The Lithuanian Culture Council team recently visited Panevėžys to strengthen their sense of community through cultural experiences and deepen their understanding of one another through applied theater education. They also toured the newly opened STASYS MUSEUM and the creativity center "Pragiedruliai" located in Skaistakalnio Park.
Community Through Cultural Experiences
This year, the Council organized its annual off-site meeting in Panevėžys. The team was warmly welcomed at the Stasys Eidrigevičius Art Centre, STASYS MUSEUM, by marketing manager Ieva Bieliūnaitė-Jankauskienė. Museum director Vaida Andrijauskaitė guided the team through the first exhibition, ICON-O-STASYS, sharing insights about one of Lithuania’s most renowned contemporary artists, Stasys Eidrigevičius. The museum houses hundreds of his works, including photographs, posters, masks, pastels, miniatures, ex-libris, and paintings, valued at over 3 million euros.
This joint excursion not only provided a brief respite from intense work but also allowed for deeper interactions with colleagues in a different environment, enhancing team dynamics. During the visit, the team fostered creativity by experiencing and analyzing art together, exchanging perspectives, and creating memorable moments that contribute to a more engaging organizational culture.
Theater Education for Deeper Team Connections
The Council's team also visited the creativity center "Pragiedruliai," located in a villa in the city center. The cultural activities coordinator, Santa Kuliavcevaitė, led the tour. This villa was once home to the poet, publicist, and interwar social activist Juozas Čerkesas-Besparnis, who hosted various intellectuals and artists during that era. Today, "Pragiedruliai" fosters creativity with studios for art, design, applied theater, audio-visual work, and alternative photography, as well as an exhibition space and a community garden.
In the applied theater studio, curator Irmantas Pilis conducted theater education sessions. Through improvisational tasks and exercises, participants not only relaxed but also unlocked their creativity. Theater games helped strengthen interpersonal connections and improve collaborative skills. The improvisation sessions allowed team members to observe each other in various scenarios, revealing personality traits that are often hidden in the workplace. This theatrical experimentation enabled everyone to express themselves more freely and get to know one another better.
"Every initiative begins with an internal agreement within the team. It’s great that organizing the trip to Panevėžys went particularly smoothly. The tradition of combining our quarterly report meeting with cultural experiences holds special significance. Such outings have a positive impact on both professional and personal growth. Engaging in improvisational tasks during the visit helped us discover ourselves and understand our colleagues better. The shared cultural experience fostered common memories and, I believe, created a long-lasting positive effect on our team relationships. We grow and experience together as a team. I am grateful for the seamless and productive coordination of the program with Ieva Bieliūnaitė-Jankauskienė from STASYS MUSEUM and Gita Laurinavičiūtė from the "Pragiedruliai" project," said Rasa Dereškevičienė.
