In order to further strengthen its image in the Nordic-Baltic countries and to promote VDA's internationalisation, the Vilnius Academy of Arts implemented another KUNO intensive programme international project "Interaction Between Culture and Nature II" on 22-28 April 2024. Initiated by Dr Ieva Pleikienė, Vice-Rector of the Vilnius Academy of Arts, the project for curatorial students is being implemented for the second time together with the Latvian and Estonian Academies of Arts. This year, the project took place in the exceptional Renaissance-era Panemune Castle.
Fourteen students from five different art academies (Vilnius Academy of Arts, Estonian Academy of Arts, Latvian Academy of Arts, University of the Arts Helsinki and Trondheim Academy of Fine Arts) have been given the opportunity to work in an international team. The curatorial experience was shared with them by lecturers Dr. Marius Daraškevičius (VDA), Dr. Julija Fomina (VDA), Triin Metsla (EKA), Antra Priede (AAL), and Kitija Vasiljeva (AAL).
In 2022, the students researched the peculiarities and challenges of the lifestyle of the local inhabitants of Nida, the man-made environment, as well as the local nature. Based on the knowledge and personal experiences gained, the student groups developed curatorial projects focused on this special place, which could be implemented at the VDA Nida Art Colony.
This year's intensive course programme included excursions to Panemune Castle and its surroundings (Raudone Castle and Park, Veliuona Manor and Park, Belvederis Palace, Grybas Museum in Jurbarkas), as well as lectures by lecturers, curators, art producers from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and student group work. The programme has been designed with the main aim of this course in mind - to create guidelines for future exhibitions at Panemunė Castle. Learning about the history of the Panemune Castle complex and its surrounding heritage and cultural objects, strategies for their enhancement, exhibitions, and analysis of good examples from other countries are valuable ways of learning that can not only help to better understand the historical and cultural contexts, but also to develop ideas for possible scenarios for the creation of exhibitions at Panemune Castle.
