Vilnius University Invites to Celebrate Its 445th Birthday
This year, on April 8, Vilnius University (VU) will celebrate its 445th birthday. On this occasion, VU invites the community, residents of Vilnius, and city guests to both traditional and specially initiated events for this anniversary. The range of events is very wide: from discussions about the life of VU students in dormitories and orienteering run to an online lottery and the science communication competition “Scientific Sprint”.
Exposition of Martynas Mažvydas’ “Catechism”
On April 8, Martynas Mažvydas’ “Catechism”, the first printed Lithuanian book, will be on display at Franciszek Smuglewicz Hall of VU Library. The tradition of showing the original copy of the book every year for a day gives a perfect opportunity for the general public to get a closer look at this significant piece of our cultural heritage.
Published in 1547 in Königsberg, Mažvydas’ “Catechism” is the first printed Lithuanian book, the publishing of which started a new period in the history of the Lithuanian language. Only two copies of this unique book are known to exist in the world. One copy is kept at VU Library, while the other is kept at Toruń University Library.
In marking the birthday of Vilnius University, some unconventional objects for a library that were found in old documents will be shown to the public this year. It might be surprising to see in the exhibition pieces such as a Christmas wafer decorated with the “IHS” Christogram with the cross, a brass counter and a golden plate (these objects were found in the books that are kept in the Library), or a shilling and a silver button with heraldic symbols from the nobleman’s clothes (these objects were found in the manuscripts). Certain book covers might also be considered “unconventional”: some are gilded and with ornate clasps, others are decorated with straw, while covers of some other books are fit to play board games. If you wonder what other surprises are waiting for you, come to the Library and see for yourself the one-day lasting exhibition!
Location: VU Library, Franciszek Smuglewicz Hall (Universiteto str. 3, 1st floor)
Date and time: April 8, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
More information can be found here.
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Support for the VU Endowment Fund
We invite you to gift VU an eternal birthday gift – symbolic support of EUR 4.45 to the VU Endowment Fund. By investing professionally and earning a return, the gifted support grows and benefits VU in perpetuity. The earned return on investment is allocated to finance VU scientific talents and is reinvested.
Support is encouraged to be given from March 25 to April 14.
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“Scientific Sprint”
On April 11, the annual science communication competition “Scientific Sprint” is set to unfold. Teams, composed of a professor-student duo, will be allotted a concise 3-minute window to showcase a scientific study or scientific idea of personal fascination.
Participants registered for the competition will benefit from public speaking training, while cash prizes await the creators of the most outstanding presentations.
Further particulars concerning the venue and schedule will be forthcoming.
Register here.
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VU Talent show
On April 12, the VU Talent Show is coming back! We invite all members of the VU community to reveal their talent – we invite singers, musicians, acrobats, poets, painters, dancers and everyone who wants their creativity and talent to be noticed!
During the Talent show, the participants will be judged by a competent commission. A surprise awaits – during the break, all participants and guests of the event will be surprised by the performance of a mysterious member of the commission.
Location: VU Theatre Hall (Universiteto str. 3).
Date and time: April 12, 6:00 p.m.
Register here.
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VU birthday challenge 445
On April 13th, we will be celebrating the 445th birthday of Vilnius University. On this occasion we invite all members and guests of the university community to participate in an orienteering game. We will search for places related to the VU in Vilnius for 90 and 180 minutes. This is a great opportunity to get to know the history of the VU and the history of Vilnius city while walking or running.
Date and time: April 13, 12:00
Location: VU Library Yard (Universiteto St. 3).
You can invite your colleagues and course participants and join teams (one team can be up to 4 people). Let‘s dive into the history of VU and Vilnius together! There are prizes dedicated to the participants who will have discovered the most places and scored the most points!
Pre-registration is required. You can choose a 90 or 180-minute challenge.
The game uses the OMaps app on your phone. We advise you to download it in advance. Further instructions and the link to the competition app will be sent to the registered participants just before the event. Participants will also receive a paper map just before the actual start of the challenge.
Register here.
This year, the challenge is also open to primary school students! Together with VU Children’s University, we invite children to try their hand and get to know Vilnius University and the Old Palace better in the 45-minute challenge!
Start: 14:00
Location: VU Library courtyard.
Finish: 14:45.
Participants will have fun questions, puzzles and tasks.
Children participating in the challenge must be accompanied by an adult during it.
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Concert “Returning Generations”
On April 13, the VU Culture Centre invites you to the concert of the VU Chamber Orchestra “Returning Generations” in St. John’s Church.
Every year, the VU Chamber Orchestra celebrates VU’s birthday by giving its community a concert, which it organises with former members of the orchestra - VU alumni. This is one of the rare cases when even several generations of the VU community play at the same time, and the chamber orchestra turns into a symphony orchestra of more than fifty musicians.
This year, a spring programme will be presented, inviting you to take a walk in nature. The audience will hear the popular work of the famous English composer R. W. Williams - the symphonic poem “The Lark Ascending” and other works that are rich in allusions to the songs of returning birds.
Location: St. John’s Church
Date and time: April 13, 7:00 p.m.