The building was inaugurated in 1968 as the Art Exhibition Palace, and was run as a branch of the Lithuanian Museum of Art until 1988. Since 1992, the CAC has been an independent/separate institution principally funded by the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture.
Nature of its activities
The CAC is the largest venue for contemporary art in the Baltic States total and one of the largest art institutions in Post-Soviet Europe: with exhibition space of 2400 square metres. The CAC is committed to developing a broad range of international and Lithuanian exhibition projects and also presents a wide range of public programs including lectures, seminars, performances, film and video screenings, and live new music events.
Since October 2004, the CAC has produced its own show for commercial Lithuanian television (see CAC TV http://www.cac.lt/tv). In the experimental spirit of the CAC every episode is a pilot, and every program is the final episode, imagine:
An amorphous group of social misfits and cultural outcasts are handed the reigns of a fledgling television program. Not having any experience in making television, they decide to re-invent the medium. CAC/TV is a time-slot for imagining alternate realities.
Since 2005, the CAC has produced CAC INTERVIU “the quarterly conversation about art”. The magazine which reached its 6th issue in December 2006 is a bilingual (Lithuanian & English) interview based publication (also containing editorials and book reviews) that is focused on covering the Baltic region with a view on topical international events (such as major Biennales) that impact on art produced everywhere. There is an international editorial board to assist with editorial advice, topical information, and distribution. Produced in a print run of 3,000 copies per issue 2,000 copies will be distributed within Lithuania and 1,000 copies internationally.
Also established in 2005, are the CAC/CAFÉ TALKS recognized as Vilnius’ premier international lecture event. Presented on the first Wednesday of every the CAC Café Talk’s are a social forum for the discussion of topical international issues in culture, economics, and politics impacting upon the production, exhibition, and reception of contemporary art. CAC Cafe Talks have strengthened ties between the CAC and the Lithuanian academic community, including the Vilnius Art Academy (which has a course that accrues credits by attending) as it has brought a range of cultural producers including esteemed Professors to talk on a range of cultural issues. Speakers have included Philippe Vergne (associate-director Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, USA), Chrissie Iles (associate-director Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, USA), Prof. Germaine Greer (feminist, UK/AUS), Jan Utzon (architect renowned for Sydney Opera House, DEN), Prof. Csaba Toth (Historian, University of Pittsburg), Joerg Heiser (Editor, FRIEZE magazine)., Ken Lum (artist, academic Professor, CAN).
Presentation and exhibition policy
The Contemporary Art Centre organizes approximately five/six large-scale exhibition projects per annum (including retrospectives, surveys, and international group shows) in conjunction with up to 15 smaller projects. The CAC is well known internationally as the home of the Baltic Triennial of International Art - one of the major contemporary festival exhibitions in Northern Europe. Every two years the CAC also makes a review of developments in Lithuanian art.
Because at this time the CAC is the only large-scale public exhibiting institution in the centre of Vilnius, with multi-media technical capabilities it also plays host to a number of externally organized cultural events. Importantly, the CAC derives commercial rental income, positive partnership promotion and advertising profiling, and builds broad audience and community relations, from hosting these events. Cultural events include: Fashion Infection (Vilnius Fashion Days), Gaida Music Festival, Vilnius Music Festival, ‘Young’ Music Festival (of electronic music), Sirenos Theatre Festival, Vilnius Animation Festival, Lithuanian International Performance Art Biennale, and Vilnius Wine Days.
Halls of exhibitions
The two floors of the Contemporary Art Centre contain five exhibition halls with
the total area of over 2000 square meters, an open-air courtyard and a conference hall
on the first floor.
Ground Floor Hall - 184.6 m2 (7.7 x 24)
South Hall on the First floor - 215.7 m2 (9 x 24)
Main Hall on the First floor- 964.9 m2 (24 x 41)
North Hall on the First floor - 296 m2 (12.9 x 24)
Courtyard - 213.7 m2 (12 x18)
Conference Hall - 215.7 m2
Opening hours
TUESDAY - SUNDAY
12:00 - 19:30
Tickets
Full price 8 LTL
Concession - 4 LTL
Discount of entry on Wednesdays
For special events p.o.a.
(Not open for Lithuanian Public Holidays)
Café
The CAC has a café that is a favourite among Vilnius artists
The CAC café is open daily from 11 till 12 a.m.
Address
Contemporary Art Centre
Vokieciu 2
LT- 01130 Vilnius
Lithuania
Phone
+370 5 2121945 (CAC ticket office)
+370 5 2608960 (CAC program coordinators)
+370 687 85713 (CAC press and promotions)
Fax
+370 5 2623954
E-mail
info @ cac.lt
interviu @ cac.lt
CAC staff
Director
Kestutis Kuizinas: +370 5 2629891; kuizinas @ cac.lt
Assistant directors
Valdas Ozarinskas: +370 5 2121936; valdas @ cac.lt
Evaldas Stankevicius: +370 5 2623476; evaldas @ cac.lt
Senior financier
Vida Gaidaniene: +370 5 2121927; vida @ cac.lt
Assistant of senior financier
Ausra Maciuleviciene: +370 5 2121972; ausra @ cac.lt
Senior accountant
Birute Pazeckiene: +370 5 2121972; birute @ cac.lt
Curators
Renata Dubinskaite: +370 5 2608960; renata @ cac.lt
Julija Fomina: +370 5 2120052; julija @ cac.lt
Virginija Januskeviciute: +370 5 2616070; virginija @ cac.lt
Valentinas Klimasauskas: +370 5 2120052; valentinas @ cac.lt
Simon Rees: +370 5 2121954; simon @ cac.lt
Asta Vaiciulyte: +370 5 2609531; asta @ cac.lt
Editors
Linara Dovydaityte: +370 5 2616070; linara @ cac.lt
Simon Rees: +370 5 2121954; simon @ cac.lt
Designer
Daiva Kisunaite: +370 5 2616070; daiva @ cac.lt
Press and promotion
Renata Dubinskaite: +370 5 2608960, mob.: +370 687 85713; renata @ cac.lt
Technical department
Mindaugas Masaitis: +370 5 2124004; mindaugas @ cac.lt
Viktoras Musteikis: +370 5 2124004; viktoras @ cac.lt
