Lithuanian minister heads to Warsaw to discuss support for Ukraine's cultural heritage

VILNIUS – Lithuanian Culture Minister Sarunas Birutis is heading to Warsaw on Monday for an informal meeting of EU culture ministers.

The two-day meeting will focus on supporting Ukraine's cultural heritage, the role of culture in strengthening democratic resilience, and the challenges facing young artists across Europe, the Lithuanian Culture Ministry said.

Ministers will also discuss the EU's cultural policy priorities and cooperation in crisis preparedness.

Birutis is expected to speak about Lithuania's efforts to protect cultural heritage, social support for artists, and the importance of preserving historical memory and cultural identity in times of conflict.

The event will include a presentation of this week's UREHERIT conference in Vilnius.

UREHERIT is a Lithuania-led project co-funded by the Creative Europe program. It aims to assess, preserve, and restore Ukraine's urban and architectural heritage during and after the war.

The Culture Ministry has said that more than 1,500 evacuated pieces of Ukrainian cultural heritage are currently being preserved, restored and presented to the public in Lithuania. Training programs are also helping to strengthen the skills of Ukrainian specialists.