About the “Mykolo Tiltai” Festival
“Mykolo Tiltai” is a festival of arts and stories, started in 2025 in Žemaičių Naumiestis.
The first festival attracted great visitor interest and became a significant cultural event: after more than 30 years, the former synagogue was opened, art projects took place in prayer houses of different denominations, and the cultural center was renewed both with a new street art painting outside and a new exhibition space inside.
The essence of the festival is to combine professional art with the creativity of the local community, involving youth, local residents, those originating from this region, those who have left, or those who have various points of contact with Žemaičių Naumiestis.
In 2026, the festival is expanding and becoming a long-term initiative, taking place from spring to autumn. The festival consists of two parts – early summer events and the main festival week from September 21–27, held before the town’s biggest celebration – Mykolines, originating from the name of the Church of St. Archangel Michael in Žemaičių Naumiestis.
Main festival venue – interwar barracks
The former barracks on Ramybės Street are turning into artists’ workshops, residencies, and meeting places.
This is a unique building in the shape of the Columns of Gediminas, recalling the history of the interwar Lithuanian army. It housed the headquarters of the Seventh Infantry Regiment of the Samogitian Duke Butegeidis and one battalion.
After World War II, the building housed a vocational technical school, later a secondary school. In recent years it stood unused, but today the space is coming alive for a new cultural life.
Creative activities and youth involvement
In spring, the creative writing workshop “The Lion’s Journey” took place, led by writer and poetry therapist Jūratė Sučylaitė together with students of Žemaičių Naumiestis Gymnasium.
Currently, the creative workshop “Lion’s Plywood” is underway with street artist Pijus Čeikauskas and local youth.
The created “little lions” will be installed in different spaces around the town.
An important symbol of this place’s identity is the lion, which is on the town’s coat of arms.
Therefore, during the festival, the idea of “lioning” is developed – artistic objects, installations, and routes are created.
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From June 1, students of the Žemaičių Naumiestis Art Department of the Šilutė Art School, together with teacher Aurimas Liekis and street artist Pijus Čeikauskas, will transform the bus stop in the town center into an art object.
In autumn, an interactive map is planned to be created, which will allow independent exploration of the town’s history, architecture, and art objects.
June weekend (5–7)
In Žemaičių Naumiestis, a plein air painting event by the “Baltas Kubas” painting studio, led by artist Kunigunda Dineikaitė, will take place.
On Friday, June 5, the festival will invite to Fish Day. Participants will visit the fish farming workshop, take part in gastronomic workshops, and taste fish dishes prepared by students of the Šilutė Vocational Training Center.
Since Friday has long been market day in Žemaičių Naumiestis, a flea market and exchange will bustle in the former interwar barracks from 4 p.m., along with flower workshops with artist Daina Martinauskaitė.
A tour of the revived building will be led by longtime history teacher Valentina Pielikienė, who taught history at the then vocational school.
Friday evening – “5th Day Festival”!
The festival organized by the Lithuanian Filmmakers’ Union’s “Lithuanian Cinema Club,” AVAKA, and the Cultural Assembly, during which on the 5th day of each month directors present their films throughout Lithuania.
“FILMS to the regions!!!” – In Žemaičių Naumiestis, films by director Dalia Cibauskaitė–Dali Rust, who comes from these surroundings, will be shown, presented by the creator herself and her team.
On Saturday evening, June 6, at 8 p.m., the former Žemaičių Naumiestis synagogue will come alive – a performance by Gliukai Theatre titled “Mystery about Memory.” Participants: performance master Benas
Šarka, actor Jonas Golubovskis, local musicians, community members.
“You can also join and become part of this mystery.
We are waiting for you in Žemaičių Naumiestis – a small town that at first glance seems unremarkable. But here, spaces marked with the lion symbol are carefully preserved, nurtured, and newly opened, building bridges of history preservation, new ideas, contemporary innovations, and community,” the organizers announce.
