-Museum (S. Daukanto St. 25, Kaunas).
The lecture will cover experiences of growing up between two different cultures, the deterioration of the situation in Venezuela, the reasons for the decline, and its impact on the Lithuanian community in Venezuela. There will also be a discussion about the latest wave of Venezuelan Lithuanians who have relocated to Lithuania and their current situation.
Language of the event - Lithuanian.
On October 4th at 4:00 PM (Lithuanian time), a remote lecture by historian Dr. Asta Petraitytė-Briedienė titled "Lithuanian Schools in the Focus of Diplomats: A Historical Perspective" will take place.
Lithuanian diplomats, who preserved the Lithuanian language, history, and identity during the occupation of Lithuania, did more than just give speeches at various events, openings, and commemorations. They were always focused on centers of Lithuanian education and culture, including Lithuanian schools.
Diplomats were involved in establishing these schools, supporting their graduates, and actively collaborating with those who preserved and nurtured Lithuanian studies in the diaspora.
In the remote lecture on October 4th, Dr. Asta Petraitytė-Briedienė will discuss how this diplomatic attention shaped the life of Lithuanian schools and contributed to the education of teachers and the younger generation.
Language of the lecture: Lithuanian.
The lecture will be held on the Microsoft Teams platform:
Meeting ID: 371 011 776 461
Passcode: WANWLY
October 5th, 13:00-17:30 (EEST), The Lithuanian community of Munich warmly invites you to the celebration of the community's 80th anniversary.
Venue: Leiden Christi Church, Passionistenstrasse 12, 81247, Munich.
Writer Jolita Zykutė, who lives in Hamburg, invites to the online book club "Reading in Lithuanian." Although the event was originally intended for Lithuanians in Germany, everyone is welcome to join. The meetings are held online on the first Monday of each month.
On October 7th at 8 PM German time (9 PM Lithuanian time), the guest will be Ilona Skujaitė, who will present her historical novel "The War Bride" and talk about an undeservedly forgotten historical woman of Lithuania—Catherine Jagiellon, the youngest sister of the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Sigismund Augustus, whose life resembles the plot of a dramatic film.
The main heroine of Ilona Skujaitė's novel "The War Bride", Catherine Jagiellon, seemed to be cursed. Although she was a sought-after bride from a prominent royal dynasty, her suitors disappeared for various reasons over fifteen years. Finally, at the age of 36, she married the 11-years-younger Swedish prince, John Vasa. Their happiness did not last long—soon, Catherine and her husband were imprisoned for four years. Eventually, the former prisoners became the King and Queen of Sweden, and their son, Sigismund Vasa (born in prison), would later become the ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. To this day, Catherine Jagiellon is highly respected in Sweden, where she is called the Renaissance Queen.
The meeting will be hosted by the writer Jolita Zykutė, the creator of the "Reading in Lithuanian" initiative.
The event is free.
This year marks the 100th birth anniversary of Vytautas Ignas (known as Ignatavičius until 1958, born on May 16, 1924, in Začišiai, Raseiniai County – passed away on February 18, 2009, in Vilnius), a creator highly regarded in Lithuania, a painter, graphic artist, and makeup artist. The artist primarily created his work in exile in the United States, in Ashford, Connecticut. On this occasion, the VMU Lithuanian Emigration Institute invites you to a memorial evening and a screening of an interview filmed by director Arvydas Reneckis, with participation from the author and curator of the material, Laima Apanavičienė.
"For me, the greatest influence has been our folk art. Its classicism and primitiveness fascinate me, and it is reflected in all of my work. Over time, I began to delve into the folk art of all nations. I wandered through museums, galleries, and libraries in search of it."
– Vytautas Ignas
The screening will take place on October 7 at 5:00 PM at the President Valdas Adamkus Library-Museum (S. Daukanto St. 25, Kaunas).
Language: Lithuanian.
The VMU Lithuanian Emigration Institute invites to a screening of the documentary "Liūnė Sutema – When Dates Don't Matter" and a meeting with the film's creators: director Arvydas Reneckis, producer Sandra Avižienytė, and curator Laura Apanavičienė.
You will see open and heartfelt stories and memories, poetry readings, and public gatherings captured by photographer Fr. Algimantas Kezys, SJ, and documentary filmmaker Arvydas Reneckis in the United States in 1976, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, and 2009.
These are the life notes of a woman, daughter, sister, lover, friend, mother, caregiver, writer, and poet, condensed into seven books of poetry: Mažeikiai, Vilnius, Freiburg, New York, Chicago, and Lemont—not only the story of fleeing Lithuania to the West, but also of life in the United States.
The screening will take place on October 8th at 6:00 PM at the President Valdas Adamkus Library-Museum (S. Daukanto St. 25, Kaunas).
Genre: Documentary
Country: United States
Duration: 52 minutes
Director: Arvydas Reneckis
Language: Lithuanian
Subtitles: Lithuanian
On October 9th at 5:30 PM, Laima Vincė will give a lecture at Vytautas Magnus University (V. Putvinskio st. 23, room 313) for the VMU students of the "Diaspora Literature" course.
The topic of the lecture is "Understanding the Experiences of Lithuanian Refugees of World War II in the Memoirs of Younger Generation North American Writers."
You are warmly invited to attend this open lecture.
The Lithuanian-German cultural society LiT.art warmly invites you to the presentation of the novel "Reborn Melody," co-authored by writers Irena Buivydaitė (Alytus) and Jolita Herlyn (Hamburg), on Friday, October 11th, at 7 PM.
The novel draws readers into a sensitive, unexpected, and at the same time seemingly very relatable story about people, their relationships, friendship, fear, guilt, and forgiveness. Two friends from their youth, now living in Lithuania and Denmark, decide to open the doors to their past and forgotten friendship. The novel gains an exotic touch by depicting the love dynamics of three different cultures—Greek, Korean, and Danish.
The event will feature a musical performance by Eglė Kupčinskienė.
The meeting will take place at Haus des Engagements (in betahaus), Eifflerstraße 43, 22769 Hamburg.
Upon entering the building, go up the stairs to the third floor (2nd Obergeschoss) and look for the "Coworking Space."
The event is free of charge.
On October 14th at 6:00 PM, a screening of the documentary "Lithuanian Foundation" will take place at the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania (Gedimino Ave. 51, Vilnius).
Language: Lithuanian
The film presents the history of the establishment of the Lithuanian Foundation (LF), exploring the conditions that prompted representatives of the second wave of Lithuanian emigrants in the United States in the early 1960s to propose the idea of creating a "million-dollar fund for Lithuanian causes."
Why was this so important to Lithuanian refugees, who, after being displaced by war, had only begun to settle across the Atlantic a decade earlier, and many of whom were still struggling to establish themselves? What led the Foundation to become, over the course of 60 years, a cornerstone for preserving Lithuanian culture, history, and education, with its activities successfully continuing from generation to generation?
These questions are explored in the documentary by Arvydas Reneckis, which takes viewers on a cinematic journey. In telling the story of the Foundation, which helps provide a deeper understanding of LF's activities, the filmmaker uses archival footage from the Lithuanian Foundation, the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, the Lithuanian Research Center, American Lithuanian Television, the Lithuanian Central State Archives, and the NARA (National Archives Registry Administration).
This documentary is a testament to how Lithuanians in America have cared about preserving Lithuanian identity and how much effort they put into realizing their dream, a dream that remains relevant to this day.
The film also serves as a tribute to the founders, donors, and current members of the Foundation, recognizing their work in ensuring that the LF, which has grown into a strong organization, continues to support Lithuanian culture, education, and heritage in the diaspora, Lithuania, and around the world, more than 60 years after its inception.
The event will feature participation from the film's director, Arvydas Reneckis, who resides in Chicago, along with representatives of the Lithuanian Foundation: Laima Apanavičienė, Daiva Litvinskaitė, and Leonas Narbutis.
The event will be moderated and the film discussed by historian Dr. Juozas Skirius.
Film duration: 1 hour 10 minutes.
On October 16th at 6:00 PM, the presentation of Ramūnas Čičelis' essay collection "Peripheries and Centers" will take place at the Ąžuolynas Library (Radastų St. 2, Kaunas).
In this essay collection, the author talks about life in small towns of Lithuania and in several European metropolises. This book speaks of a calm, warm, and cozy immersion into one's destined places, as well as the challenges of values when finding oneself abroad. At the event, historian and educator Domas Boguševičius will have a conversation with R. Čičelis.
On October 22nd at 5:30 PM, a lecture by Egidijus Aleksandravičius and Egidijus Balandis on "Comparative History of 20th Century Lithuanian Exile" will take place (V. Putvinskio St. 23, Room 102, Kaunas).
The lecture is intended for history students of Vytautas Magnus University, but is open to the public.
On October 23rd at 5:30 PM, a virtual lecture by Laimutė Anglickienė titled "Migration and Approaches to Research on this Phenomenon. Lithuanian Migration" will take place.
The lecture is intended for students of Comparative Cultural Studies at Vytautas Magnus University, but is open to the public.
Registration via email: gerda.pilipaityte@vdu.lt
You are warmly invited to participate in the open lecture.
On October 24th at 5:00 PM, a screening of the documentary film "Pilgrims of the Heart" will take place at the Valdas Adamkus Presidential Library-Museum (S. Daukanto g. 25, Kaunas).
Language: Lithuanian
Subtitles: English
"Pilgrims of the Heart" is an original documentary created by the Office of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Lithuanian Charter. The film was conceptualized and directed by Audronė Bielinienė, with cinematography by Robertas Zamaris, and contributions from Archbishop Lionginas Virbalas SJ, delegate of the Lithuanian Bishops' Conference for the pastoral care of Lithuanian Catholics abroad. The project is under the patronage of Dalia Asanavičiūtė, chair of the Seimas Commission for the Lithuanian World Community.
The film highlights the spirit of the Lithuanian Charter, which sustained Lithuanian identity in the past and continues to do so today. Forty-five individuals from Lithuania, the U.S., Argentina, France, and Poland shared their life stories, including President Valdas Adamkus, Cardinal Audrys Juozas Bačkis, and prominent figures of the Lithuanian diaspora in the U.S. such as Juozas Polikaitis, Marija and Saulius Čyvas, and Vytautas Maciūnas. Other contributors include Canadian Lithuanian author Antanas Šileika, U.S. Ambassador Gintė Damušis, daughter of Dainava camp founder Adolfas Damušis, Rasa Mauragis, chair of the Lithuanian community in Australia, and Perkūnas Liutkus, son of the interwar Lithuanian diplomat in exile Antanas Liutkus.
The film also touches on the issue of the Ukrainian diaspora, the role of the Seimas and the World Lithuanian Community Commission in aiding Ukraine’s growing and war-torn diaspora, as well as the three decades of support the Seimas Commission has provided to the global Lithuanian diaspora.
On October 25th at 5:00 PM, a meeting between Lithuanian students from abroad and Professor Egidijus Aleksandravičius will take place at the L. and F. Mockūnai space (Žygimantų g. 5A, Vilnius).
On October 29th at 2:00 PM, Dalia Kuizinienė will give a lecture titled "The Works of Algirdas Landsbergis: Elements of Modernism and Postmodernism in Drama and Prose" (K. Donelaičio St. 52, Room 302, Kaunas).
The lecture is intended for students of Lithuanian Philology and Publishing at Vytautas Magnus University, and is open to the public.
On September 30, Lithuanian émigré Liūtas Mockūnas would have turned 90 years old. To mark the occasion, his contributions will be remembered during a memorial afternoon organized by Vytautas Magnus University’s World Lithuanian University at the L. and F. Mockūnas Space in Vilnius. Friends and colleagues who had close ties with L. Mockūnas, such as Egidijus Aleksandravičius, Gediminas Rudis, Alfonsas Eidintas, Vytautas Žalys, and Vytautas Adomaitis, will share their memories. The event will be moderated by journalist Birutė Garbaravičienė.
When Liūtas Mockūnas arrived in the U.S. with his parents, the family settled in Philadelphia. Recalling that time, L. Mockūnas wrote: “After finishing high school, following the herd instinct like many other émigré peers, I began studying engineering, as it was said that engineers had an easier time succeeding in America.”
In 1959, L. Mockūnas graduated from Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia, but he quickly realized that he was more drawn to the humanities than engineering. From 1959 to 1986, he worked as a consulting engineer and coal transport specialist in power plant design firms in Chicago, while also studying literature in the evenings at the University of Chicago.
After moving to Chicago in 1959, Mockūnas settled in the Lithuanian neighborhood of Marquette Park, became involved in Lithuanian community activities, and started contributing to the émigré press—Margutis, Metmenys, Akiračiai.
“...the greatest pleasures in life lie not in academic degrees or hours spent in institutions, but in the free sphere of life, where you do what you want.” /Liūtas Mockūnas. From L. Mockūnas’ collection of articles “Non-Parallel Parallels: Essays and Criticism”/
Venue: S. Daukanto st. 25, Kaunas
2021 program, 2022 program, 2023 program
Ever since 1989, VMU has operated and has been recognized as the university of the Diaspora. Almost every one of its faculties has established close relations with the scientists and artists of the Lithuanian Diaspora and has implemented projects that were a result of joint efforts by Lithuanian and Diaspora scientists.
Over this time period, the university’s community has been joined by such world Lithuanians as Algirdas Avižienis, Bronius Vaškelis, Liucija Baškauskaitė, Arvydas Žygas, Milda Danytė, Viktorija Skrupskelytė, Algis Mickūnas, Birutė Galdikas, Emilija Sakadolskienė, Romas Vaštokas, Violetta Parutis, Dovilė Budrytė and many others. Organized events have included the Lithuanian Language and Culture Course, training for teachers of Lithuanian schools, project of Baltic centres, summer courses, and a traineeship programme for world Lithuanians.
In 2013, the university launched the platform of World Lithuanian University (WLU), whose main activities include a diaspora education programme for the Lithuanian society and the world Lithuanian community, promotion of the history of world Lithuanians, focus on the cooperation between world Lithuanian scientists and researchers as well as students and world Lithuanians who seek to educate and become educated.
As the synergy increased between VMU and its partners who devote special attention to the affairs of the Lithuanian Diaspora, the event series in October will aim to promote and reinforce the perception that the Lithuanian Diaspora is a part of Lithuania.