Culture Forum of Lithuania and Sakartvelo
On May 20-25, the cultural forum of Lithuania and Sakartvelo “Past Ties and Future Perspectives” was held at Prof. Vidas Kavaliauskas Centre for Lithuanian Language and Culture in Tbilisi, Sakartvelo. Dr. Teresė Ringailienė, the Director of the IFL, attended the event.
The participants of the forum listened to lectures on Lithuanian and Kartvelian theatre, the poetry of young poets from both countries (the anthology of young Kartvelian poets “Aidintys” translated into Lithuanian was presented), Sakartvelo in Lithuanian cinema and photography. The students studying the Lithuanian language took part in a workshop of making straw gardens, learned Lithuanian songs with the students from Vilnius University of Applied Sciences and taught others to sing Kartvelian songs.
A Lithuanian literature fund was opened in the National Parliamentary Library of Sakartvelo, while a Kartvelian literature fund is already open in M. Mažvydas Library in Lithuania. Both languages were also heard at the foot of Mount Kazbek, where the legend of A. Vienuolis “Cursed Monks” was read.
Also, a discussion “What opportunities does the Lithuanian language open up?” was held, which was attended by the alumnae of Prof. Vidas Kavaliauskas Centre for Lithuanian Language and Culture and the representatives of Lithuanian higher education institutions (KU, ViKo, VMU). Alumnae Sophio Tabatadze and Nino Inasaridze shared their success stories on how they managed to learn the Lithuanian language and how proficiency in the language can contribute to career changes.
It is rewarding and promising to see how learning languages and cultural activities bring people closer together. Sincerest thanks to the head of Prof. Vidas Kavaliauskas Lithuanian Language and Culture Centre, Maria Sulaberidze, colleagues from Klaipėda University and Vilnius University of Applied Sciences and all the participants of the forum for the fellowship and cooperation!
