Kaunas Cultural Centre of Various Nations is a cultural and educational institution intended to preserve the cultural identities of national minorities and encourage their positive integration into the Lithuanian society. The institution promotes international and national tolerance and strives to develop civil society.
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The institution was founded on April 30, 2004 by the Department of National Minorities and Lithuanians Living Abroad under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania together with the Kaunas City Municipality Council. The official opening of the Kaunas Cultural Centre of Various Nations premises took place on November 18, 2004. Based on the decision of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, the Department of National Minorities And Lithuanians Living Abroad was reorganized, and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania became a partner of the institution as of January 1, 2010. The Director Dainius Babilas has been running the institution since the day of its establishment.
The institution holds over 70 cultural events each year: concerts, art exhibitions, social gatherings, poetry readings, tastings of culinary inheritance and book presentations. It also organizes training trainings and seminars to the leaders of the national minority communities, active members of the organization and other young people. The institution welcomes scientists and specialists to scientific conferences, seminars and debates about the history, activities, problems and integration of national minorities. The administration of the institution gather, sort and distribute the information about the national minorities, assist the scientists, students and school children to carry out their researches, prepare articles and press releases and participate in various TV and radio shows.
As of 2006, the institution holds an annual Lithuanian National Minority Festival called the Bridges of Culture which is one of the biggest cultural events for national minorities in Lithuania. During the festival, the best art groups from the ethnic minorities give their performances, offer their finest artistic creations and workshops for children. The event is traditionally held in the center of Kaunas City under the open sky.
As of 2006, the institution has been regularly holding photography events where professional photographers interact with the national minority communities and high school students in order to create exhibits representing various cultures, which are later on displayed at various national cultural centers, galleries, schools, shopping malls and other public venues.
The institution maintains close relationships with the non-governmental institutions of the national minorities (Armenians, Belorussians, Poles, Roma, Russians, Tartars, Ukrainians, Germans, Jews, etc.). Various events, gatherings and artists’ rehearsals are constantly held by the national minority communities in the premises of the institution.
This is the only institution of such nature in the Kaunas region. A similar organization called the House of National Communities is located in Vilnius.
The institution initiates and participates in international projects under the European Union Lifelong Learning Program (Grundtvig, Leornardo da Vinci) and Youth in Action. The Center maintains a relationship with project partners abroad: in Germany, the UK, Norway, Iceland, etc. Participation in the projects of other institutions is also a part of activity. The employees of the institution attend international qualification development trainings and seminars, take part in conferences, internships, youth exchange programs and introductory visits under the EU programs.