Structural changes in the cultural field of Šiauliai city

Šiauliai City Municipality Council, by its decision No. T-147 of 4 April 2025 “On approval to reorganize the Šiauliai City Cultural Center “Laiptų galerija” by merging it with the Šiauliai Cultural Center”, approved structural changes in the field of culture. Šiauliai City Cultural Center “Laiptų galerija” after the reorganization shall cease its activities as a legal entity from the date of its deregistration from the Register of Legal Entities, but no later than 31 August 2025.

After the reorganization, the Šiauliai City Cultural Center “Laiptai Gallery” continues its activities within the Šiauliai Cultural Center, to which the rights and obligations of the reorganized institution are transferred. Taking into account the expected purification, strengthening and development of cultural activities, the structural change formed in the reorganization process includes the emergence of two structural units of the Šiauliai Cultural Center – the “Laiptai” Gallery and the P. Bugailiškis Ethnological Center. “The expansion of culture is planned, not its narrowing. The door is opened to the accessibility of culture to a wider circle of members of society, and the meaning of the name of Peliks Bugailiškis, the activation of his residential house, a heritage object, is being pulled out of oblivion,” emphasizes Šiauliai City Mayor Artūras Visockas.

The activities of the Gallery “Laiptai” will continue in several directions, including the development of art exhibitions – fine (painting, graphics and sculpture) and applied/decorative (ceramics, textiles, leather, crafts, folk crafts, etc.), the organization of cultural events including music, theatre, literature and plein airs. It is planned to use the P. Bugailiškis garden more often and more widely for gatherings, communication and cooperation of professional artists, folk artists and amateurs. In order to give meaning to the name of Peliks Bugailiškis (1883–1965) – a lawyer, press worker, journalist, local historian, museum worker, political figure – whose public activity in Šiauliai was extremely broad and responded to the processes taking place throughout Lithuania at that time, and to purposefully activate his residential building, a structural unit is planned – the P. Bugailiškis Ethnological Centre. The object, whose name encodes historical and directional activities, plans to establish a memory space for P. Bugailiškis by actualizing the memory of a historical personality, the development of ethnic culture, which includes various areas of human life and cultural heritage. It is also planned to establish a residency. This is an opportunity for creators, artists, researchers looking for creative inspiration, acquaintances with other creators and cultures to reside, and for Šiauliai – an opportunity to develop inter-institutional networking, participate in mobility programs and projects in Lithuania and other countries.

“The process of reorganizing institutions is taking place not only in an administrative way, but also by creating a visual identity that is inseparable from the main logo of the Šiauliai Cultural Center, which is a continuation of essential basic, deep processes. The rebranding of the logo of the gallery “Laiptai” is being implemented, which consists of the inscription “galerija “Laiptai” and a graphic symbol – a stylized staircase motif. The logo created 30 years ago was redesigned by the same designer – Vilmantas Dambrauskas. A logo has also been created for the P. Bugailiškis Ethnology Center, the graphic solution of which is an ethno-motif,” says Deimantė Bačiulė, director of the Šiauliai Cultural Center. “The values ​​– culture in all directions, in four seasons, in four elements – remain unchanged. An optimal, minimalist solution is sought for the visual. The same graphic element is used for both logos, which, when rearranged in space, creates a different vision, meaning – from a clearly legible and understandable staircase motif, a stylized ethnic pattern, ethno-cultural motif grows. This is an emotional, psychological, cultural code, stating that the gallery “Laiptai” and P. Bugailiškis House, whose activities are defined by the P. Bugailiškis Ethnology Center, are related not only to their location, but also to the past, which will be continued by respecting and utilizing experience and work done,” shares V. Dambrauskas.

Information provided by Deimantė, director of the Šiauliai Cultural Center Bačiulė, mobile +370 671 42 889, e. p. deimante.baciule@siauliukc.lt.