Activities of cultural institutions

In 2020, there were 106 museums* in our country, of which 4 – national, 15 – republican, 54 – municipal, 10 – non-state, and 23 – departmental museums. Over the year, because of quarantine, the number of museum visitors totalled 2.8 million, or by 2.7 million (49 per cent) less than in 2019. The highest number of visitors was received by the Lithuanian Sea Museum (422 thousand), National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania (230 thousand), Lithuanian National Museum of Art (172 thousand) and National Museum of Lithuania (140 thousand).

In 2020, museums organised 1,508 exhibitions, of which 67 – international (in 2019, 1,878 and 164 respectively), issued 103 publications on museum activities (in 2018, 103 as well). The number of exhibits of the museum stock totalled 7 million 682.5 thousand, although only 384.9 thousand (5 per cent) of them were exhibited.

In 2020, Lithuanian cinemas received 1.6 million cinemagoers, which is by 2.2 million less than a year ago due to the quarantine. Over the year, one resident would visit cinema, on average, 0.6 times. Last year, the total number of cinema halls amounted to 128. In total, there were 20.6 thousand seats in cinemas. There were, on average, 0.5 thousand showings per cinema hall. Over the year, cinemas’ revenue generated from tickets sold decreased from EUR 21.6 million to EUR 8.6 million (by 60.2 per cent).

In 2020, there were 1 million 38 thousand registered library users in all 2,304 Lithuania’s libraries, or by 95 thousand (8.3 per cent) less than in 2019. There were, on average, 450 registered users per library. Over the year, one user would visit a library, on average, 12.2 times. The number of both libraries and readers is decreasing each year.

There are 49 theatres in our country, of which 13 public and 36 private. In 2020, they gave 3.3 thousand performances, which were visited by 561 thousand theatregoers. Over the year, the number of new and renewed performances given by public theatres amounted to 91. In 2020, 7 state concert agencies arranged 385 concerts with 179 thousand visitors.

In 2020, there were 634 cultural centres in the country with 3.5 thousand amateur art groups, studies and circles, which held 38.4 thousand concerts and other cultural events.

Total by country

125

114

129

134

212

291

309

356

383

271

France

4

7

7

9

20

32

31

23

45

45

United Kingdom

5

5

6

11

19

10

5

7

26

23

Lithuania

2

1

2

10

10

13

13

24

37

23

Russia

4

8

7

12

19

26

27

31

21

Germany

1

1

2

1

11

4

4

7

13

9

Spain

2

2

1

3

3

5

3

4

2

Other European countries

10

7

8

10

16

38

60

88

67

42

United States

95

87

93

81

108

162

158

142

138

89

Other countries

4

4

2

13

8

9

37

22

17

Number of theatres

State theatre

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

13

Non-state theatre

26

26

26

26

24

24

39

37

38

36

Number of theatregoers, thousand

State theatre

594

625

645

659

719

753

767

709

765

305

Non-state theatre

256

233

407

564

735

526

628

643

698

256

Performances and other entertainment

State theatre

2,752

2,760

2,732

2,710

3,113

3,361

3,521

2,830

2,880

1,496

Non-state theatre

1,768

1,757

2,190

2,910

2,988

2,806

3,757

3,910

4,243

1,804

Revenue from the sale of tickets, EUR thousand

State theatre

4,379

4,639

5,022

5,467

6,370

6,773

7,138

8,353

7,882

3,058

Non-state theatre

920

929

1,658

4,540

5,048

5,738

6,798

6,393

7,345

2,729

The function of dissemination of professional musical culture both in the country and abroad is performed by seven state concert organisations:

• The National Philharmonic Society of Lithuania

• The Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra

• The Lithuanian State Wind Orchestra "Trimitas"

• The State Song and Dance Ensemble "Lietuva"

• The State Chamber Choir "Polifonija"

• The Vilnius State Choir

• Kaunas State Philharmonic Society

In addition to the direct concert activity, the above mentioned institutions arrange international festivals and competitions in the field of professional arts in our country.