News archive

This upcoming fall, the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture in Chicago, USA, will open a new exhibition “Belonging: Lithuanian Artists in Chicago 1900 to Now.” The exhibition will explore identity and place through the diverse work, perspectives, and legacy of three immigration periods of Lithuanian artists in Chicago. The event and its associated programs and publications will consider the causes and consequences of immigration/migration, including displacement, colonization, trauma, andassimilation.

With the approach of spring came blooming flowers, new growth, and a generally refreshed feeling. And so VEMU’s cultural program blossomed with the onset of spring, with a whole slew of exciting events, old and new friends contributing to the growth of our following, and a revived energy and atmosphere. In keeping with the year of cultural diversity and multiculturalism in Estonia, we continued to feature severalinteresting and educational events to promote this theme. But there is another important milestone to commemorate this year, the 80th anniversary of the Great Escape of 1944. After our summer break, VEMU’s programming in the fall will feature many events focusing on commemorating this important historical event, and we have already began dipping our toes into it at some of our spring events by previewing what we’ll have in store for everyone in our fall programming.

On 17 May, the Lithuanian Studies Unit of the Documentary Heritage Research Department of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania organized an annual seminar for researchers interested in the Lithuanian diaspora and (e)migration. This year, the event was organized in cooperationwith the World Lithuanian University of Vytautas Magnus University (VMU).

As the ninth issue of the series “Estonian Settlements” (Eesti asundused), The Estonian Literary Museum has published a book about the medical knowledge of Siberian Estonians. Titled “The Folkloristic Medical Skills of Siberian Estonians” (Siberi eestlaste rahvapärased ravioskused), the book gives an overview of thedevelopment of folkloristic medicinal knowledge and change in Siberian Estonian communities. As the senior researcher of the Estonian Literary Museum and compiler and editor of the book, Anu Korb states that, “the traditional living arrangements, peripheral placement of villages, and the magic of words has helped preserve older medicinal traditions and practices, and medicinal incantations.”

On May 4th, VEMU’s guests, partners, supporters, volunteers, performers, and employees gathered for a festive evening in Tartu College’s main hall to capture the elusive Spirit of Tartu together. But was it truly elusive?

2.11.1920 Pärnu – 23.04.2024 Stockholm The long and meaningful life path of the oldest member of the Baltic Heritage Network, Mai Raud-Pähn, has ended. Mai joined the organization during its early years as the leader of the Stockholm Estonian Archives Group. She was an honorary member of BaltHerNet since 2014.

To mark the 80th anniversary of massive WWII refugee flight west, the  Baltic Heritage Network and the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania are organizing an international conference Eighty Years after 1944: Then and Now.

The Panevėžys Regional History Museum’s exposition “To Stay, to Emigrate, or to Return?” was recognized the best in the country by the Lithuanian Museum Association.

Connected to the 80th anniversary of the Great Escape of 1944, VEMU is organizing a collection campaign “Our Relics,” over the course of which we’re awaiting artefacts, photos, and archival material which were taken along in the escape from Estonia, as well as stories that accompany those belongings.

The deadline for submitting a paper for the BaltHerNet conference “Eighty Years after 1944: Then and Now” has been extended to 22 March 2024.