The Lithuanian Artists’ Association Kaunas department invites you to participate in the International Sculpture Symposium 2026, during which public spaces in Kaunas will be enriched with impressive monumental granite sculptures. This symposium is dedicated to Kaunas Modernism—architecture of optimism—recently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The International Sculpture Symposium will take place from August 17th to September 13th.
About the Symposium
In 2025, after a 20-year hiatus, the International Sculpture Symposium returned and energized Kaunas’ cultural scene not only through the event itself but also through the sculptures installed in public spaces. Organized for the second time, the symposium will invite 15 sculptors from different countries to create works that creatively interpret both the tangible and intangible heritage of Kaunas Modernism.
This initiative will serve as a dynamic impulse for strengthening the city’s architectural and cultural identity, encouraging fresh perspectives on modernist heritage and its meaningful integration into public spaces. Proposed ideas are encouraged to boldly interpret the principles of modernist architecture, reveal the aesthetics of optimism, rethink historical contexts, and develop contemporary, unexpected visions of the theme.
Symposium Conditions
- 2 cubic meters of granite provided for each artist
- All necessary materials and tools for sculpture production
- €8,000 artist honorarium for each participant
- Full technical support throughout the creative process
- Accommodation and catering
How to Apply 📅
Application period: April 2nd–30th, 2026
📧 Please send your application to: info@ldskaunas.lt
Subject line: “International Sculpture Symposium 2026”
Application must include (3 attachments):
- Project proposal, including visualizations, sketches, and related material (PDF or JPG format)
- Concept description outlining the artistic idea and its implementation principles
- Portfolio of previous works (maximum file size – 10 MB)
Selection Process
An expert jury will evaluate applications based on creativity, feasibility, and thematic relevance.
15 artists will be selected and will receive full funding along with detailed project implementation guidelines.
For more information:
✉️ info@ldskaunas.lt or ldskaunas@gmail.com
🌐 https://ldskaunas.lt
More about the project and context 🔗
Information about the 2025 International Sculpture Symposium: https://www.kaunas.lt/2025/11/04/kauno-mazajame-azuolyne-oficialiai-pristatytas-modernizmui-skirtu-skulpturu-ansamblis/
More about Kaunas Modernist heritage:
- Modernist Kaunas
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1661/
- Kaunas 2022 – Modernism for the Future
https://kaunas2022.eu/modernizmasateiciai/en/modernist-kaunas-architecture-of-optimism-1919-1939/index.html
