Vilnius to Fund 23 Cultural Spaces with Over 200,000 Euros Annually

Vilnius is set to host 23 official "dainyklos", cultural spaces that foster artistic creation and community engagement, throughout 2026 and 2027. The Vilnius City Municipality is allocating around 205,000 euros annually to support the cultural activities and operational needs of these venues.

This initiative marks an expansion of the program, with the "dainykla" status now being granted for a two-year period. This extended timeframe aims to offer greater stability, enabling these cultural spaces to plan their programs more effectively, invest in their infrastructure, and work more consistently with local communities. Previously, the status was awarded annually.

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These are places where the journey of many artists begins, new ideas are born, and communities gather. Therefore, this year we not only expanded the program to 23 spaces but also provided more stability – the "dainykla" status is granted for two years.

Selected by an independent expert commission from 42 applicants, these 23 "dainyklos" must each host at least 40 events per year. The funding can be used for artist fees, technical production, equipment purchases, rights and licensing, communication, and administration. The Vilnius Night Office reported that last year, 17 "dainyklos" organized 1,360 events, exceeding program requirements by approximately 40% and featuring over 2,800 performers, 88% of whom were Lithuanian artists.

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It is important for cultural spaces not only to have funding but also the opportunity to plan activities for a longer period. Therefore, this year we are granting the "dainykla" status for two years. This allows spaces to plan programs more boldly, invest in infrastructure, and work more consistently with communities.