2011
March 16
Focus: Culture
The
Vilnius Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International and Consulate General
of the Republic of Lithuania hosted the Independence Day of Lithuania reception
at the Chicago Cultural Center's Preston Bradley Hall. The reception included
the presentation of the works of renowned Lithuanian artist M. K.Čiurlionis and
a piano performance.
2010
January 21
Focus: Culture
The third Lithuanian Film Festival was held in Chicago.
March 11
Focus: Culture
Re-dedication
Ceremony of the "Darius and Girenas" plaque at Midway Airport.
November
Focus: Culture
Mr. Audronius Ažubalis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, visited Chicago.
2009
February
Focus: Culture
The Vilnius Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International and the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture invited guests to the Shrove Tuesday Celebration (Lithuania's Mardi Gras) at the Balzekas Museum on Saturday, February 21. Shrove Tuesday celebrated the end of winter. It also marked the last day before Lend and seven weeks before Easter.
March
Focus: Culture & Government
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lithuania presented the Star of Lithuania's Millennium Award to the Balzekas Museum of the Lithuanian Culture for the preservation of Lithuanian culture and history and promotion of Lithuanian folk art in the United States. Vilnius Committee Chair, Stanley Balzekas, created the museum in 1966 and presides as president of Board of Directors.
Focus: Culture
The Vilnius Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, in partnership with the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, invited guests to participate in the Easter Egg Decorating Workshop on March 28 at the Balzekas Museum.
March 6-9
Focus: Government
The Honorable
Vygaudas Ušackas, Minister of Foreign Affairs
April
A Lithuanian painting exhibition at Balzekas Museum by painter Marcia Wegman was held.
April 24
Focus: Government
The Honorable
Vilius Navickas, Mayor of Vilnius and Mrs. Jolanta Navickienė
May
Focus: Art
The Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, in partnership with the Vilnius Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, presented an exhibition of Lithuania by Iowa painter Marcia Wegman of landscapes, people and farm animals.
The Lithuanian Student association at the University of Illinois at Chicago, in partnership with the Vilnius Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International and the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania, was presented as an event dedicated to the Millennium of the Lithuanian State.
June
"The Soviet Story" film screening in commemoration of the Day of Mourning and Hope.
July
On the occasion of Lithuania's Millennium 2009 and Day of Statehood, the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, in cooperation with the Lithuanian American Community, Inc., Cultural Coucil, the Lithuanian National Museum (Vilnius, Lithuania) and Vilnius Committee of the Chicago Sister Cities International, hosted the opening reception of the fold art exhibit "Wayside Shrine and Cross Crafting in Lithuania".
September
Vidmantas Vaitkevicius Exhibition of paintings on silk of Lituanian architecture and landscapes
October 1-4
Focus: Medical
Dr. Laima Grinyte from the Institute of Oncology, Vilnius University participated in the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium – Sister Cities Medical Initiative.
2008
November 17
Focus: Culture
The Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in Chicago, in collaboration with the International House at the University of Chicago and the Vilnius Committee, presented a multimedia collaboration between Gabriellus Alekna (piano), Kestutis Stanciauskas (bass, composer, director) and Nora Ausriene (Ceramiscist, Curator). This project pursued a singular artistic vision committed to expanding the range, context and exploration of the synthesis of Classical, Jazz, World Jazz, The Visual Arts and Lithuanian Folk Song traditions.
2007
November 12
Focus: Culture
The Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in Chicago, in collaboration with the International House at the University of Chicago and the Vilnius Committee, presented a multi-media collaboration between Gabrielius Alekna (piano), Kestutis Stanciauskas (Bass, Composer, Director) and Nora Ausriene (Ceramicist, Curator) at the International House at the University of Chicago. This project pursues a singular artistic vision committed to expanding the range, context and exploration of the synthesis of Classical, Jazz, World Jazz, The Visual Arts and Lithuanian Folk Song traditions.
2006
March 12
Focus: Culture
The Vilnius Committee partnered with The Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania to host the screening of the film, “A Land of Glass,” at the Gene Siskel Film Center as part of the 9th Annual European Film Festival. At the reception prior to the film screening, the director, Janina Lapinskaite, and Professor Nakas of Roosevelt University gave a brief presentation on Lithuanian film to an audience of around 200 people.
2005
April 26
Focus: General
Working in collaboration with The Chicago Public Library, The Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest, the Vilnius and Petach Tikva Committees hosted the Chicago premiere of Ponar, a documentary film by Racheli Schwartz at Harold Washington Library’s Cindy Pritzker Auditorium. “Ponar” is the amazing, true story of the 1943 song competition held in the Vilna Ghetto (Vilnius, Lithuania), told sixty years later through the eyes of the contest winner and Holocaust survivor.
2004
June 30-July 3
Focus: Culture
The Vilnius Committee assisted with the 12th Annual Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival held at Daley Plaza and at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL.
2003
October 25-28
Focus: Government
The Mayor of Vilnius visited Chicago and held several meetings, including a courtesy call with Mayor Daley. During his stay in Chicago, Mayor Arturas Zuokas was presented with the Man of the Year Award from the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture at a banquet in his honor.
2002
September 7-14
Focus: Economic
The Vilnius Committee organized the visit of a trade mission from Lithuania in Chicago.
Fall
Focus: Culture
A group of jazz musicians traveled to Vilnius to play at a festival.
2001
Focus: Culture
The photography exhibition Discover Chicago was on display in Vilnius as a part of the Chicago Festival.
2000
Focus: Culture
The Vilnius Committee planned a concert of the Vilnius String Quartet at the Chicago Cultural Center as a part of a weeklong festival celebrating the life and work of Lithuanian composer and artist Makalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis on the 125th Anniversary of his birth.
1999
Focus: Culture
The Lithuanian Minister of Culture was hosted in Chicago by the Vilnius Committee.
1998
Focus: Culture
Contemporary Lithuanian textile art was exhibited at the Chicago Cultural Center
1997
Focus: Culture
The Vilnius String Quartet performed at the Chicago Cultural Center in Preston Bradley Hall.
Focus: Culture
Pianist Muza Rubackyte performed in the Lithuanian Youth Center in Chicago.
1996
Focus: Economic
Mayor & Mrs. Alis Vidunas visited Chicago in honor of the opening of the Chicago-Vilnius Trade Center. Mayor Vidunas met with Mayor Richard M. Daley and the Vilnius Committee, which planned his itinerary.
1995
Focus: Government
Director of Protocol for the City of Chicago, Rosalie Clark, visited Vilnius with a special message of congratulations to newly elected Mayor Alis Vidunas from Mayor Richard M. Daley.
1994
Focus: Economic
Vilnius Committee Chair Stanley Balzekas led a business and investment delegation to Vilnius.
1993
July
Focus: Signing
Mayor Richard M. Daley and the Honorable Vytautas Jasulaitis, Mayor of Vilnius, signed a friendship city agreement at the Chicago Cultural Center. Mr. Stanley Balzekas, founder and director of the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, was named Chair of the Chicago-Vilnius Sister City Committee.
Focus: Culture
A delegation consisting of the Mayor of Vilnius, the President of the Vilnius City Council, the Chief City Architect and the Deputy of City Council met with City of Chicago Departments of International Trade Services, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.
