M. K. Čiurlionis was universal in many senses of the word: he was receptive to diverse impressions and influences, versatile in his intellectual and creative pursuits, and multifaceted in the artistic expression of his personality. He did not confine himself to a single art form, conceptualized framework, method, or direction. Like a vine entwining the great Tree of Knowledge, he sought to express himself through various forms of creativity. He was never content with what he had achieved; instead, he continuously sought new paths, boldly rejecting what he had created the day before. His innovative, experimentation-rich work transcended limitations and was directly connected to the intellectual and stylistic pursuits of emerging classical modernism in the realms of ideas and forms.

EVENTS: The official announcement of the Capital of Culture programme “Didysis Čiurlys” | International arts festival “Druskininkai summer with M. K. Čiurlionis” | Singing poetry festival “Radiating Poetry” (Spinduliuojantys poeziją) | Light and sound festival “Shining Etudes” (Šviečiantys etiudai) | Tourism days “Tourism Gourmets – to Druskininkai” (Turizmo gurmanai – į Druskininkus) | International blacksmithing plain air “Steel Butterfly” (Plieninė plaštakė) | Theater festival

M. K. Čiurlionis was a prodigious child who, from the age of five, astonished adults with his perfect pitch and ability to improvise. His inclination towards music was inherited from his father, an organist, while his early aesthetic sensibilities and imagination were shaped by the extraordinarily beautiful forest landscapes of Druskininkai, the fairy tales and legends of the Dzūkija region, and the melodious Lithuanian folk songs. The fundamentals of musicianship were imparted to him, and the charm of the musical world was revealed by his father and, later, by the teachers in Duke Oginskis’s court orchestra. Subsequent studies in music and art in Warsaw and at the Leipzig Conservatory, combined with Čiurlionis’s interest in various fields of the humanities and his diligent work across different areas of art, helped him develop his innate creative potential. Today, M. K. Čiurlionis’s music represents a golden treasury of Lithuanian professional music and serves as a foundation for 20th-century Lithuanian musical culture.

EVENTS: Initiative A City Full of Čiurlionis | A gathering of musicians Čiurlionis’ Orchestra | International choral music festival De profundis | National children’s choir festival-competition On the Path of M. K. Čiurlionis |  International instrumental music competition Čiurlionis music colours in Druskininkai | The national folklore festival of the Dainava region | A gathering-workshop of Lithuanian music teachers

M. K. Čiurlionis – a visionary artist who transcended the boundaries of his time – was an artistically sensitive personality with an exquisite sense of beauty. He excelled in diverse disciplines, including music, literature, criticism, painting, graphics, drawing, and photography. His creative endeavors also extended to glass etchings, monotypes, postcards, book covers, posters, vignettes, and theater decorations. His works reflect captivating, innovative, and contemporary explorations of composition and form.

EVENTS: Lithuanian storytellers’ competition Žodzis žodzį gena | Theatrical guided tours The Mineral Town | Outdoor movie nights | The Daffodil Blooming Festival | Community events | Research | Short prose competition-contest The Gourmets of Prose | Literature and music evening Before You and I Fly Away, dedicated to the 95th birth anniversary of Vytautas Bložė and the 75th birth anniversary of Nijolė Miliauskaitė-Bložienė | Print exhibition series Testaments to the Beauty and Distinctiveness of Druskininkai | Print exhibition I shall carry the sun with me from Druskininkai | Druskininkai in Photography: A Moment Restored | Night Basketball Event | An Afternoon Tea with M. K. Čiurlionis | Artistic activity Modern Čiurlionis

The activities in this part will awaken imagination, the driving force behind the world. They will also stimulate intellectual effort and encourage the younger generation to explore art and deepen its understanding through knowledge of art history, philosophy, and social processes. Participants will be invited to take part in the creative process, engage in various crafts, and establish a direct connection with their surroundings and other people, thereby leaving behind the confines of the virtual world.

Traditional and modern art techniques, the integration and development of the old and the new, the composition of lines and planes, the rhythm of the works, or undulating forms will reveal the possibilities of visual art.

According to M. K. Čiurlionis, an artist’s duty is to convey their vision through painting, while the viewer’s duty is to understand it. M. K. Čiurlionis’s art is highly original, filled with fantasy, symbolic imagery, natural forms, and echoes of musical thinking. Even in the 21st century, his works continue to captivate with their depth of artistic expression, the persuasiveness and mystery of their imagery, and their original and subtle artistic forms. Colours and chords are intertwined not into a direct and didactic image but rather into a philosophical textuality of the work, into a fluent narrative. For Lithuanians, the name of Čiurlionis symbolizes, among other things, the quintessence of Lithuanian identity. M. K. Čiurlionis’s paintings offer spaciousness for the viewer’s thoughts because the artist’s own mind was free, clear, and visionary.

EVENTS: Glowing Kites | The national creative workshop for students of art and professional artists Along Čiurlionis’s Paths | International children’s and youth art competition The Colours of Čiurlionis’s Land | Druskininkai stained glass symposium The Reflections of Čiurlionis | Educations | Art and photography exhibitions | Ancient crafts and contemporary art festival The Forge of Life | Social initiative Nepyk | The Herbalist’s Magic | Street Art Festival

The nature of the Druskininkai region, especially Čiurlionis’ beloved Raigardas—the Nemunas Valley near Druskininkai—played a significant role in M. K. Čiurlionis’ work and spiritual maturation. The legends of Raigardas, which he had heard in childhood, were among the factors that influenced Čiurlionis’ national orientation. The impressions of the nature of his native surroundings were far greater and more significant than mere artistic impressions. Nature in Čiurlionis’ work is always mysterious, spiritualized, and anthropomorphized. The harmony between elements of nature—plants, water, and sun—and signs of human activity became the foundation of the most significant aspect of M. K. Čiurlionis’ work: his painted sonatas. This harmony also underscored Čiurlionis’ distinctiveness within the context of European art.

EVENTS: Farewell to the Capital of Culture year | A competition to create a sculpture in honor of Ž. Lipšicas near the Cultural Center | Visualization of M. K. Čiurlionis’ anniversary | Initiative The History of Druskininkai People | Publishing the exhibition catalogues: Jacques Lipchitz (1891–1973) sculptures and litographies and Paintings of Théo Tobiasse (1927–2012) | Unique souvenir, gift-postage stamp Druskininkai – Lithuanian Capital of Culture 2025 | Come and Count the Rings of the Year | Art symposium Sonata of the Stars