Lithuania Invites Exploration of Cultural Heritage Through '90 Maironio balsų' Project

A new initiative, "90 Maironio balsų" (90 Voices of Maironis), is inviting people across Lithuania to embark on a cultural journey. The project involves 90 cultural and educational institutions nationwide, each offering visitors short stories about the enduring cultural legacy preserved by the Maironis Lithuanian Literature Museum.

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By commemorating the museum's anniversary, we want to share the museum values preserved in the museum with everyone and their authentic stories, to remind how wonderfully Maironis's verses sound, how beautiful Lithuania is.

While many Lithuanians know prominent figures like Žemaitė, Ieva Simonaitytė, Vincas Kudirka, and Motiejus Valančius, the project aims to highlight the personal belongings that have survived from these literary giants. Visitors can virtually explore carefully selected manuscripts, photographs, and books curated by museum staff. The museum's director, Deimantė Cibulskienė, stated the project aims to share museum values and authentic stories, celebrating Maironis's poetry and Lithuania's beauty.

The project features 90 literary stops across all Lithuanian regions, each with a stylized Maironis figurine and a QR code. Scanning the code unlocks a digital platform presenting a writer connected to the region and a personal item that tells an interesting story from their life or work. Participants can follow themed routes or create their own, collecting virtual museum artifacts. Collecting at least 15 artifacts earns a gift from the museum, with more stops leading to richer literary journeys and more chances to win prizes.

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The project '90 Maironio balsų' is suitable for everyone who wants to improve, learn playfully, and get to know Lithuanian classics who laid the foundations on which our culture grew and is growing.

Examples include virtually viewing Motiejus Valančius's ornate desk at his museum in Kretinga district, seeing a text written by Žemaitė at her memorial museum, and discovering a unique painting at the A. Vienažindis public memorial museum in Zarasai district. The platform also features readings of Maironis's "Pavasario balsai" (Spring Voices) by Marijus Mikutavičius. The content is voiced and translated into Lithuanian sign language, making it accessible to visitors with various needs, including those with visual or hearing impairments. The project is designed for families, travelers, students, teachers, and literature enthusiasts eager to learn more about Lithuania's cultural heritage.

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We are happy to offer the public an introduction to museum values related to each of our regions. We want to show people what writers' belongings have survived, to encourage them to be interested in the famous artists of their locality. It's nice that so many cultural institutions, which are well-known to local communities, have eagerly joined the project. So now will be a great opportunity to participate in the project when you come to your library and encourage others. And for those who want to move - it's a great idea