The 22nd European Meeting of Cultural Journals

Conference The 22nd European Meeting of Cultural Journals will take place in Vilnius, Lithuania, from 8 to 11 May. This year's meeting is organized by Eurozine in cooperation with its Lithuanian partner Kulturos barai and Vilnius: European Capital of Culture 2009. More than 100 editors and intellectuals from Europe's leading cultural journals will be participating. The programme includes seminars and debates as well as an exhibition displaying journals from more than 30 countries.

Theme

European histories

European Histories Under the heading "European Histories", the conference will explore the role of history and memory in forming new identities in a Europe in change. Panel discussions, featuring writers, journalists and academics of various cultural and intellectual backgrounds, will concentrate on topics including "1945: Balancing the books", "Dilemma '89" and "Jewish life and thought in eastern Europe".

Speakers and panellists include Antonin J. Liehm, Timothy Snyder, Leonidas Donskis, Martin Simecka, Irena Veisaite, and Dina Khapaeva.

Location

Vilnius, Lithuania

Cultural capital We are especially happy to be able to hold the meeting in the city of Vilnius, a particularly suitable location for a discussion of "European histories". Vilnius, and Lithuania as such, experienced central chapters of twentieth-century European history: occupation by two totalitarian powers, deportation and genocide, but also a history of resistance, culminating in the achievement of independence in 1990.

Vilnius is one of two European capitals of culture 2009. It boasts eastern Europe's biggest baroque old town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), also the site of Vilnius University.

Conference venues

Palaces and Vilnius University The conference opening will take place at the Vilnius Presidential Palace (Prezidentura), the official residence of the President of Lithuania.

The main conference venue is Vilnius University, which occupies a large section of the Old Town of Vilnius. Founded by Jesuits in 1579, Vilnius University is one of the oldest and historically most important universities in eastern Europe. Famous alumni include Adam Mickiewicz and Czeslaw Milosz.

The closing event will take place at Verkiu Palace (find pictures here), an 18th century neoclassical mansion just outside Vilnius.

Travel

How to get there Although Vilnius has an international airport, it is highly advisable to book tickets well in advance because of the high volume of travel due to events in connection with the European capital of cultur. Several airlines operate daily flights to Vilnius.

Note that Ryanair flies to Kaunas Airport, where there is a frequent bus service to Vilnius.

International train connections are limited, but there is a daily connection between Warsaw and Vilnius. Travelling by bus is an option from the eastern European neighbouring countries, and there is even a direct service from Rome (via Vienna, Cracow, Warsaw and Kaunas)!

Getting from the airport to the hotel

Getting from the Vilnius airport ("Tarptautinio Vilniaus oro uostas") to the city centre can be easily and relatively inexpensively arranged by taxi. The trip should only take about fifteen minutes.

Alternatively you can take the no. 1 bus (direction Stotis) to Aguonu St. and walk to the hotel (ca. 200 m) (Public transport in Vilnius, optimal route search).

Hotel

Hotel Conti

Accommodation For the three nights of the conference, all participants will stay in the Conti Viesbutis Hotel. The hotel is located in the city centre, within walking distance of the conference venues.

Extra nights
To organize extra nights, please contact the hotel directly.

Hotel Conti
Raugyklos Str. 7/2
LT-01140 Vilnius
Phone: +370 5 251 41 11
Fax: +370 5 251 41 00
E-mail: info@contihotel.lt
Web: http://www.contihotel.lt

Co-organizers

Patrons of the project

The President of the Republic of Lithuania

Vilnius University

Vilnius Academy of Arts

Main sponsor

Patrons of the Programme "Vilnius - European Capital of Culture 2009"

Official culture partner "Vilnius - European Capital of Culture 2009"

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