Hundreds of artists and cultural figures gathered outside the Presidential Palace in Vilnius on Thursday morning to protest against the appointment of Ignotas Adomavičius, a nominee delegated by the Nemunas Dawn party, as Lithuania’s new culture minister.
A petition opposing Adomavičius’ appointment and calling on President Gitanas Nausėda not to approve any Nemunas Dawn nominees has already gathered around 50,000 signatures from cultural figures, writers, musicians and actors.
Despite this, on Wednesday evening Nausėda confirmed Adomavičius’ appointment, admitting it was done “with a heavy heart”.
In addition to the protest in the capital, demonstrations in opposition to the president's appointment, took place in Kaunas, Klaipėda, Panevėžys and Šiauliai, as cultural activists expressed anger over what they see as a lack of competence and respect for the sector.
In Vilnius, S. Daukanto Square in front of the presidential palace filled with protesters, including well-known artists and musicians, as well as deputy culture ministers Viktoras Denisenko and Edita Klaunauskaitė.
Composer and performer Raminta Naujanytė (Bjelle) explained why the cultural community opposed the appointment:
“We believe he lacks the competence for this role. A minister should understand the cultural sector, have the right education, leadership skills and the ability to manage emotions.”
Actor Rokas Petrauskas added that the appointment showed a lack of political backbone:
“I hope that when so many people gather, it makes the president realise he needs to stand up for himself and for his country. Accepting anyone to represent culture without a backbone is simply not right – so much begins with culture,” he told reporters.
Other artists echoed these concerns. Composer Vaclovas Augustinas said that “complete nonsense” was taking place in Lithuania, amounting to a total devaluation of values. He also added that the current nominee “would not even be fit to polish the shoes” of former ministers – figures such as Darius Kuolys, Arūnas Gelūnas, and Vladimir Prudnikov.
Meanwhile, actor Simonas Storpirštis criticised what he called a “circus” of trading ministries like “hot potatoes”.
Protesters left their placards behind, which will be displayed at the Radvila Palace Museum of Art as part of a protest art exhibition.
Adomavičius, 42, previously worked as commercial director at his family’s pasta business and as adviser to Seimas deputy speaker Raimondas Šukys. He studied at the Čiurlionis National School of Arts and later business management at Vilnius University’s International Business School.
At a press conference, he sought to minimise the level of opposition to his appointment, suggesting that the petition, which has gathered around 50,000 signatures, might be exaggerated or driven by political motives.
Incoming Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has offered compromise talks with the cultural community when forming the ministry’s team, but many protesters said the red line had already been crossed. They warned of continued protests, strikes and boycotts.
One placard in Vilnius summed up the mood: “Culture is not for sale.”
One of the protest organisers, Agnė Jokšė, chair of the Lithuanian Interdisciplinary Artists’ Association, announced that a second assembly of the cultural community would be held on Friday, September 26, at 14:00 at the cultural centre Sodas 2123. The meeting will discuss the next course of action – whether that means boycotting state events or Lithuania’s cultural seasons abroad, or taking other steps.
“We warmly invite cultural figures from all over Lithuania who care about this to attend,” said Jokšė. “We will think together about how to proceed. We expected to be heard. To ignore such unity, to disregard the voice of the cultural community, is shocking. [...] There are countless options for what we can do. We must choose those that will truly have an impact. What we are doing is a democratic process of the cultural community.”
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