The National Museum of Lithuania’s (LNM) residency space “Kūrybatorija” and its museum education development programme “Marta” have started a summer residency programme for museum educators. This year, educators are gathering at “Kūrybatorija”, located in the Jonas Šliūpas Museum in Palanga (Vytauto g. 23A), where they are developing their skills through the programme “History for All: Visitor Engagement and Memorable Experiences in Museums”. The first residency session welcomed early-career educators from national and state museums across Lithuania.

The first day of the residency focused on introductions and building connections. With the guidance of residency mentor Inga Norkūnienė – an educator and creator of innovative interdisciplinary learning programmes and educational projects – participants explored their strengths and unique qualities, and began shaping their personal approach to museum education.

During the intensive creative residency, educators acted as observers, researchers, creators, and evaluators. They explored theoretical and practical aspects of cultural education, created new educational tools, and developed their competencies by preparing and adapting activities for different audiences. After testing their activities, they shared insights and learned from direct experience.

The residents visited the experimental “Šliūpas Laboratory” at the Jonas Šliūpas Museum, took part in a cultural mediation session at the exhibition “Shapes of Respite”, and explored interactive educational activities. The museum team shared their experience with the newcomers, highlighted the importance of education and cultural mediation, and helped participants see the museum visitor not only as a consumer of culture, but as an active participant – someone who comes not just to look, but to reflect, engage, and share emotional responses.

On the final day of the residency, a networking session brought together the educators in residence, the Jonas Šliūpas Museum team, and colleagues from the Palanga Amber Museum and the Clock and Watch Museum in Klaipėda, both branches of the Lithuanian National Museum of Art. Participants discussed shared challenges in their work, the role of educators in shaping programme goals and workloads, and opportunities for collaboration. They considered creating a joint educational programme that could combine different cultural fields – such as history and photography – reflect contemporary storytelling practices, and be adapted for similarly aged audiences across multiple museums.

The residency included participants from the Contemporary Art Centre, the Open Air Museum of Lithuania, the National Museum of Lithuania, the Šiauliai “Aušra” Museum, the Vilnius Museum, and the Kretinga Museum. Having formed close ties, the residents promised to continue the tradition of educator residencies – and to return again to “Kūrybatorija”.

Photos by Aldas Kazlauskas