The Union of Lithuanian Writers is an association of professional poets, prose writers, playwrights, translators, critics and literary scholars in Lithuania with approximately 360 members with artist status.
— The Union of Lithuanian Writers actively cares for and defends the rights of its members, represents the interests of Lithuanian writers in Lithuania and abroad. She implements various projects promoting the development of professional Lithuanian literature, says Birutė Jonuškaitė, writer, translator, president of the Lithuanian Writers’ Union, to “Kurier Vilnius”.
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The headquarters is located in a historic building
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The Union of Lithuanian Writers has two branches — in Kaunas and Klaipeda. Each chapter has a chairman who looks after its members. The seat of the Lithuanian Writers’ Union is located in a beautiful neo-baroque palace at ul. Sirvydo 6 in Vilnius. The palace was built by Hipolit Korwin-Milewski, and then sold to Antoni Tyszkiewicz, and in 1909, the palace was purchased by Maria Ogińska.
Lyrical city
— Writers participate in a series of cultural literary programs run by the Lithuanian Writers’ Union. One of the most important events is the international spring poetry festival. It has been held annually since 1965. During the last two weeks of May, I like to joke, poetic fairs are held, where our poets go to all corners of Lithuania so that poetry can resound there. But most of all, it is Vilnius that becomes such a lyrical city then, because poetry can be heard everywhere: in a park, club, church, cafe – and not only in the writers’ club, in our building in the former palace of Count. Ignacy Korwin-Milewski, where many celebrations of the Lithuanian Writers’ Union take place, Birutė Jonuškaitė tells us.
The Union of Lithuanian Writers was one of the organizations trying to have Vilnius included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a City of Literature. These activities are known to have been successful.
Read more: Irena Fedorowicz: Vilnius is a city inextricably linked to literature
Action “Help Ukraine”
– Our writers, poets and prose writers are very active. They participate in many activities related not only to literature and culture. In November last year, we initiated the “Help Ukraine” campaign. We have many friendly writers from Ukraine. That is why our colleagues Marius Burokas, Laurynas Katkus and Donatas Petrošius last year took a car to Ukraine loaded with various things, but those that were specifically needed by Ukrainians. We then received special orders. This year, for the second time, our colleagues loaded the minibus with the necessary things and delivered them to the Ukrainians, stresses the president of the Lithuanian Writers’ Union.
They have little, they give much
As our interlocutor notes, writers are not rich, they do not earn much, but this does not change the fact that they try to help others.
— When the action to help Ukraine was announced, the fund’s account received about 17,000 once. euros, and then 25,000. euro. These sums may not make a great impression, they are not millions, but it is the help of our writers, who earn very little in Lithuania, says Birutė Jonuškaitė.
Youth in the organization
– That is why I am very happy that our members are good citizens and, although they do not wallow in wealth, they help others, they are not indifferent. Older writers are leaving, but it’s nice to see young people coming. Over the past few years, many young people have joined the Lithuanian Writers’ Union. I am glad that this organization is needed, being a member of the Lithuanian Writers Union is a prestige,” says Birutė Jonuškaitė.
Polish members
— Romek Mieczkowski and Alicja Rybałko belong to our union. I also encourage young people, for example, I invite the Polish poet Tomek Tomaszewski. He’s procrastinating now. I have already persuaded him many times to try, because it is not only me who decides about admission to the union, but also the management board,” adds Birutė Jonuškaitė.
The palace needs renovation
As he says, the members of the organization are very happy that they have a beautiful palace, but it also comes with a headache. The basic problem is that the historic building needs renovation (eg the roof has holes). Representatives of the Lithuanian Writers’ Union are already talking about this with the Department of Cultural Heritage in order to start restoration as soon as possible.
There are no residences for people of culture
— The second problem is that Lithuania is the only country in the European Union that does not have writers’ residences. This is a huge problem. During the 30 years of independence, all ministers of culture were discussed about it. It’s a shame for Lithuania, because Latvia has two residences, Estonia has too, Poland has a lot, not to mention how many have Germany, Switzerland or other countries. Lithuania, on the other hand, does not have a single residence. The residence is a building, a hotel — a place where we could invite journalists, writers, people of culture from all over the world. During their stay with us, they participate in cultural life, and later they spread the news about Lithuania as the capital of literature to the world. It’s a shame that Lithuania doesn’t have such a residence. All the time we are also persuading representatives of the capital city government to help us establish such a residence in this beautiful palace, which would bring many benefits to the entire city and all of Lithuania. Today, it is our primary task to finally build these residencies,” says Birutė Jonuškaitė, writer, translator, president of the Lithuanian Writers’ Union.
| photo. Marian Paluszkiewicz
International Writers’ Day
The International Day of Writers and Writers is a good time to recall the profiles of Polish Nobel Prize winners in the field of literature. Henryk Sienkiewicz was the first to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1905. He gained international fame with Quo Vadis written in 1896. In the laudation in honor of H. Sienkiewicz, Carl David af Wirsén (Swedish poet and literary critic, secretary of the Swedish Academy) emphasized, among others, his broad research horizons and sense of history. He noted that among the scientists who supported his candidacy, apart from literary scholars, there were many well-known historians. He also pointed out that the element of history is combined in Sienkiewicz’s works with national and religious themes. Discussing the writer’s individual works, he stated that he was undoubtedly the heir of old Polish literature, and in his works one could hear the echoes of the greatest – Mickiewicz, Słowacki, Krasiński. He expressed the conviction that Sienkiewicz’s achievements are gigantic and noble, and that his artistic style reaches epic perfection.
Read more: An exhibition about Henryk Sienkiewicz has opened in Vilnius
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