An art residence will be located in Kuliai after the reconstruction

A cultural heritage building is being reconstructed in the town of Kulių in Žemaitija – it will house art residencies and a community space “Kultūros virenė”

For those who follow the cultural life of Lithuania not only in the big cities, the name Kuliai is not new. The small town of Žemaitija, located in the Plunge district, can boast not only a rich history, but also an ensemble of cultural heritage buildings, original outdoor sculptures, and the SOFIA festival that attracts artists from all over the world in July.

“This summer will be special for Kulias and the SOFJOS festival – the doors will be opened by “Kultūros virene”, a cultural heritage building currently being reconstructed in the heart of the town. The unique, chambered premises of the building will provide new opportunities for the Kuliai community, festival guests and professional artists to meet, create and make sense of their time together, not only during the week of the festival events in July, but throughout the year,” says Raimonda Masalskienė, creator of the SOFIJOS festival, cultural producer living in Kuliai. According to the initiator of the building reconstruction project, it was the consistent and professional activities of the SOFIJOS festival that made it possible to attract such large international investments to the town of Kuliai.

In the chambered, historical spaces of “Kultūros virenes”, the Kuli community will engage in creative activities together with artists, enjoy the activities of various clubs, exhibitions, lectures, educations, social theater projects, tastings and informal communication, and in the future, artist residencies of various fields will also operate here. “Kultūros virene” will open its doors in July, for the 7th time during the SOFIA festival organized in Kuliai on July 1-9. A part of the events of the program has already been planned for “Kultūros virenė”: a book club meeting, the opening of an exhibition by painter Zdanek Danek (Czech Republic), the presentation of an audio-visual installation by composer Tomoo Nagai (Japan) and set designer Renata Valčik (Lithuania), a hat workshop with designer Sandra Straukaite.

“There are few buildings left in Žemaitia where the authentic open fire place – virene – has been preserved. This is a unique architectural element of the building – a large firebox installed in the house with a wide brick hood transitioning to a narrowing chimney, this stove is one of the largest surviving in Žemaitia. For us, it is not only an element of architectural heritage, but also a symbol of coziness, togetherness, home – that’s why we chose the name of the new space during the creative workshop with the Kulisians”, says Valentinas Masalskis, an actor, director, artistic director of the SOFJOS festival who lives in Kulis.

“Kultūros virenes” building belongs to Kuliai St. For the complex of buildings of the Bishop Stanislaus Church, included in the register of immovable cultural assets of the Department of Cultural Heritage. The architect of the house is priest Antanas Rimkevičius, who was brought from Varnii to Kulius, in 1780. designed the house according to Jesuit building traditions. No flammable materials were used in the construction of the building. The raftered brick vaulted basement, bright chamber arts and cozy attic are covered by a tiled roof, the masonry is made of bricks and stones. Above the entrance to the house, the uniqueness of the building is emphasized by the Latin inscription “Don’t let this house burn” – “this house knows no burning.”

The building of “Kultūros virenes” is being reconstructed with the help of funds from the European Economic Area and the Norwegian financial mechanisms program “Kultūra”. The initiative is supported and financially contributed by the municipality of Plungė district. The author of the technical management project, architect Aurimas Baužys, construction contractor: UAB “Virbarta”.

More information about “Kultūros virenė” and the SOFIA festival: www.sofijosfestivalis.lt and https://www.facebook.com/sofijosfestivalis