During the “Murmurs” conference held in Vilnius on February 26–27, Vilnius Night Office representative Gabija Liaugminaitė took part in the panel discussion “Vilnius Music Ecosystem: From Mapping to Vision”, dedicated to identifying the current state of Vilnius’ music ecosystem and exploring future directions for its development.
The discussion also featured Mantautas Krukauskas (Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre), Matas Drukteinis (Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania), and Vygintas Gasparavičius (Vilnius City Municipality). The conversation was moderated by Ramūnas Zilnys (LRT).
The Bigger Picture: Scene, Institutions, and the City
During the discussion, each participant briefly introduced their field of work and explained how they contribute to strengthening the music ecosystem.
Gabija Liaugminaitė spoke about working with Vilnius performance venues — dainyklos — their support systems and their value to the city: shaping the city’s atmosphere, increasing its attractiveness to visitors, fostering community inclusion, building partnerships with larger city events, and contributing to the broader fabric of nightlife culture that exists not only on major stages, but also in smaller spaces.
Mantautas Krukauskas presented the “Mi-Rap” project, developed under the Interreg Europe programme, during which a “map” of Vilnius’ music ecosystem was created. One of the key insights highlighted in his presentation was that Vilnius still lacks a strong “middle layer” — intermediaries, bridges, and mediators capable of connecting communities, creators, venues, and institutions so that ideas, initiatives, and needs can more easily turn into concrete solutions.
In the discussion, Matas Drukteinis compared Vilnius’ music landscape to the broader Lithuanian context, drawing attention to the lack of cultural activity in regional areas and the wider need to strengthen access to culture across the country.
Vygintas Gasparavičius discussed Vilnius City’s investments in culture and emphasized that financial support for the music sector has grown significantly in recent years. It was also noted that the planned National Concert Hall, currently under construction on Tauro Hill, will be multifunctional and intended for more than just classical music.
Vilnius Is Unique — and Needs Continued Support
The discussion was lively and constructive. All participants agreed that Vilnius stands out for its creative energy and people, and that a strong music ecosystem requires consistent work from many sides — from communities and venues to institutions and city policy. In other words: there is much to be proud of, but also much to strengthen so that talents, initiatives, and spaces feel supported not individually, but as part of a broader system.
“Murmurs” — An Important Part of the “Music Hall” Mosaic
On February 26–27, the Murmurs Conference & Showcase Festival brought together artists ready for international audiences, music lovers, and industry professionals from across Europe and beyond. Alongside concerts at Kablysfeaturing emerging artists from Lithuania and the Baltic states, the event also included a conference programme of discussions, presentations, and networking dedicated to the independent music sector. The event was organised by the Lithuanian Music Business Association, continuing the tradition of “What’s Next in Music?”.
At the same time, the Vilnius Book Fair hosted AGATA’s “Music Hall” — a unique space in Lithuania where visitors can experience live performances, participate in talks and discussions, meet creators and publishers, and purchase the latest releases (CDs and vinyl records) directly from artists.
We are happy that events like these take place in Vilnius: they simultaneously strengthen the local scene and open it up to international connections.
