Other events in Baltic States

The Kaunas City Council on Thursday approved proposals to apply for the city to be the Lithuanian Capital of Culture in 2018 and the European Capital of Culture in 2022, informs en.delfi.lt/BNS.

"Considering the fact that Lithuania will celebrate 100 years of restoration of state and Kaunas was the interim and de facto capital of the Republic of Lithuania and the representational center of the entire country, the Kaunas City Municipality will apply to be the Lithuanian Capital of Culture that year," Kaunas Mayor Andrius Kupčinskas said.

Any city or town of Lithuania, except Vilnius, can seek to become the Lithuanian Capital of Culture by preparing the best culture and arts project. The competition is held every three years. The competition for the 2017-2019 period will be held at the end of this year.

In 2012, the European Commission has approved a list of countries eligible for the status of the European Capital of Culture until the year 2033 – Lithuania and Luxemburg were listed for 2022.

Lithuania will have to submit its official application to European institutions in 2016 after holding a local contest of cities.

In 2009, Lithuania's capital Vilnius held the title of the European Capital of Culture.