Lithuania’s government is returning to the idea of converting the former Vilnius Palace of Concerts and Sports, built during the Soviet era on the right bank of the River Neris, into a Jewish memorial and site of remembrance, while transferring ownership of the building to Vilnius City Municipality.
The move is outlined in a letter, seen by BNS, sent on Thursday by the prime minister’s office to the Ministries of Finance and of Economy and Innovation, the state-owned Property Bank and Vilnius City Council.
The building stands on the site of the historic Šnipiškės Jewish cemetery and holds symbolic significance in Lithuania’s modern history.
In October 1988, it hosted the founding congress of the Lithuanian Reform Movement, Sąjūdis. It also lay in state several of those killed during the events of January 13, 1991, when Soviet forces attempted to suppress the country’s independence movement.
The proposal envisions commemorating the cemetery as well as key events that paved the way for Lithuania’s independence.
Last summer, the previous Lithuanian government led by Gintautas Paluckas announced plans to convert the long-abandoned Soviet-era venue into a congress, conference and cultural events centre, while properly maintaining the surrounding cemetery site.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė had initially expressed support for that plan but has since returned to an earlier proposal – considered by the previous conservative-led government – to renovate the complex with a focus on memorialisation.
“I am asking the Ministry of Finance, together with the Property Bank and Vilnius City Municipality, to assess the possibilities of transferring the Vilnius Palace of Concerts and Sports to the ownership of Vilnius City Municipality, while maintaining it as a site of exceptional historical significance for the city of Vilnius and for Lithuania as a whole, and with a view to implementing the building’s reconstruction project together with the project to preserve and commemorate the Šnipiškės Jewish Cemetery,” the letter states.
It adds that, given the heritage characteristics of the building and its surroundings, as well as community sensitivities, adapting the structure for use as a congress centre “would not be economically viable”.
The institutions have been asked to present possible solutions by May 4 and, if necessary, to submit a coordinated draft government resolution.
The letter also names an area near the Seimas (parliament), currently used as a car park, as the most suitable alternative location for a congress centre in Vilnius.
Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas has previously told BNS that renovating the former palace could require more than €50m in investment, with the aim of turning it into a viable and attractive public space.
Plans to establish a conference centre in the 1971-built venue have been under discussion since 2015, when the building was taken over by the Property Bank. However, some Jewish communities have opposed reconstruction, noting that the complex stands on a cemetery that dates back to the 16th century.
In December, the Economy and Innovation Ministry, which carried out an assessment on behalf of the government, told BNS it supported the view that the former palace was unsuitable for conference tourism and that the site could instead be adapted for memorial and museum purposes.
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