This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of

the information contained therein

www.adyourhe.com

“Adopt Your Heritage” Project Newsletter

Issued: September 2010

Project financed by the European Commission

Increasing awareness and encouraging active participation in understanding different cultures.

4th Project Meeting – Vilnius, 17-20 September 2010

The fourth meeting of ADHER project - Adopt Your

Heritage was held in Vilnius, capital city of Lithuania,

and was attended by participants coming from Turkey,

Romania, Greece, Slovenia.

Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, Lithuanian

Partner of this Learning Partnership project funded by

the Grundvig Programme, organized this event at the

Vilnius University campus known since 1579, an

interesting historical place, where the participants of

meeting were not only working but also had opportunity

to explore the University courtyards, to visit the Church

of Sts. John, the historical University campus halls, one

of the oldest academic Libraries in Europe.

On the agenda of the first day there were discussions

about results already achieved by Partners and the list

of cultural heritages with problem analysis at local

level in each Partner’s country that are supposed

to be used in the project. Preliminary studies on

“ADOPT YOUR HERITAGE” booklet materials

were fulfilled and target audience defined: it was

decided that booklet should be dedicated to

general public, interested in cultural heritage, not

only to the specific audience of teachers and

trainers, because wider dissemination of project

ideas and involvement of different people from

various layers of society, correspond with ADHER

objectives. Partners expressed ideas about

promotion measures to increase involvement of civil society in the project. Presentation by Jūratė Bučmytė

Vilnius University

Moment of meeting

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of

the information contained therein

(Lithuania) showed how the unique cultural heritage of Curonian Spit is used and promoted in real life:

producing specific signs, T-shirts, family weathervanes, also in virtual space - using the social networking

services.

The meeting programme prepared by Lithuanian Partner was based on the key points of Lithuanian

cultural heritage adopted in ADHER project aiming to reveal all the aspects of these issues. Because

Vilnius historic centre in 1994 to

UNESCO World heritage list was

inscribed as having outstanding

universal value, the afternoon

programme of the meeting started

with the excursion to Vilnius

University and its famous Library –

unique architectural complex that is

an integral part of the historical

centre of Vilnius. The Library was

founded in 1570 and was based on

the collections of Sigismund II, King

of Poland and Grand Duke of

Lithuania, and of Georgius Albinius,

suffragan to the Bishop of Vilnius. At

the present time there are 5.4 million publications in safekeeping at the Library, the manuscript department

holds more than 226,000 documents in a variety of languages, there is also a collection of art works and a

Museum with a selection of graphic works of Lithuania's history, as well as medals and Orders. The Library

is situated at the same place from the very beginning and has 27 000 of users. The Library was visited by

a lot of famous people: spiritual leaders, presidents, kings, princes, representatives of authorities from

various countries. Urban tour that followed the

excursion to the University and its Library was

dedicated to the Old Town of Vilnius that

preserved gothic, renaissance, baroque, classical

styles features. Old Town is a harmonious

architectural unit that is the witness of unique way

of living tradition based on multiculturalism. Vilnius

since the old times was famous for its tolerance:

here settled and successfully coexisted

inhabitants of various confessions and

nationalities.

At the end of the first meeting day the participants

were invited to share national traditions, to listen to the Lithuanian folk group and to discuss informally

Vilnius Old Town

Folk group performance

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of

the information contained therein

cultural and historical factors which created specific Vilnius values and made this city the World Heritage

Site. Participants exchanged views on what to be done to preserve more effectively cultural and natural

heritages on national level and to involve more people from different layers of society in such activity.

On the second day of the meeting participants visited the historical capital of Lithuania – Trakai – small

“town of lakes”, situated about 25 km south from Vilnius. Trakai is famous by the medieval Castle that

occupies one island of Lake Galvė – the only insular

castle throughout Eastern Europe. It was built as a

defensive fortress, later served as a ducal residence

and even as a prison. Castle of Trakai has undergone

renovations and now it is a museum where Lithuania’s

most interesting archeological artifacts, coins and other

finds from excavation grounds are preserved. Trakai,

old capital of Lithuania, is also known as an

administrative and spiritual centre of Karaim

community. Six hundred years Karaims and Tatars

have been living in Lithuania and consider it as a

homeland. Since 14th century when Great Duke of

Lithuania Vytautas brought them from Crimea, the history of Karaims in Lithuania began. It was connected

then with the state policy: to inhabit empty territories of Great Duchy for development of trade and cities.

It was very good example of tolerance and cooperation of different nations living on the same land, having

various traditions and professing different religions. Participants with one accord agreed that such

example of multicultural living tradition is worth to make it widely known as an effective pattern of better

understanding and tolerance towards other cultures.

The participants had good opportunity to become acquainted with Karaim cuisine as a part of cultural

heritage: Lithuanian Partner invited all the party to one of Trakai restaurants where national dishes of

Karaim minority were served.

After the return from Trakai, participants had free

time for discovering new cultural aspects of Vilnius

Old Town themselves: Lithuanian Partner

organized this meeting synchronizing its activities

with „Festival of Gediminas”, annual autumn feast

with three-day programme of cultural and

entertainment events. It is an example of reviving

of the old tradition that remounts to the days of

Grand Duke Gediminas’ rule, dedicated to

celebrate autumn equinox and glorify Vilnius. This

festival also represents multicultural tradition that is

still fostered: many folk, dance, theatrical groups from Poland, Russia, Italy, Belarus and other countries

Castle of Trakai

Moment of Festival: Fire sculpture

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of

the information contained therein

are invited annually to take part in a programme. Old Town was full of live: a lot of performances were held

in narrow streets and squares. “Mystery of Fire” was one of those events visited by the participants of

Vilnius meeting on Sunday evening.

The programme of ADHER meeting in Vilnius was closed at the Lithuanian cuisine restaurant “Forto

dvaras”, where participants were offered traditional food.

ADHER meeting in Vilnius contributed to the project revealing new aspects of cultural interaction and

long-term experience in creation of multicultural traditions. A lot of information about national cultural

heritages was presented by Lithuanian Partner, for this purpose inviting the assistance of professional

guides and artists.

One of the reasons for organizing such projects is the collaboration and common understanding which

partners are supposed to create during the project. The fourth meeting of ADHER showed the cohesion of

the Partners in achieving of project goals and mutual understanding of the importance of this task.

Common interactive work on project issues will be renewed at the next ADHER meeting in Slovenia.

Decorative motif