About organisation
The village community “Svirkai Centre” was founded in 2013 with the objectives 1) to revive life in Svirkai Eldership, by organising cultural events, 2) to revive archaic traditional communal celebrations, customs, to foster intangible heritage (dialects), 3) to encourage initiatives of local people, to foster traditional crafts, 4) to promote cooperation of community members by involving representatives of various national minorities, 5) to raise civic spirit and initiatives of young people, 6) to support and develop creation of small rural enterprises and contribute to the improvement of life’s quality in rural settlements. The village community 1) organises events on the occasion of national holidays in Svirkai village, 2) organises traditional autumn-period gatherings of people form Svirkai and neighboring villages, where it presents the traditions of the region (wedding, matchmaking customs etc.), 3) organises thematic celebrations, related to unique heritage of the region, as the St. John’s Day (fostering the traditions characteristic to this particular region, as herbal medicine, beekeeping, candle making), Shrovetide (presenting multinational culinary heritage of the region) and other; 4) stages original theater plays performed in local – Eastern Aukštaitija dialect; 5) organises concerts inviting artists performing folk, popular music, sung poetry at the “Svirkai Centre” community house.
Projects
1. “Creation of Svirkai Centre’s material base” (2017). Equipment for the Centre was obtained. The evening “Lets’ come together from generation to generation” was organised. 2. “Svirkai: understanding of the border people identity through social activities” (2017–2018). The event “The Evening of Nations” presenting heritage of national minorities in the region was organised. A photography exhibition presenting the multiculturalism of the region prepared. A documentary film “Mes esam” (We are) released. 3. “Fostering of community’s spirit at traditional events of Svirkai” (2018). The St. John’s Day celebration organised. 4. “Promoting activity of the Svirkai Community” (2019). The company for cleaning the environment, a bike-tour were held. A summer cinema theatre “Cinema under Svirkai stars” was held on Sundays in August. 5. The project application “Fostering the community’s spirit of Svirkai people through creative activities ensuring continuity of local traditions” (2019). The project foresees active inclusion of Svirkai people into educational creative activities, by promoting communication and reducing social exclusion, organisation of a traditional evening gathering and stage an original theater play in authentic local dialect on Svirkai wedding traditions, also attending a theater performance in Vilnius.
