Baltic network of cultural centre associations (BNCCA) begins operations

On 16-17 October 2025, a forum of associations of cultural centres of the three Baltic countries - Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia - took place in Riga (Latvia). This is the first meeting of the ongoing project "The Power of Culture", partly financed by the Nordic Culture Point, which was attended by 15 members of the cultural communities of each of the partner countries. The main goal of the meeting was to approve the statute of the Baltic Network of Cultural Centre Associations (BNCCA) and thus consolidate the beginning of a new stage of cultural cooperation, which opens up wider opportunities for the joint work of creators and cultural workers of the Baltic States, the formation of dialogue and the achievement of common cultural policy goals. During the forum, an artistic program and an introduction to the objects of development of cultural and social activities were organized for the participants.
The initiator and administrator of the project is the Association of Lithuanian Culture Centres, partners: the Association of Latvian Culture Centres, the Association of Estonian Cultural Societies. The project is partly financed by the Nordic Culture Point.

The Baltic States are united by a common history, cultural experience and challenges that we face in today's world. Culture centres are spaces where communities gather, where citizenship is formed and creative ideas are born. Therefore, it is meaningful that members of the cultural communities of the three Baltic States gathered at Riga's large Mežaparks stage, the main venue for the Song Festival.

The forum began with welcoming speeches, which were delivered live by Romas Matulis, President of the Association of Lithuanian Culture Centres, Dace Jurka, Chair of the Board of the Association of Latvian Culture Centres, and Signe Pujāte, Director of the Latvian National Culture Centre, who greeted those gathered remotely. The speakers emphasized that this historic meeting determines that from now on the sector of the Baltic culture centres will work together, seeking consensus on the formation of a unified opinion in European cultural policy and at the national level.

In the flow of today's information society, great attention is paid to the application of the capabilities of artificial intelligence in everyday activities. Therefore, the forum did not abandon the integration of AI and its testing in simultaneous interpretation. Also, the participants were introduced to the possibilities of applying AI by Anna Andersone, CEO and Chairwoman of the Board of Riga TechGirls, giving a lecture on the topic "Artificial Intelligence and Cultural Networks".

During the forum, presentations were made by the chairmen and/or representatives of each national association (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia), which presented the scope of the internal network of the countries, their aspirations, and the activities carried out. After the presentation, the forum moderator, Liene Kubiļus, Director of the Culture Association of Northern Riga, invited representatives of the three Baltic associations – President of the Association of Lithuanian Culture Centres R. Matulis, Chair of the Board of the Association of Latvian Culture Centres D. Jurka, Chair of the Board of the Association of Estonian Culture Societies Ülle Välimäe – to officially sign the BNCCA statute. So, officially, on 16 October 2025, a historical document – ​​the statute – was signed, opening legally based cooperation between the countries. Members of the national associations voted and approved the legality of signing the statute. In accordance with the statute, the BNCCA board (9 members, 3 from each country) was elected, which was approved after the vote. The BNCCA Board was elected for a 3-year term from Estonia: Kaire Kannistu, Anni Sikk, Kristi Vals, from Latvia: Ēriks Laime-Babris, Liene Kubiļus, Krista Vīndedze, from Lithuania: Virginija Naudžiūtė, Renata Kalvaitė, Aistė Tuminaitė-Orlauskė. The BNCCA Board also elected a chairperson, K. Vīndedze (Latvia). The birth of BNCCA was welcomed remotely by Vittorio Bianco, the chairman of the European Network of Cultural Centres.

In response to the goals and objectives of the ongoing project, the Latvian folklore collective presented a cultural program to the forum participants, and the participants also visited Latvian culture centres, contemporary art centres, and other cultural and art organizations in order to discuss practical aspects of the activities.

The next partner meetings are scheduled for March 2026 in Estonia and April in Lithuania. During each meeting, there will be communication with representatives of local culture centres, artists, and experts developing the project theme, and discussions will continue on the interaction of culture and politics, the impact of culture on citizenship, and the resilience of society.

The project activities will continue until 30 June 2026.

Photos Deimantė Bačiulė. 

Information is provided by the Association of Lithuanian Culture Centres, Romas Matulis, mob. +370 687 30 484, e-mail: romas.matulis@gmail.com.