Panevėžys has chosen the laureates of culture and art prizes, among the winners are a scenographer, an actress and a choir | Culture

“The city community submitted seven candidates for this prestigious award, all of them are worthy of this nomination, so the commission had to work hard to choose the best of the best. This year, the culture and art awards will be presented for the eighth time, so I want to thank you for your meaningful activity, to say thank you for what you do, for your invaluable contribution to the cultural life of Panevėžys”, says Panevėžys Mayor Rytis Račkauskas.

Photo by P. Židonis/Photographer, set designer Arvydas Gudas

Photographer, scenographer Arvydas Gudas is an artist working in Panevėžys and outside the city, whose activities include photography, art of theater scenography and video projections, art of theater and film costumes, graphics. The artist photographs performances, various events, concerts, everyday life in the city, his photos reveal the colorful life of the theater and the city of Panevėžys.

More and more often, the artist can be found in the creative team of performances, in addition to creating scenography and costumes. A. Gudas has performed in J. Miltinis Drama Theater, Panevėžys Musical Theater, Menas Theater, Vilnius Old Theater, etc.

In the artist’s creative path, digital graphics also occupy a significant place, with the help of which he creates paintings, posters, posters, logos, album covers, and organizes author’s exhibitions. A. Gudas participates in the creative processes of artistic installations, organizes various creative workshops.

Since the 2020s, the artist has been working at the Juozas Miltinis Drama Theater, in 2022. he has been granted the status of Artist, belongs to the Lithuanian Photographic Artists Union, Northern Lithuanian Photographic Artists Association.

Photo by V. Šamparaitė/Creator and director of literary compositions Eleonora Matulaitė

Theater and film actress, pupil of director Juoz Miltinis, author of children’s plays, creator of literary compositions and director Eleonora Matulaitė – during her more than 60 years of creativity, she created about 100 memorable and colorful roles in the Juoz Miltinis drama theater of Panevėžys. The actress was appreciated by maestro, theater director Juozas Miltinis, her roles were appreciated not only in Lithuania, but also abroad. The first roles were played since 1959.

About 1975 after becoming involved in literary creation, she created plays for the Panevėžys Mask Theater, later cooperation with the Panevėžys Puppet Carriage Theater was established. Since 1997 E. Matulaitė started directing her own plays, sewing clothes for the characters, making wigs and decorations. Later, he founded the “Naminuko” theater, staged performances for children, in 2000. published a book of plays and fairy tales for children “Mike kvaulitis”. He had to act in the performances with his daughter Eleonora Koriznaite. in 2006 after joining the activities of the Culture and Heritage Foundation of MK Čiurlionis and encouraged by the noble goal of reviving the disappearing manors of the country, she began to create literary compositions.

In her work, E.Matulaitė devoted a lot of attention to the personality of the educator, writer, politician, social activist Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bite, and to the dissemination of her activities and creativity.

The woman stood out from other fellow actors by her desire to realize herself not only on the stage of the theater, but also outside of it. Throughout her life, she was characterized by creativity, hard work, and diligence, not only created plays and directed them, but also tied tapestries, painted, exhibited her work in exhibitions.

in 1966 Together with the painter Albert Stepanka, they were the first in Panevėžys to create the then folk art society, the current Union of Folk Artists. The artist belonged to this union for more than 40 years, organized exhibitions of tapestries, costumes, batik, painting works not only in Panevėžys, but also in other cities of the country, participated in 40 joint exhibitions, organized 20 personal exhibitions.

Photo by G. Lukoševičius/Panevėžys Musical Theater Choir

The Panevėžys Musical Theater Choir, a professional participant in the performances staged in the Panevėžys Musical Theater, celebrates its 30th anniversary of creative activity this year. During the period of the theater’s existence, the team led by choirmaster Algirdas Viesulas participated in almost twenty theater productions, the most important of which are F. Lehar’s “The Merry Widow”, Ž. Žilber’s “The Righteous Zuzana”, R. Rodgers’ “Sounds of Music”, B. Kutavičius’ “The Thrush – Green” bird” etc.

The choir also prepares programs of Lithuanian composers, sacred music, and Lithuanian folk songs, which they present during state holidays and ceremonies. Choir artists not only perform vocal parts in theater musicals and operettas, but also create secondary roles, prepare joint programs with Panevėžys musical theater ensembles – orchestras, quartet, Šiauliai State Chamber Choir “Polifonija”, State Choir “Vilnius”, Lithuanian Army Orchestra.

One of the brightest achievements of the team’s creative activity in recent years is the 2023 The premiere of B. Kutavičius’s opera-poem “Strazdas – želas paukštis” directed by J. Vaitkaus took place in autumn. For the first time, the team that prepared the contemporary premiere of a Lithuanian author was also noticed by professional critics of the performing arts. From 2024 The choir of the Panevėžys Musical Theater is led by the well-known choir master Giedrius Pavilionis.

Culture and art prizes worth EUR 1000 will be awarded to the laureates at a ceremonial event that will take place on April 15. in the “Art” theater.