On 14 September, on the occasion of the European Heritage Days, for the second year in a row, a traditional event took place – “Open Courtyards Day in Wooden Šnipiškės”. This year it was even bigger and more impressive – 12 courtyards were opened to visitors, where 25 creative and educational activities, workshops, installations and exhibitions took place, and the event was attended by more than 500 curious visitors from all over Vilnius and other Lithuanian cities. On a sunny Saturday in Vilnius, people were “spying” in abundance – wandering the narrow streets of Wooden Snipiski, exploring hidden courtyards and enjoying the uniqueness of the area. Residents themselves share their thoughts and impressions of the last event. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJhVHl6KJaY This year’s meeting point was the Šnipiškės Square, which has become the ‘Bendryste’ courtyard. During the celebration, residents and visitors had a rare opportunity to experience the spirit of Wooden Šnipiškės. “It’s the people, not the buildings, that matter. This event is about neighbourhood, community and trust – after all, it takes courage to let strangers into your yard, into your barn,” said Dalia Cibauskaitė, an active resident of Wooden Šnipiškės and one of the organisers of the event. During the celebration, local creators and artists presented their works and activities. Dalia admitted that although she did not present her own work this year, she brought the work of others to show, and watched and made sure that everything went smoothly. This year she was impressed by the shining eyes and creative atmosphere of the visitors. Events like this encourage openness and trust, and above all the joy of living and sharing it with others!
Artist Elena Laurinavičiūtė’s installation “Air Scalpels” invited visitors to immerse themselves in the mystical atmosphere of a former social housing. “I wanted visitors to feel the ghostly spirit of this apartment. The reactions varied from surprise to curious stares. It reminded me how important it is to keep Šnipiškės alive and communal.” The developers’ stories and the exhibitions captivated many of the participants. Miroslavas Bielinis, an old resident of Šnipiškės and a former long-standing elder of the district, stressed the importance of contributing to local development, reminding the audience of the history of this unique district and the values of this place, which are significant not only for the local population but also for the whole of Vilnius. The creators unanimously stressed that such events help not only to preserve the authenticity of the district, but also to create new links between community members.
Community voice and dialogue with decision-makers
Before the “Open Courtyards Day in Wooden Šnipiškės” on 12 September, active local residents invited invited invited guests – politicians, municipality employees, businessmen and real estate developers – to a walking tour of the historical streets of Šnipiškės, which are less familiar to many. Over a cup of coffee in the new Šnipiškės Square, the local values, needs and potential of the residents were discussed. This was the first time that a public debate was organised on the initiative of local residents, where art, science and mythology merged with visions for the development of the district.
“With this excursion we not only wanted the decision makers to feel the unique spirit of the place, the special atmosphere created by the slow life, but we also wanted to draw their attention to the challenges that the area is facing in order to preserve it, the future of this territory and the whole Giedraičiai Elderly Township,” said one of the organisers of the event, architect Agnė Leonavičiūtė-Gabrėnienė from Šnipiškės, who is working on her thesis on the town. She stressed that the voice of the inhabitants is clear – Wooden Šnipiškės can become a sustainable and culturally rich part of the city if local needs are taken into account. Agnė continued that we often hear that people only criticise but do not offer anything. The inhabitants of Wooden Šnipiškės do not criticise, but tell us how green, unique and interesting their living environment is. It is already a place that is visited by tourists in large numbers, combining not only cultural-historical but also socio-ecological, use-recreational values, and it has a great potential to become a phenomenon, not only locally, but also in the whole of Vilnius.
Community and creativity – inspiration for future projects
Speaking about the event with open courtyards on 14 September, Vilnius residents and guests from other Lithuanian cities were excited about the opportunity to discover a side of Šnipiškės that has not yet been discovered. During the tour, Ms Vida-Vidonija shared her experience: “My tour is like a fantasy journey through a fairy-tale world. I wanted people to feel that miracles lie here, among the wooden houses. Many of the participants were walking these streets for the first time and enjoyed the opportunity to ‘whisper’.
“The Open Yard Day in Wooden Šnipiškės not only brought together local residents and curious people, but also inspired new projects and ideas. The living heritage and creativity in this unique place revealed the spirit of Šnipiškės – neighbourly, creative and authentic. Guests from all over Lithuania had the opportunity not only to learn about the history of the place, but also to get involved in creative activities, workshops and exhibitions. Participants felt the warm atmosphere, were inspired to live slowly, enjoyed the blooming flower gardens and the natural greenery of the city that has been preserved here. Mindaugas Ratavičius, a wood craftsman, who gave an educational talk about the wooden window being restored, stressed that it was a feast for the soul, where everyone could find a corner that was close to them.
Residents’ events are an important part of the city
Both events created a platform where local people could present their environmental problems directly. The “Open Courtyards Day in Wooden Šnipiškės” showed that criticism can become a constructive dialogue, inviting decision makers to pay attention to the potential of Wooden Šnipiškės and to the need to find solutions that would preserve this unique heritage site in Vilnius. The organisers of the event stressed that this is not only an initiative of local people, but also an opportunity to cooperate in order to achieve sustainable development of the city. The event, which brought together local residents and visitors, showed that Wooden Šnipiškės has great potential to become an important part of the city, promoting cultural tourism and sustainable development, and that the local community is committed to not only preserving, but also nurturing this living heritage. Events such as the Open Courtyard Day are becoming an increasingly important part of the city, drawing attention to valuable but less visible heritage and involving the wider community in discussions about the future of the city for us all.
Photo by Gabriele Pauraitė
