European Night of Museum 2025

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, on the eve of International Museum Day, European Museum Night events will be held in Šiauliai, as across Europe. During the evening and night hours, 20 museums and cultural institutions in Šiauliai will open their exhibition doors and invite visitors to explore them free of charge. This year's theme, "My Story and Our History," encourages visitors to discover the stories preserved and highlighted in museums, as well as to share their own memories.

In the context of Museum Night, Šiauliai stands out because the project’s initiator – the Aušros Museum – brings together the city's museums to create a unified Museum Night program. Every year, more museums and museum-related institutions join the initiative. This year, a record number of 20 museums will open their doors to the public – the highest number in recent years.

The event includes participation from 7 branches of the Aušra Museum and 13 other museums and institutions across the city.

This year’s Museum Night theme, “My History and Our History,” invites visitors to explore the stories preserved in museums through exhibitions and evening activities — and to share their own. The theme was inspired by a virtual storytelling platform of the same name, created by museum professionals, where anyone can contribute personal stories and memories. Museums encourage people to write not only about the distant past but also about recent events.

These stories may be personal, family, or community narratives, childhood adventures, everyday observations, and more. Once published, they become part of a collective memory that reveals our historical and cultural experiences, national identity, traditions, and beyond.

Museum admission is FREE.

FULL MUSEUM PROGRAM:

The Chaimas Frenkelis Villa-Museum (Vilniaus st., 74):

• Visit  first-floor exhibitions of the Chaimas Frenkelis Villa-Museum: “Jewish Heritage in Šiauliai: The Frenkel Merchants”, “A Provincial Town.”

• Visit exhibitions “The Worlds of Jurgis Mikševičius” and “Baroque in 19th-Century Engravings from the Collections of the Šiauliai ‘Aušros’ Museum.”

• Presentation of the virtual storytelling platform “My Story and Our History” in the Concert Hall.

• The Bleu de Frenkel restaurant will be open.

• Guided tours “The Path of Museum Object Restoration” in the Restoration Department. Advance registration required.

•From 7 PM to 10 PM, volunteers from the Lithuanian Red Cross will share practical skills and essential information needed in emergency situations.

From 7 PM to midnight in the park:

• Outdoor games
• Outdoor snack bar
• 7 PM – 10 PM: Educational activity “The Spinning Top of Colors” and spinning top contests near the park pavilions of the Chaimas Frenkelis Villa
• 8 PM – 9 PM: Educational activity “Flower Bracelet” in the park of the Chaimas Frenkelis Villa

Concerts:

• 7:00 PM – Ugnė Jankauskytė
• 7:30 PM – Tomas Mackevičius
• 8:30 PM – Gintaras Kiura and the band "Rock On"
• 9:30 PM – Band "Spoons after lunch"
• 10:30 PM – Band "Pymper"

Vanda Kavaliauskienė‘s cat museum (Žuvininkų st. 18):

18:00–22:00 Acquaintance with the exposition of museum, with “museum director” – cat Perlas and six thousand cats from all over the world.

Šiauliai museum of isolator of investigation (Trakų g. 10):

5:00 PM, 6:00 PM, 7:00 

At the museum, you will learn about the penal system, the history of the Šiauliai Remand Prison, the living and leisure conditions of detainees, resocialization projects, the working conditions of staff, and the activities of the institution.

The guided tour will be conducted in Lithuanian.

Pre-registration is required and will open on May 12 on the "Muziejų naktis Šiauliuose" Facebook page. The number of participants is limited. Entry is permitted only with a pass and after security screening. Registered participants will be contacted individually.

Updated – Registration is closed, all groups are full.

Bicycle Museum (Vilniaus St 139):

7:00 PM–12:00 AM — Visit the exhibition “The Bicycle in the World of Technology.”

7:00 PM–9:00 PM — Educational activities for children: painting with tread rollers, sponges, puzzles, and more.

7:00 PM–12:00 AM — Special for Museum Night: a travel bicycle, never before displayed in the exhibition, will be showcased.

7 PM – 10 PM: Volunteers from the Lithuanian Red Cross will provide information and introduce skills needed in emergency situations. (in Lithuanian)

Šiauliai Saulius Sondeckis Art Gymnasium Art Center (P. Višinskis St. 19):

6:00–8:00 PM The Šiauliai Saulius Sondeckis Art Gymnasium Art Center will present its museum, showcasing the institution’s 85-year history and development. Visitors of Museum Night will have the opportunity to see personal belongings of the distinguished figure Prof. Saulius Sondeckis, enjoy audio and video recordings, and take a tour of the gymnasium's facilities.

Military museum (P. Višinskio St. 38):

19.00–22.00 Acquaintance with Lithuanian military and defense development, the partisan wars of the 20th century, army uniforms.

Venclauskiai House-Museum (Vytauto St. 89):

7:00 PM–12:00 AM — Visit the exhibitions presenting the life and activities of the Venclauskiai family and the history of Šiauliai city in the first half of the 20th century.

8:00 PM — Free guided tour of the exhibition “Antanas Smetona: Difficult Choices.”

8:00 PM — Performance by accordionists from the S. Sondeckis Gymnasium of Arts.

7:00 PM–12:00 AM — Educational activity “Shadow Theater: Its Stories and Secrets.”

7:00 PM–12:00 AM — Educational activity “Interwar Decorations: Discovering Art Nouveau.”

7:00 PM–12:00 AM — Educational exhibition “The History of the Litas.” In 2025, it will be 10 years since the Lithuanian currency was replaced by the euro.

8:00 PM–10:00 PM — Scout activities and songs in the Orphan's Garden.

Museum of Water Facilities (Vytauto St. 103):

6PM–11PM Visiting the museum located in one of the highest buildings in the city of Šiauliai - the water supply tower -: the history of the Šiauliai water management company, the stages of development of the water supply and sewage system, the development and modernization of the farm, the traditions of the company's team.

Educational activities:
6:20 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 9:10 p.m. lesson for children "Journey of water drops".
7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. water tasting.

Games "What do you know about tap water?" and "Fish the pollutant".

Jonas Krivickas history museum at Julius Janonis gymnasium (Tilžės st. 137):

7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

In the museum and its cellars, you will discover unique stories and facts about the school, have the opportunity to sit at an old wooden school desk, and study from vintage textbooks.

The Gymnasium Museum is a place where the past meets the present, where every exhibit tells its own story. It is not just about the building or the events — it is also about the people who studied or worked there.
Visitors to the Gymnasium Museum will be invited to share their own school memories, as the history of the gymnasium is still being written.

Baltic culture education centre “Balts’ Road” (Vilniaus st. 213)

7:00 PM – 11:00 PM

The Baltic Culture Education Centre “Balts’ Road” invites you to follow the paths of our ancestors. It is the only interactive center for discovering Baltic culture in Lithuania and Latvia.
Various games and activities transport visitors into the magical world of the ancestors, full of curious objects, important symbols, and fascinating facts.

Here, Baltic culture and history are presented through modern technologies. You will not only refresh your knowledge but also discover something new, "try on" a Baltic profession, and capture the moment in a colorful photo session.

This is a wonderful opportunity to explore Lithuanian history and culture through sensory experiences and play.

Photography Museum (Vilniaus St. 140):

7 PM – 12 AM | 2nd Floor

Exhibition “Freedom to Photography!”
Augmented reality experience “Revived Photographs”
Story-sharing workshop “Tell Your Story”
7 PM – 12 AM | 3rd Floor

Artistic photography multimedia from the Photography Museum collections: “A Retrospective of Šiauliai Photographic Art”
Interactive game “Guess the Author: Photographer or AI?”
Photography LAB: Introduction to analog photography

4th Floor | Gallery

7 PM – 12 AM: Exhibition by Geistė Marija Kinčinaitytė “Slippery Stones”
10 PM – 10:30 PM: Guided tour of the “Slippery Stones” exhibition with the artist Geistė Marija Kinčinaitytė

Rooftop Terrace

7 PM – 9 PM: Poetry Slam: My Story (in collaboration with NGO Begemotas and Šiauliai Art Gallery)
9 PM – 12 AM: Positive Vinyl Vibrations with Mantas Ri and Arturo Vai – a mix of radio waves and electronic music

Throughout the Photography Museum

7 PM – 12 AM: Photo Safari – virtual animal photo hunt

Siauliai art gallery (Vilniaus g. 245):

7:00 PM–11:00 PM

Šiauliai Art Gallery invites you to discover the new Šiauliai photography art exhibition “Résumé II”.

Radio and Television Museum (Vilniaus St. 174):

• 7:00 PM–12:00 AM — Visit the exhibition “Sound and Image Playback Devices.”
• 7:00 PM–9:00 PM — Stories by members of the “Radio Operators' Association” about radio communications and adventures on the airwaves.
• 9:00 PM–11:00 PM — In the filming studio, visitors will have the opportunity to record themselves sharing a story, event, or memory of their choice, which will later be published on the virtual storytelling platform “My Story and Our History.”

Court History Museum of Šiauliai District Court (Dvaro St 83):

6:00 PM, 7:30 PM, 9:00 PM
Advance registration is required. Registration opens on May 5.
The tour will be conducted in Lithuanian. Updated – Registration is closed, all groups are full.

At the Šiauliai Regional Court’s Court History Museum — the only museum of its kind in Lithuania — you will find fascinating exhibits ranging from 16th-century documents to modern-day court rulings. You can explore interwar and Soviet-era judges' offices, medieval torture instruments, judges' robes, and much more! You will also learn about courts, their history, and the profession of a judge.

During the Museum Night, visitors will have the opportunity to discover new exhibits and stories about: judges' robes from Latvia and Estonia, the Ukrainian law enforcement system, constitutional courts around the world, 19th-century alphabetical lists of convicted persons from the Kaunas Regional Court of Tsarist Russia (Šiauliai city and district were within its jurisdiction) — presented in three volumes — legal codes of that era, and more.

Šiauliai Cinema Museum (Aušros alley st. 15)

6PM–10PM Exposition of Šiauliai film history. Film retrospective “Šiauliai in Films”

Šiauliai History Museum (Aušros al. 47)

7:00 PM–12:00 AM
Visit the exhibitions:
• The Past of the Šiauliai Region from the Earliest Times to the 15th Century
• Šiauliai from the 15th Century to World War I
• Open Storage Exhibition — The Museum's "Golden Fund"

Lower Ground Floor

• 7:00 PM–10:00 PM — Educational activity “Archaeological Costume: Twisting Cords with Pebbles”
• 7:00 PM–9:30 PM — Exhibition “Archaeological Puzzle: Secrets of Šiauliai Manor” and educational activities.

2nd Floor

• 7:00 PM–10:00 PM — Educational activity “Penmanship Lesson in an Interwar Primary School Classroom.”

• 7 PM – 10 PM: Volunteers from the Lithuanian Red Cross will provide information and introduce skills needed in emergency situations. (in Lithuanian)

3rd Floor

• 7:00 PM–9:00 PM — Educational activity “Signs and Symbols” in the Crafts School classroom.

The house of artist Gerardas Bagdonavičius (Aušros al. 84)

6:00 PM–10:00 PM

The house-studio of Gerardas Bagdonavičius, one of the most renowned artists of Šiauliai in the 20th century, is among the most striking examples of wooden interwar modernist architecture in the city. It was designed by architect Karolis Reisonas together with Gerardas Bagdonavičius himself.

The artist lived here from 1936 to 1986 and had established a private drawing studio, so the building holds memories not only of Bagdonavičius but also of many other famous figures. In 2018, the house was restored and refurbished, with part of the interior spaces dedicated to presenting the artist's life and work.

Visitors have the opportunity to explore the spaces where Bagdonavičius lived and created, gaining insights into the spirit of the period and the vibrant artistic life of Šiauliai between the wars.

Šiauliai Railroad Museum (Dubijos St 26)

The Šiauliai Railroad Museum invites you to embark on an exciting journey through the history of Lithuanian transport. You will explore the ways people traveled by land, air, and water, discover various vehicles, hear unexpected stories, and learn about current developments.

From 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, a journey through the world of transport awaits you:

· Locomotive Station: listen to authentic stories from the old times
· Aviation Station: discover the equipment and secrets of the Šiauliai Air Force Base
· Train Station: explore a modern locomotive and railcar
· Automobile Station: rediscover the historic cars of the "Old Wheels Club"
· Aeroclub Station: view a glider from the "Šiauliai Aeroclub"
· Sailors’ Station: learn about water transport traditions and catch the wind with the "Tytuvėnai Green Wind Club" land yachts
· Exiles’ Station: preserve historical memory with the "Šiauliai Exiles Club"
· Sleeping Car Station: find a different story or activity in every compartment
· Cinema Station: stop by for a film screening inside a train car

Žaliūkiai Village Miller's Farmstead-Museum (Architektų St. 73)

7:00 PM–12:00 AM — Visit the exhibitions at the Žaliūkiai Village Miller's Farmstead-Museum: the Žaliūkiai Windmill and the open storage of household items in the Barn.

In the Farmhouse:

• 7:00 PM — The history of the Žaliūkiai Village Miller's Farmstead-Museum on film:
• “The Žaliūkiai Windmill Barn” by Saulius Pučinskas
• “It Waves Its Wings Again” by Ramūnas Snarskis
• “Educational Programs in the Miller’s House” by Ramūnas Snarskis

• 10:00 PM — Lecture by astronomer Vacys Jankus: “The Sky Above Us.” (in Lithuanian)

Around the Homestead:

• 7:00 PM — Melodies by the folk ensemble “Siautulys” (directed by Birutė Peledienė) near the barn.
• From 7:00 PM until dusk — Shepherds' traditional activities: baking shepherds’ bread, crafting and playing whistles, roasting potatoes in embers, tasting herbal teas, and playing outdoor games.
• 11:00 PM — Stargazing session with Vacys Jankus, head of the Astrophysics Club at Šiauliai Technical Creativity Center, and young astrophysicists. (in Lithuanian)
• 11:00 PM — Guided tour “Walking Around the Barn” with museum curator Rimvydas Tamulaitis in the barn — the tour will be conducted in Lithuanian.
• 12:00 AM — Midnight tour with the miller at the Žaliūkiai Windmill — the tour will be conducted in Lithuanian.

The school museum of Šiauliai Rėkyva (Poilsio st. 1)

At 6:00 PM, The school museum of Šiauliai Rėkyva invites you to the "Night of Museums" event — an interactive walk surrounded by nature titled "Interactive Walks in the Rėkyva Neighborhood: A QR Journey from the Lake to the Street."

Before starting the interactive walk, participants will have the opportunity to explore THE SCHOOL MUSEUM OF ŠIAULIAI REKYVA and its exhibits.

Activity location: THE SCHOOL MUSEUM OF ŠIAULIAI REKYVA, the Rėkyva neighborhood in Šiauliai (public outdoor spaces), and the grounds of the progymnasium.

Meeting point: THE SCHOOL MUSEUM OF ŠIAULIAI REKYVA (Poilsio St. 1, Šiauliai).

Number of participants: only one group of participants will take part in the interactive walk at a time. One group flow is organized.

Pre-registration is required and will be announced starting May 5 on the "Museum Night in Šiauliai" Facebook page. The number of participants is limited. Registered participants will be contacted individually.

This activity is intended for participants of all ages — from young schoolchildren to seniors — offering an opportunity to discover THE SCHOOL MUSEUM OF ŠIAULIAI REKYVA and the Rėkyva neighborhood. The goal is to present their cultural, historical, and social values using technological solutions — QR codes.
It is a unique interactive cultural journey that reveals the rich history of the Rėkyva neighborhood.