Marta: Museum Skills Development Program

From 2023 to 2025, the National Museum of Lithuania is implementing a centralized museum competency development program for professionals working in national and state museums, titled Marta.

The name Marta etymologically means “leader, hostess,” and when expanded into the context of a museum space, could be interpreted as “mentor, curator.” It is a place for development, growth, and most importantly – the sharing of knowledge.

As part of the program, training sessions, seminars, internships, and residencies are organized on relevant museology topics. These are led by highly qualified lecturers from Lithuania and abroad. Museum professionals not only gain the opportunity to learn from leading international examples, but also to return and share their knowledge with colleagues in Lithuania, thereby contributing to the growth of the entire sector.

The need for a consistent museum competency development program became apparent in 2017, when the qualification development needs of museum workers in Lithuania were analyzed. The study showed that only 10 percent of respondents felt they had sufficient knowledge and skills.

In 2023, the Ministry of Culture decided to organize museum competency development as a continuous centralized program and entrusted this task to the National Museum of Lithuania. The program involves specialists from national and state museums (a total of 17 institutions) and the Contemporary Art Centre.

About

  • Create a unified system for developing museum-related competencies to enhance professional skills
  • Organize study visits abroad and train potential lecturers to adopt best practices
  • Initiate training sessions in Lithuania involving both Lithuanian and international experts
  • Establish a network of museum competency lecturers

National Museums

Lithuanian National Museum of Art
National Museum of Lithuania
M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art
Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania – National Museum

State Museums

Ninth Fort Museum of Kaunas
Lithuanian Aviation Museum
Lithuanian Museum of Ethnocosmology
Lithuanian Sea Museum
Open-Air Museum of Lithuania
Museum of the History of Lithuanian Education
Lithuanian Theatre, Music and Cinema Museum
Maironis Museum of Lithuanian Literature
Šiauliai “Aušra” Museum
Trakai History Museum
Vilna Gaon Museum of Jewish History
Samogitian Museum “Alka”

Other
Contemporary Art Centre

2025 Program

The 2025 internship program offers selected museum professionals the opportunity to visit France, the Czech Republic, the United States, and Italy. Participants become acquainted with international museum practices, deepen their knowledge on key topics, and build professional connections. Upon returning, they share their experiences with colleagues in Lithuania – spreading knowledge more broadly and strengthening the competencies of the entire sector.

2025 Internships

  • May 19–23 – Internship in France, Paris, on the topic “Exhibition Development”

  • June 9–13 – Internship in the Czech Republic, Prague, on the topic “Museum Education”

  • September 7–13 – Internship in the USA, Washington, D.C., on the topic “Collection Outreach”

  • November 10–14 – Internship in Italy, on the topic “Collections Management”

The MARTA program, launched in 2023, revealed the importance of sharing knowledge and international experience for the museum sector. Participants returning from internships abroad inspire their colleagues in Lithuania with new ideas, encouraging change and fostering collaboration between museums.

Responding to this need, a new initiative – Little MARTA – was launched in 2025. This program involves visits to various museums across Lithuania, the exchange of best practices among colleagues, and the sharing of knowledge, ideas, and solutions to overcome various challenges. It is a space to learn from one another, build professional relationships, and grow together.

The 2025 Little MARTA program consists of four thematic visits exploring key topics in contemporary museology: open storage, interactivity, object protection, and sustainability.

Kūrybatorija is a new residency program for museum educators launched in 2025.

This newly established initiative offers museum educators and professionals the opportunity to create, collaborate, and explore innovative educational solutions. The program encourages experience-sharing, knowledge development, and the strengthening of professional connections – all while shaping inclusive and memorable museum experiences.

The Educators’ Camp is an annual event designed to help museum educators enhance their professional skills and share experiences.

The 2025 camp program covers several key topics: sensory accessibility, body language, and storytelling. Experts from Lithuania, Denmark, and Sweden will take part in the event. Participants will gain practical knowledge on how to create inclusive and multifaceted educational experiences, apply body language and sensory-based methods, tell stories effectively, and engage with diverse audiences.

In 2025, professional training sessions and seminars for Lithuanian museum professionals continue, aiming to develop key competencies, share best practices, and strengthen the museum community.

The program invites experienced experts from Lithuania and abroad who help deepen knowledge and encourage creativity in museum work.

Contacts

Head of the program: Brigita Sinickienė
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +370 616 72380

For inquiries, please contact: [email protected]