Sondra Litvaitytė: “Being an Ambassador for Šiauliai During Its Anniversary Year Is a Major Responsibility and a Calling”

The honorary ambassadors of Šiauliai during the city’s anniversary year are prominent figures in culture, media, music, sport and other fields who were born in Šiauliai, have lived here or contribute through their activities to promoting the city’s name and supporting its growth. They are the voice of the city in Lithuania and around the world. This role is symbolic, yet it carries great responsibility to contribute through professional and public activities to shaping the identity of Šiauliai as a modern city, fostering pride in the city and strengthening a sense of community. One of these ambassadors, Sondra Litvaitytė, recently visited Šiauliai. She is a public diplomacy professional with more than 15 years of experience at Lithuanian representations in Rome and New York. Sondra is not only an ambassador of Šiauliai’s 790th anniversary, but also a “Global Šiauliai” ambassador in the USA and the founder of the Šiauliai Club. Her project “Open a Window: Šiauliai–New York”, which presented the history of Šiauliai to the international community in a distinctive way, was very well received.

Getting to Know One Another, Building International Connections

In a conversation with Deimantė Bačiulė, Director of Šiauliai Culture Centre, the ambassador spoke little about herself, with the conversation repeatedly turning to matters concerning the city: “Of course, every return to Šiauliai brings me joy. Although my family is no longer here, I return every year. The Hill of Crosses, J. Janonis Gymnasium, the Golden Boy, the theatre... are important to me. In my memory, Šiauliai is the capital of alternative culture; it nurtured the desire to venture into the wider world...,” said the guest.

S. Litvaitytė was keen to discuss possible areas of activity and understand the expectations of Šiauliai Culture Centre. She therefore listened attentively to Director Deimantė Bačiulė’s account of the many areas of activity covered by the Centre’s large team. The guest was interested in the broad and ambitious anniversary programme and considered how the Šiauliai Club she is developing could contribute to promoting the name of Šiauliai.

The guest mentioned that she maintains close ties with various institutions in the city; however, abroad there is a lack of regular news and systematic information about projects and cultural strategies being implemented in Šiauliai. Such a “reference guide” would be useful for coordinating activities and building international connections. For example, there are many different clubs in New York, and perhaps they could be connected with partners in Šiauliai and become involved in some of the more interesting initiatives.

Sondra Litvaitytė is convinced that the project “Open a Window: Šiauliai–New York” should be continued. The excellent visual created by V. Dambrauskas and the team’s groundwork are already there – all that remains is to refine the ideas. Now is precisely the right moment to strengthen the connection between Šiauliai and New York. The guest did not hide her delight at becoming an ambassador “wearing two hats” and said that she tells her friends a great deal about her connection with Šiauliai. One of them is Eglė Jarkova – a violinist, educator and creator of cultural initiatives, born and raised in Šiauliai, who is now also an honorary ambassador. Thus, people interested in the growth of Šiauliai are gathering around her, and a network of cooperation is gradually taking shape.

During the friendly conversation over a cup of coffee, it was agreed that the anniversary year is only the beginning of cooperation. It is important to continue maintaining the connections that have been established, develop ideas for joint events and projects, and involve people from Šiauliai who live not only in the city itself, but also elsewhere in Lithuania or abroad. The development of international connections can help make the city more visible, while allowing experience and ideas gained abroad to return to Šiauliai. “I am very happy that, as a Šiauliai native living in the wider world, I can proudly celebrate the 790th anniversary of Šiauliai,” said Sondra Litvaitytė. “The friendship with Šiauliai Culture Centre will not end when the anniversary is over – there is enough work ahead for at least the next decade.”

Does Šiauliai Need an International Numismatics Conference?

Cultural initiatives strategist Sondra Litvaitytė is developing the idea of organising an international numismatics conference in Šiauliai. For many years, she has researched the life of Victor David Brenner and his family. Brenner was a renowned sculptor, engraver and medal designer who lived and worked in Šiauliai and created the design of the US one-cent coin. S. Litvaitytė has no doubt about her hometown’s contribution to the history of coinage worldwide and, as a member of a numismatic club, has taken steps towards organising the conference. She envisioned not a dry academic gathering, but engaging and creative activities involving students and artists.

“Victor David Brenner became famous as the creator of the US one-cent coin. It is the most widely collected coin, and it will no longer be produced. But his other works are important as well. You could say that I came to understand the history of New York through Brenner’s works. I want to bring the conference process to life. We could include Baltic coins and medals. Marius Repšys is also from Šiauliai... Vilius Puronas... Perhaps the Baltic countries would be interested, perhaps Poland... The most important thing is that Šiauliai would be on the list of international conference destinations!” the conference enthusiast listed her arguments. According to her, the idea is strongly supported by Jesse Kraft, curator at the American Numismatic Society, who would undertake to organise educational and creative workshops here. “Many Lithuanian institutions have also expressed their willingness to contribute: the National Museum of Lithuania, Šiauliai ‘Aušros’ Museum, Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy, Šiauliai Tourism Information Centre,” S. Litvaitytė listed the potential partners. “Contacts with the institutions have already been established, there is considerable interest in the initiative, and everyone is ready to contribute. The most important thing now is to find a person or team who would undertake to prepare the project.”

Indeed, the responsibility is considerable, but Sondra Litvaitytė hopes that ambitious people will emerge in Šiauliai who will take on the implementation of this idea. At least next year.

Good News

Sondra Litvaitytė, ambassador of Šiauliai’s 790th anniversary and “Global Šiauliai” ambassador in the USA, initiator of the unique project “Open a Window: Šiauliai–New York” and founder of “Šiauliai Club USA”, has been nominated for the Global Lithuanian Awards for strengthening connections between the Šiauliai region and the international community. Through her example and concrete work, she promotes the name of her hometown, brings together and unites people from Šiauliai living abroad, demonstrates that our city’s culture, history and present day can be of interest to an international audience, and encourages the people of Šiauliai to believe in this and proudly celebrate the city’s anniversary year.

Information is provided by Deimantė Bačiulė, Director of Šiauliai Culture Centre, tel. +370 671 42 889, e-mail deimante.baciule@siauliukc.lt.

Photo from the archives of Šiauliai Culture Centre.