Masters of culture were ceremoniously awarded in Klaipėda Culture

Barely able to take a breather after the Jubilee Sea Festival, Klaipėda celebrated the city’s 772nd birthday on August 1.

For the first time, the naming ceremony of the Master of Culture of Klaipėda took place not in closed rooms – in the postern of the Castle Museum, which was normally accessible to invited persons, but in the very center of the city – on the Theater Square, next to Tarava Anike.

Photo by Gediminas Sass/Awarded Vytas Karaciejus

“I wish every citizen of Klaipėda, who lives here or loves it from afar, that the feeling of pride in their city will only grow stronger, that Klaipėda will gain an even stronger attraction for those looking for education, a job or a place to live,” says Klaipėda City Mayor Arvydas Vaitkus.

Gedimina Sass photo/Awarded Klaudijs Pudymas

The title of Master of Culture of Klaipėda is awarded to artists or other cultural workers for outstanding contributions to the culture of the city. This year, it was decided to give this honorable name to: a sculptor To Klaudius Pudymas – for many years of artistic and creative activity, beautifying the city of Klaipėda and shaping the maritime identity of the city of Klaipėda with their works, for creativity that makes Klaipėda and Lithuania famous abroad; to the photographer Bronis Vytui Karaciejui – for the contribution to the development of Lithuanian artistic photography, consistent and careful work with the specifics of the maritime landscape and the port city; former director of the Imanuelis Kant Public Library of Klaipėda City Municipality Bronislava Lauciuviene – for the activities implemented for the benefit of the culture of Klaipėda city, the cultivation and dissemination of cultural heritage, innovative solutions that changed the content of the library’s activities and influenced the development of the country’s public libraries.

Since 2003, when this Klaipėda City Municipality Award was established, the title of Klaipėda Master of Culture has been awarded to 46 Klaipėda citizens (all their names are published on the website of the Klaipėda City Municipality Masters of Culture of Klaipėda City | Klaipėda City Municipality (klaipeda.lt).

Traditionally, on the birthday of the city of Klaipėda, the title of honorary citizen of the city of Klaipėda is awarded to individuals for special services to the city of Klaipėda.

Photo by Gediminas Sass/Dionyzas Varkalis awarded posthumously

The Honorary Citizen is awarded with an author’s work – the Honorary Citizen Sign, which depicts the city’s coat of arms and an inscription with the name and surname of the Honorary Citizen. Every year, the title of Honorary Citizen is awarded to one person. This year, the title of Honorary Citizen was given to folk artist, founder of the Blacksmith Museum, Dionyzas Varkalis (posthumously).

So far, the title of honorary citizen of Klaipėda has been awarded to 22 persons. Last year, this award was given to Vytautas Čeps