Six artists awarded national culture, art prizes in Lithuania

VILNIUS - Six artists have been awarded the Lithuanian National Prizes for Culture and Art this year, including poet Alvydas Slepikas, film director Marija Kavtaradze and artist Darius Ziura, dancer and choreographer Biruta Komskiene, painter Arvydas Saltenis, as well as artist and art critic Laimute Kreivyte, Arunas Gelunas, chairman of the award commission and director of the Lithuanian National Museum of Art, announced on Tuesday.

A total of 12 artists were shortlisted for the prizes, picked after the commission's intermediate vote after evaluating the works of 37 candidates in the field of culture and art.

The Lithuanian National Prizes for Culture and Art are awarded for the most significant works of culture and art, created by creators in Lithuania or by the expatriate community over the last 7 years as well as their lifelong work.

The annually awarded prizes amount to 800 times the size of the basic social benefit, amounting to 44,000 euros. 

The winners typically receive the diplomas and insignia at the Presidential Palace on February 16.