2012 metais įkurtas Rupert meno, rezidencijų ir edukacijos centras per savo nenutrūkstamos veiklos laikotarpį suteikė sąlygas tobulėti per 300 kūrėjų iš Lietuvos ir viso pasaulio.
Liepos 27 d. Lietuvos kultūros tarybos sprendimu patvirtinta, jog pirmą kartą strateginių kultūros organizacijų sąraše 2025–2027 metais Rupert nebebus. Strateginis finansavimas padeda mums vykdyti pagrindinę veiklą ir leidžia Rupert kartu su menininkais įgyvendinti ambicingus projektus. Šis sprendimas priimtas nepaisant išaugusios vietinės ir tarptautinės „Rupert“ programų paklausos, kurią rodo paraiškų dalyvauti mūsų programose kiekiai, augantis viešų Rupert renginių lankomumas ir daugybė mūsų alumnų projektų Lietuvoje ir užsienyje.
Nors tai sunki žinia, esame pasiryžę ir toliau remti bei kurti saugią erdvę rizikingoms, eksperimentinėms ir apgalvotoms kūrybinėms praktikoms.
Rupert ir toliau išlieka įsipareigojęs įgyvendinti šią viziją ir paversti šią sudėtingą akimirką optimistine ateitimi. Maloniai prašome pasidalyti, kaip jūsų dalyvavimas ir buvimas Rupert programose paveikė jūsų kūrybinį tobulėjimą.
Esame be galo dėkingi už jūsų paramą!
Apačioje – Rupert bendruomenės narių atsiliepimai (originalo kalba).
SU RUPERT NUO 2023:
BARNETT COHEN
‘Being in-residence at Rupert in 2023 has had an extremely positive impact on my artistic practice. The residency provided me with the necessary time and space to expand on the existing impulses in my work at the time. Rupert also commissioned me to present a new performance while in-residence and that performance has resulted in further opportunities to present work both in Lithuania and abroad (i.e. France, Norway, and New York.) Lastly, the staff at Rupert helped me network with curators in Lithuania and in Europe and these introductions have led to the creation of new work.
I applied to attend Rupert because my ancestors are from Lithuania. Not only was I able to rediscover my roots while in-residence but I also built new relationships as well. Specifically, I have become very close with curators Tautvydaus Urbelis and Liam Murtaugh, established a relationship with artist Emilija Škarnulytė, and feel that my work, which mostly encompasses esoteric and poetic performances, is very much at home in Lithuanian artistic context. I am currently in conversations with Rupert to return to Lithuanian to make a new performance and travel the work to the United States.
Rupert commissioned me to stage a new performance while in-residence entitled ROT. The performance led to a new commission in New York for the international performance biennial Performa in November 2023, hosted by Canal Projects. I am currently in-conversation with Liam Murtaugh at Rupert to present a new performance with Lithuanian performers in San Francisco in Spring 2025. I am also in conversation with former Rupert curator Tautvydaus Urbelis, who is based in Vilnius, to stage a new performance in Vilnius and Kaunas in Fall 2025. I am currently working a new performance, which will premiere at the CWB in Paris, at the Kunsthall Trondheim in Norway, and in New York with the JUF curatorial project, which is an expansion and extension of ROT. I am incredibly grateful to the staff at Rupert for their investment in and support of my artistic practice.’
PAM VIRADA
‘My time at Rupert provided me with the space and resources to advance my artistic practice in ways that would not have been possible without their support. They connected me with art institutions in Lithuania, aligning with my research and specific interests. This not only broadened my network but also fostered a sense of community. I had the opportunity to meet with curators and film programmers from Meno Avilys, and through studio visits, I returned to Vilnius after my residency at Rupert to hold a solo exhibition with them. This exhibition was contextualized by my research on Lithuania’s manor houses conducted during my time at Rupert. Additionally, my project received support from the Mondriaan Fund in the Netherlands.
Furthermore, Rupert hosted public events where participants, including myself, could present our work. I participated in a public event called “Articulations” held at Meduza. This opportunity enabled me to connect with the art community in Vilnius. I believe such exchanges are crucial for both artists and locals, fostering growth in the art scene and inspiring artists through community engagement.
During my residency, I also met other international artists with inspiring and diverse research backgrounds. Together, we explored Lithuanian culture and context by visiting numerous historically significant sites. We learned more about the Lithuanian art scene and, upon returning to our respective countries, we shared our enriching experiences. We recommended others to explore the fascinating and vibrant Lithuanian cultural scene. To this day, we remain in contact with each other, demonstrating that Rupert truly facilitated and built a community that extends beyond borders.
My artistic research continues to be shaped by my time at Rupert, and I am still pursuing the research and practice that began during the residency—I am currently working on a film about Lithuanian manors.’
EGLĖ RUIBYTĖ
‘Patirtis Rupert buvo įvairi skirtingais aspektais: socialiai, kultūriškai, meniškai, kontekstualiai. Dalyvavimas AEP priartino prie pačios institucijos, jos veikimo principų, susijusio meno lauko ir bendrai atvėrė daugiau “vidinių” sistemos patirčių, kaip veikia tokia institucija, kaip veikia rezidencijos, kaip veikia AEP, kaip atrodo ir yra organiyuojami renginiai ir kaip visa tai sąveikauja. Tam tikra prasme šios patirtys leidžia lengviau suvokti ir save meniniame lauke ne tik lokaliai, bet ir tarptautine prasme.
Kalbant apie tiesioginę įtaką, skirtingos Rupert AEP veiklos tikrai pasiūlė skirtingų požiūrio taškų tiek iš lektorių, tiek iš kitų programos dalyvių ar programos darbuotojų. Žinoma, ne visos veiklos ir informacija yra absoliučiai aktuali kiekvienam kūrėjui, kartais naudingumas pasirodo po kurio laiko ir netikėta forma, bet dauguma patirčių buvo praturtinančios. Ir apskritai man buvo labai malonu dalyvauti tokioje alternatyvioje programoje, kuri, mano nuomone, buvo netgi mažiau komerciška (turinio, tarpdiscipliniškumo ir prieigos atžvilgiu) nei kai kurios meno akademijos, kur menas kartais tikrai per anksti pasidaro gan galeriškas (suprantant galimas to priežastis). Todėl man Rupert atrodo kaip labai aktualią misiją turinti iniciatyva.
Dalis dalykų man jau buvo žinomi, bet labiau paviršutiniškai. Per Rupert tie mainai pasidarė natūralesni. AEP kontekstas davė savotišką priežastį labiau lietis į vietinį meno lauką po gyvenimo ne Lietuvoje.
Tą dar bus galima įvertinti ateityje, bet Rupert tikrai suvedė su daug puikių žmonių: draugų, įdomių ir naudingų kontaktų, potencialių kolegų.’
GRAEME ARNFIELD
‘My time as a resident at Rupert was invaluable for developing my artistic practice. While there I spent my time researching and writing a new film project, allowing me the space and time needed to evolve that film and the develop deeper ways of working. The conversations had and support I received in those early stages of writing were incredibly important and whose input are still felt in the project as it enters into production. A stage the film would not have gotten too without the time spent developing it at Rupert.
My experiences at Rupert allowed me to access to the local art and film scene. It was inspirational to see the breath and scope of practices and meet people connected to Rupert and beyond whose work continues to kick start new ideas and offer portals to collaborate in the future.
Through my time at Rupert I met many people both fellow residents and people in the greater Lithuanian art scene. Since then I have become close friends with many of those people leading to collaborations and shared knowledge. Through meeting at a studio visit I returned to Vilnius at the end of 2023 to show a film at Videograms festival in Meno Avilys. As well as returning earlier in the year to show another film at their Deep Rivers Run Silent project in collaboration with Rupert. The reach of Rupert extends internationally where back home in London collaborations between people I meet over the residency have materialised into events and opportunities, including a recent screening at the ICA with Sara Sassanelli – a collaboration that will continue into the future.’
NGOC NAU
‘As an artist from Vietnam, Rupert has provided great support and opportunities for my art career. The exhibition Earth Bond, organized by Rupert, connected me with many artists and cultural practitioners from different countries. For example, I met the director of the Goethe Institute in Lithuania, and after finishing my three-month residency at Rupert, she nominated me for a scholarship for a five-month residency at the Folkwang Museum in Germany.
The three months at Rupert gave me the time, space, and support to develop an idea for a video installation, which I later showed in Singapore as a result of my three-month residency award organized by NTU AAC in exchange with other art organizations in European countries.
By attending events and workshops organized by Rupert, I have learned about emerging issues in developing countries, such as climate change and digitalization. Thanks to the information and knowledge shared by the participants, I reviewed my country’s current development and found inspiration to write and apply for funding. I am pleased to have successfully been selected for the funding: Moving narrative cycle 1 award by Prince Claus Fund.
Three months may not seem long, but it was enough time for me to engage deeply with the local cultural context. During my stay:
• The Rupert team was incredibly helpful, providing me with a valuable list of books for my research on Lithuanian architecture during the Soviet era.
• They introduced me to meetings with architectural historians, which greatly enriched my research.
• They kept me informed about local art events happening around town.
• I was also invited as a guest speaker for the Articulation 2 event, where I had the opportunity to address a wider audience at Meduza in Vilnius.
• Through my information was published in Rupert website, I got invited to participate in the reading conversation with the local artist Agnė Juodvalkytė and other local readers at CAC reading room. The Reading in Conversation events are initiated and created by Marija Repšytė.
[Because of Rupert] I have a very good contact with: the Ambassador of Lithuanian in Singapore, the director of Goethe Institute in Lithuania, Artists from America, Thailand, Germany, Netherlands, Lithuania…’
MARISSA LEE BENEDICT
‘We (David Rueter and I) are deeply grateful to be part of Rupert’s brilliant community of local and international artists. Our residency at Rupert brought an unexpectedly immediate and profound feeling of connection to the Lithuanian cultural scene, facilitated by the brilliant, supportive, and energetic staff and community of Rupert, who could not have been better hosts during our stay, and with whom we are continuing to cultivate long-term relationships and conversations.
As residents in March/April of 2023, we came to Rupert intending to find collaborators and kin, but found ourselves establishing relationships that are far deeper and far reaching then we could have possibly expected. We originally heard of Rupert by word of mouth, from a well respected curator in the US who visited the program and was deeply impressed. We were very excited when we were accepted to the residency program, knowing how important the Rupert is locally and internationally. As with much of our work, we arrived at Rupert with loose research ideas but left ourselves open to learning and responding to people and place. Upon arrival, we were incorporated into the first “Earth Bonds” symposium, which was a catalyst for a new long-term project of ours title “Metrica,” which is built on research into the Lithuanian “Metrika” (15th century), land reform in Lithuania in the 1990s, large language models, and an experimental form of architectural psychoanalysis. Our ongoing research and documentation of Lithuanian history for this work will take shape in a future publication we are producing with Berlin-based K. Verlag, and is the basis for the piece which will be iteratively adapted for libraries and reading rooms in Lithuania, the Netherlands, the US, and elsewhere as the the work links specific Lithuania histories, memories, and stories with local and global contexts.
Our residency period at Rupert was energizing in a way that has propelled us ever since. From connecting with the local scene in Vilnius through the first “Articulation” lectures, and through visits to local video archives and major art institutions, and through attending openings and open studios in Vilnius with Rupert staff and residents; to meeting Lithuanian artists, graphic designers, and curators in our Rupert studio; to intimate dinners with residents and staff; to working closely with interns on discussing and producing “Metrica”; to engaging with local and international cultural workers around conversations on climate and art during the inaugural Earth Bonds Symposium, and much more, our 1.5 month residency at Rupert could not have been more full. Following the residency we are continuing to build long-term relationships with, and research into, Lithuanian cultural institutions and histories, which we will be furthering in a forthcoming residency at NIDA Art Colony in 2025 as we work on our future “Metrica” publication. We are dedicated to returning to Vilnius and to continue to learn about, and engage in, the Lithuanian cultural scene, which Rupert is a keystone of. We cannot imagine Vilnius’, Lithuania’s, or Europe’s cultural scene without Rupert, and hope we never have to.’
SU RUPERT NUO 2022:
SASKIA FISCHER
‘The invitation to Rupert came about 1 1/2 years after moving to Vilnius. The most immediate impact Rupert had was that it made me instantly more connected to the Lithuanian arts and cultural scene to the point that I felt I had become a part of it.
During the residency, I researched for the film project Nakties Daržininkas. Specifically tailored to my research, Rupert introduced me to Virginija Januškevičiūtė (CAC),), Martynas Germanavičius (Architektūros fondas), Jolanta Laurent (Drifts Gallery), and Gerda Paliušytė (Meno Avilys). In addition, we made trips to meet Augustas Čičelis (Išgirsti) in Vilnius, Edvinas Grinkevičius and Agnė Bagdžiūnaitė (Kauno menininkų namai) in Kaunas and Egija Inzule (NAC) in Nida.
I cannot emphasize enough how important these two months were for my integration into Lithuania: In 2023, I gained artist status by joining the Lithuanian Interdisciplinary Artists Association and was subsequently granted a one-month studio residency at Sodas 2123 in December 2023.
In January I received a generous stipend from LTKT for the production of Nakties Daržininkas. NAC will have hosted me twice this year, in March and October, to finalize its production. Ultimately, the film will be shown for the first time in a solo exhibition at Drifts Gallery in Vilnius in February 2025.
Rupert also helped promote my exhibition Lights at Apiece Gallery, which took place parallel to my residency. Lights will soon be part of a group exhibition at Tallinn Art Hall, in a show curated by Brigit Arop, who was a Rupert curatorial intern through the Borderland Poetics exchange programme at the time I was there.
These are all direct results from my two month Rupert residency – none of these wonderful opportunities would have been possible if not for Rupert and its dedicated team! I am immensely grateful for how Rupert has significantly shaped my professional paths well into the future and onto the most exciting artistic adventures here in Lithuania and abroad.’
SAM WILLIAMS
‘I spent a month at Rupert working on two projects – development of scripts for a film series and some early movement research for an ongoing performance project. It was January, and being at Rupert provided essential time for focused research and development of ideas. I was able to meet and discuss ideas with fellow residents and the Rupert team at a vital stage of both projects development.
It was a quiet time of year in terms of exhibition and events happening in Vilnius but thanks to the Rupert team I was able to meet and connect with many local curators and arts professionals, attend openings and dinners, and also explore work happening in Kaunas. My work was also programmed as part of Videograms that took place in December before my residency began.
I remain in contact with both fellow residents and we have worked together and visited exhibitions and events of each other since. I have also remained in contact with Milda Batakyte and Tautvydas Urbelis who were part of the Rupert team during my residency, and have since been introduced to the current/new Rupert team. Even though contact has not been frequent, I also feel able to approach those I met during events and studio visits during my time at Rupert and am now, post-COVID, actively looking to bring work to Lithuania. Both projects I was working on at Rupert eventually came to fruition and again, I would love to return to Lithuania with them.’
MIKE SPERLINGER
‘My residency at Rupert was extraordinarily productive. In particular, beyond the time to work on my own projects, I was introduced to the vibrant art and culture scene in Lithuania about which I had known very little, with substantial guidance from the staff of Rupert. I discovered Lithuanian contemporary art and built relationships in a way which would have been impossible on a short, self-organised visit.
During my time I got to know dozens of artists, curators and institutions in both Vilnius and Kaunas. I learnt about many initiatives related to my own work and research with the moving image (like the Videograms Festival and https://springs.video/), as well as having studio visits with many artists whose work I have continued to follow.
In October 2022 I returned to Vilnius to present a screening programme I had curated for Meno Avilys: https://prisms.no/the-foggiest-notion-film-nature-nation/. Other conversations about potential projects continue too, with both artists and curators I met during my stay. Just this week I was able to make recommendations to a colleague about potential curatorial partners in Vilnius for their project.’
ANA LIPPS
‘2022 metais dalyvavau Ruperto alternatyvios edukacijos programoje (AEP). AEP man suteikė galimybę toliau vystytii savo meninę praktiką, ir bręsti kaip menininkei/ui, pabaigus magistro studijas. Ruperto institucija, kuria nuoširdumu užpildytą erdvę, kurioje menininkas jaučiasi saugus ir gali atskleisti savo galimybes bei rasti bendraminčių arba idėjas palaikančių kitų menininkų draugiją. Ruperto institucija suteikė galimybę viešai pristatyti savo kurybą pirmą kartą Lietuvoje.
Prieš dalyvaujant Rupert alternatyvios edukacijos programoje, ilgą laiką gyvenau ir studijavau skirtingose užsienio šalyse. Rupert davė galimybę susipažindinti su Lietuvos meno bendruomene, kuri man iki tol buvo visiškai svetima. Grįžimas šešiems mėnesiams į Lietuvą davė galimybe patirti Lietuvos kultūrinę sceną, susipažinti tiek su Lietuvos, tiek su užsienio menininkais, kuratoriais bei meno pasaulyje dirbančiais žmonėmis. Tai mane paskatino likti Lietuvoje, bei sukūrė galimybes toliau vystiti savo meninę praktiką čia.
Pabaigus AEP, Rupert institucija ir toliau mane parėmė kai 2023 metais pradėjau kurti Ubiškės3 rezidencijų erdvę Telšių regione, viešindami informaciją apie renginius ir erdvę savo socialiniuose tinkluose, bei dalyvaujant rezidencijos renginiuose ir sukuriant galimybes savo rezidentam bei AEP dalyviams taip pat atvažiuoti į Ubiškės3 organizuojamus renginius. Kaip naujai sukurtai erdvei toks palaikymas buvo labai svarbus ir prisidėjo prie rezidencijos plėtros.’
MURAT ADASH
‘As an internationally recognized art organization, Rupert has had a great impact on my artistic and professional development. Not only was I able to advance my individual artistic research and practice during my residency, but also widen my perspectives and knowledge on art and culture related issues through their public programming and public networks. Specific outcomes included on-site collaborations with other residents, ongoing cultural exchange and dialogue with Vilnius-based practitioners initiated by Rupert, and an internationally recognized museum exhibition in Frankfurt, whose early stages were produced during the residency at Rupert.
Rupert initiated many points of contact with the local cultural scene through studio visits, exchanges and dialogues with local art professionals, and networking events. I remain in contact with Vilnius-based art professionals to this date and have advised many international artists visiting Vilnius by connecting them with Rupert and their networks. I have also been invited to be part of Rupert’s selection jury and have helped invite the next generation of residents.
During my residency at Rupert, I engaged in rigorous exhibition planning and research, whose ripple effects continue to impact my current international projects, including a future book publication. Recently, I co-organized an all-day performance event at the Contemporary Art Centre (CAC) in Vilnius, including Lithuanian artists, curators and researchers, some of whom I connected with during my time in Vilnius. The event at CAC received international attention and was extremely well visited by the local scene. Moreover, I am part of the upcoming selection committee for a transnational project connecting Rupert with partner institutions in Germany, where I am based.’
ALGIRDAS JAKAS
‘Dalyvavimas „Rupert“ alternatyvios edukacijos programoje davė daug įvairialypių patirčių. Asmeniškai mano kūrybinei praktikai AEP programa pridėjo užtikrintumo, parodė per alternatyvių pažinimo praktikų įvairovę būdus, kuriais galima prieiti prie man rūpimų kūrybinių klausimų. Dabartinė mano kūrybinė praktika tiesiogiai auga iš AEP patirčių ir ten vystytų idėjų, pristatytų „Adero“ baigiamojoje programos parodoje. AEP programa taip pat padėjo susipažinti su mano kūrybai šiuo metu svarbiais teoretikais, tokiais kaip, pvz., Jason Mohaghegh, bei bendrai labai praplėtė mąstytojų ir teoretikų pažinimo lauką, kuriais galiu remtis savo darbuose.
AEP programa man taip pat labai padėjo integruotis į Lietuvos meno sceną, tik ką grįžus iš studijų užsienyje. Tuo pačiu užsimezgė kontaktai su kitais alternatyvios edukacijos nariais, „Rupert“ rezidentais ir kitais meno lauko dalyviais, kurių dėka atsirado naujos kolaboracijos, išaugo drąsios iniciatyvos (pvz., „Ubiškės 3“ rezidencija, organizuota AEP dalyvės Anos Lipps, kurios dalyvis buvau dėka AEP programos ir ten atsiradusių pažinčių). Programa taip pat leido susipažinti su regioniniais rezidencijų pavyzdžiais (tokiais kaip Žeimių dvaras ar „Verpėjos“) ir suteikė galimybę pristatyti savo kūrybą plačiam rezidentų, kuratorių ir menininkų ratui. Iš kelių metų perspektyvos galiu matyti, kad galimybė būti Rupert programos dalyviu nubraižė daug naujų krypčių. Šią patirtį galima įvardinti kaip daugiasluoksnę, kuri suteikė erdvės ne tik asmeninės praktikos vystymui, bet ir paskatino bendradarbiavimo procesus, įgalino idėjų apykaitą kuri ne Rupert institucijos kontekste būtų sunkiai įsivaizduojama.’
SU RUPERT NUO 2021:
ALICE BUCKNELL
‘I spent a month at Rupert in the spring of 2021 where I incubated New Mystics, an editorial project that used beta access to the GPT family to explore the relationship between magic and technology. The residency was instrumental to the success of the project which went on to become an event series at Somerset House in London as well as featured in multiple exhibitions and publications internationally. Rupert has a well-deserved global reputation for bringing together brilliant artists, curators, and other arts professionals in a unique setting to develop their practice and foster new connections. The time I spent there had a pivotal impact upon my practice and many others, and I sincerely hope it will be able to continue being a vital steward of contemporary art practice.’
TYLER MATTHEW OYER
‘As a resident in June and July 2021, my time at Rupert was highly valuable both in artistic production and institutional support. I was able to create a large-scale collaborative site-specific multimedia performance at Lukiskes Prison that was attended by 300 people and has since toured internationally for 3 years. The independent nature of the Rupert residency allowed me time and space to explore my ideas, workshop with local talents, and ultimately premiere a brand new large scale work. Institutionally, Rupert was integral in establishing dialogues with local museums, curators, art spaces, and artists in Vilnius and beyond. Interfacing with the AEP was a rich opportunity for discursive engagement and expanded criticalities. Rupert is a rare and massive resource for professional artists like myself and should be funded accordingly.’
SU RUPERT NUO 2020:
AISTĖ AMBRAZEVIČIŪTĖ
‘Dalyvavau Rupert trumpalaikėje rezidencijoje bei AEP programoje. Tai buvo pirmoji mano rezidencija, nuo kurios ir prasidėjo kūrybinis kelias bei meninio lauko pažinimas. Unikali kuratorių komanda bei menininkai, dalyvaujantys Rupert programose, mane visapusiškai labai įkvėpė bei skatino vystyti, plėsti, kritiškai vertinti savo praktiką. Šiuo metu baiginėju meno doktorantūros studijas, kurių net nebūtų buvę, jei ne atsitiktinumai Rupert programų dėka. Tokios vietos ir sąlygos keičia gyvenimus. Labai palaikau.’
VILIUS VAITIEKŪNAS
‘I enrolled in Rupert’s Alternative Education Program shortly after returning to Lithuania, my home country, following the completion of my BA in the Netherlands. At that time, I had limited familiarity with the Lithuanian cultural landscape and the people working within it. I was also in the early stages of developing my professional practice, actively shaping my approach to cultural work. I needed guidance in my research, along with fresh theoretical and experiential perspectives, to challenge the understanding of cultural production I had inherited from the Dutch educational system.
Rupert’s AEP, through its site visits, contacts, and infrastructure, provided a solid foundation for my subsequent activities within the Lithuanian cultural field. I had the opportunity to engage in one-on-one meetings with various cultural professionals across Europe, including Viktoria Rybakova, who has since become both a close friend and colleague. Additionally, participating in AEP allowed me to share, discuss, and challenge my practice within a community of other program participants.
Around the same time I joined Rupert’s AEP, I began developing Akee, a community initiative located in the Aleknaičiai village, Pakruojis district, at the site of a former school built in the late 1930s. Akee aims to enrich the discourse on Lithuanian and international culture, particularly in non-urban areas, and to create opportunities for cultural producers and researchers to implement socially responsible, site-sensitive projects. To date, Akee has hosted over 60 residents from eight European countries, developed educational activities engaging more than 1,300 pupils, and participated in producing artworks and research presented in various universities and cultural spaces. My involvement in Rupert’s AEP, alowed me to get in contact with various cultural workers from Lithuania and abroad, get in contact with other Lithuanian institutions. Further, particularly the discussions around creating a new institution within the fellow AEP particiapants, and workshop fascilitators allowed me to refine the initial program, vision, and scope of Akee’s operations.
As mentioned earlier, my participation in Rupert’s AEP led to collaborations with tutors and fellow participants who are now key partners in various projects. For instance, with Artūras Čertovas, a fellow AEP participant, I have co-developed a day camp focused on experimental education and spatial exploration for youth in the Pakruojis region. Together with my mentor at that time, Viktorija Rybakova, we are currently working on an artist book proposal for funding. Moreover, Rupert’s AEP provided me with conceptual tools that have been instrumental in the further development of Akee, my professional practice as a cultural producer, and in refining the curatorial vision of Akee.’
SU RUPERT NUO 2019:
CATERINA AAVATANEO
‘Participating in Rupert’s residents programme allowed me time to develop personal research which is still at the basis of my practice today. I was given time and a beautiful studio, perfect for concentrating and finding inspiration: this is something extremely precious and that happens rarely. I was also given the possibility to engage with the local context and discover the art scene in Vilnius. That’s how, for example, I came to know Anastasia Sosunova with whom I have worked on many occasions since: I curated a group show including her work and then a solo at Britta Rettberg Gallery (Munich) as well as a duo show at SixtyEight Art Institute (Copenaghen) and wrote texts for Anastasia’s exhibitions. I can say she is a good friend now, together with Agnė Jokšė or Miša Skalskis. I was able to discover the programming of other realities too, and even star a discussion with CAC for a potential exhibition there, although that did not happen in the end. To this day, having Rupert in my CV proves a very positive experience in the personal, professional and networking spheres.’
ERICA EZZO SCOURTI
‘I did a residency at Rupert in 2019 where I worked intensively on what became a long-from video project, 8 Things to be Scared of Instead of Death, which I went on to exhibit internationally as both a video and performance. the quiet tiem to focus on work really helped me develop my ideas and do a lot of the filling. I attended events at the city’s museums and cultural spaces and at Rupert itself and met other artists and writers, some who were residents and others who I met through the curatorial team.
As mentioned above, my video project 8 Things to be Scared of Instead of Death was the main project to come out of my stay, as well as informal networks of people who I stayed in touch with afterwards.’
Jacob Dwyer
‘Rupert provided a period of intense concentration. Within the 8 weeks I was there I gleaned all the audio material for a larger project which was eventually titled The Devil Museum.
The Devil Museum is an audio-drama that has been released as a double vinyl through Mana Records (London), before being distributed globally by Honest Jons. It has also been developed into alive performance that has toured music venues an art spaces included cafe Oto (London), OT301 (Amsterdam) and Hybrida (Sweden).
http://manarecords.com/012
The Devil Museum was later been transcribed into a script that was annotated and published by Building Fictions as book entitled Notes on Devils. Within the book I write directly about my time at Rupert and the influences it had on my work. The book is also distributed globally by Idea Books and all Twelve Books
https://www.buildingfictions.com/Publications/Notes-On-Devils
Throughout my time on residency I worked with a woman named Eglė Kašėtienė to learn the singing of sutartines. Egle invited me into rehearsals with her band in which they asked me to tsing with them. These sessions were recorded and now find themselves online within an archive that accompanies my publication Notes On Devils. I also visited a number of art spaces such as autorkia.
The Devil Museum: an hour long audio drama released on vinyl with mana records
The Devil Museum performance.
Notes on Devils: a publication published by Building Fictions.
These works are the core of my practice over the last 4 years. Rupert was hugely influential in shaping my practice over the past 4 years. providing the base for focus and initial research/recording. It is an invaluable institution.’
SU RUPERT NUO 2017:
MARTINS KOHOUT
‘I went to Rupert to finish an artist book I was writing at the time and my time there provided me with an invaluable mental and physical space for the task, as well with a very forthcoming and welcoming network of the local art scene. This established a lasting relationship with Vilnius and its scene as well as with some of the artists who were at Rupert during my own stay. I have revisited the city many times since. My stay also enabled me to visit Riga and deepen my professional relationships there. In 2018 I also returned to Rupert as an artist duo (together with Lars Holdhus) to present a performance at the gallery.
I believe Rupert has been a very unique residency due to its spirit and location and I hope it can continue and grow.’
SU RUPERT NUO 2016:
ANASTASIA SOSUNOVA
‘I was still in my master’s studies at the Vilnius Art Academy when I applied for the Alternative Education Programme: Rupert team has shown support and trust in my artistic voice, created a very accepting and intellectually stimulating environment for my personal as well as professional growth – I think accepting me into the programme was quite a leap of faith at that time. Through Rupert, I was able to meet and collaborate with international artists, build long lasting frienships and artistic exchanges with various art professionals. During my AEP time during the year 2016, I was connected with such artists and curators as Felix Kalmenson, Laure Prouvost, Maya Tounta, Adomas Narkevičius, Ellie Hunter, Valentinas Klimašauskas, Augustas Serapinas among many others – they became my mentors, collaborators and colleagues. Rupert has supported my art practice from the very early stages and encouraged experimentation, invited me to become part of numerous projects, events and intitiatives which in turn helped me to build my artistic portfolio and made me feel not just part of the Rupert family and local Lithuanian art scene, but a part of the global contemporary art network.
It is important to mention that Rupert in my mind has always been the people that worked there thoughout the different periods of time and not the walls or rooms. It’s all the brilliant personalities that worked and shaped it, or shape it till this day. Among the dearest projects with Rupert is my first solo presenting a video installation “Demikhov Dog” (2017) which has been curated by Adomas Narkevičius and commissioned by Rupert as part of the cultural exchange programme with the Lithuanian regions, presented at the Ignalina Culture and Sports house. My work with a curator and writer Yates Norton, who believed in my practice and left an unforgettable contribution to Lithuanian scene and the discourses in the local artistic community, grew into a long lasting professional connection and frienship that I cherish to this day. It’s difficult to name experiences that weren’t in any way related to the contacts, projects and creative ideas which grew from working with Rupert: all the residents, guests and curious minds that came to Vilnius truly made me feel that Vilnius belongs to the whole world, and I, as an artist, belong to the world too.’
SU RUPERT NUO 2015:
KASPARS GROŠEVS:
‘I made one of my most interesting sound projects during the Rupert residency, something I haven’t attempted since and most likely will never again. The calm and inspiring atmosphere of Rupert helped me to work on an 10 hour sound work that I’m still happy about. It definitely helped me to get to know Lithuanian art scene ever better. Rupert has always ensured that there is some sort of international presence in Vilnius which has led to several fruitful conversations and relationships. I got to meet great fellow residents and some conversations have led to different outcomes like shared performances and exhibitions.’
GERDA PALIUŠYTĖ
‘Rupert has always been one of the main organizations which places Vilnius in the map of international art scene. It is an important player in the art market and allows Vilnius residents to catch up with art trends and professionals from abroad. Which is more than necessary if we perceive Vilnius as a part of the contemporary art world. For me Rupert helped to meet people with whom I have collaborated and have been in touch ever since. This definitely impacted my practice and I hope Rupert will be able to continue its activities with dignity and joy.’
MATTHEW POST (POST BROTHERS)
‘I have been coming to Vilnius since 2008, and eagerly watched as Rupert was being developed. I was then honoured to be accepted as a resident in 2015, and have returned to Rupert numerous times since as a facilitator for a reading/performance (w/Ieva Kraule), an outside curator doing studio visits with residents, and as a mentor and presenter in the Alternative Education Program (2023). I had two main projects while a resident, both of which were in collaboration with Lithuanian art workers and with significant public visibility. The first month was spent curating a solo exhibition by Lithuanian artist Liudvikas Buklys at the CAC, and my time at Rupert gave me a space and time for the close collaboration that was essential for that project. Afterwards, I used my time developing a lecture performance ( “An Ideal Museum is all Wet”), presented as part of the events program of the XII Baltic Triennial that year, as well as in its touring iterations the next year at Bunkier Sztuki in Krakow and Kim? in Riga (at both venues I also implemented a performance for the Lithuanian artist Laura Kaminskaite). In addition to these activities, I also was invited while a resident at Rupert to serve as an outside advisor for graduating art students at the VDA in Vilnius, producing texts and mentoring them. In addition to providing a space to think, write, and work, Rupert gave me a time and space to make real connections with artists and to develop lasting relationships with the local scene that continue to this day. In the years immediately afterwards, I maintained close contact with artists in Lithuania, and curated exhibitions in Vienna and Munich (I was the curator at the Kunstverein from 2016-2019) featuring such Lithuanian artists as Liudvikas Buklys, Antanas Gerlikas, Elena Narbutaite, Laura Kaminskaite, Gintaras Didziapetris, Darius Miksys, and others, as well as shows featuring the British artist Beth Collar, who I met at Rupert while we were both attending the residency. Because of my inspiring time at Rupert, I have maintained a close relationship to the local scene and have provided significant support for Lithuanian artists abroad. In fact, my last curated solo exhibition and my upcoming solo exhibition, both at the Galeria Arsenal in Bialystok, feature Alternative Education alumni Anastasia Sosunova and Augustus Serapinas respectively. Also, I regularly encourage artists abroad to apply to Rupert as a resident or as a student in the education program, framing their experience at Rupert as a perfect introduction to the cultural scene of Lithuania and a signifiant step in their artistic/curatorial/professional development (indeed, wherever I go, people ask me about Rupert). As further testament to the value of Rupert for establishing and maintaining relationships to the Vilnius scene, an exhibition proposal that I first conceived as a resident at Rupert will now be implemented as a large-scale group exhibition at the Sapieha Palace in Vilnius next year.
Rupert is absolutely indispensable for the development of art both locally and abroad and plays a fundamental role in this exchange. I vehemently implore the cultural ministry to reconsider supporting Rupert and to recognize the central role this institution plays in artistic and cultural life in Lithuania and the prominent impact it has abroad.’
ANNA CLAWSON & NICOLE WARD
‘Rupert was a fantastic experience and we felt incredibly inspired to be amongst the artistic community in Vilnius. We had a direct relationship with Lithuanian artist peers whilst co-ordinating public events, for example during Rupert’s open studios, as well as engaging with the education programme.
For us, Vilnius was architecturally speaking, a very intriguing city and it inspired several material experiments in the studio. We noted the ways the public would engage with these materials and it awakened us to similiar mark-making found at home in Northern Ireland which had become invisible to us. The resulting sculptures we made whilst in residence became a catalyst for two other exhibitions, one in Belfast (NIRE), the other in Bristol (UK).
During our residency we also produced a one-off performance event, using the studio and unfinished bathroom connecting the studio, for a screening with live foley. These were our first experiments with sound in relation to our artwork, which has continued to grow. Rupert certainly gave us the confidence to not limit ourselves, and to test unfinished research with our peers (a vital part of learning).
Living and working in Vilnius, even for such a short period, played a pivotal role in our professional development, and gave us a wider reach, promoting our artistic practice outside of Ireland and the British Isles. It also meant we were able to promote fellow Lithuanian peers at home.’