Lithuania has sought the title of European Capital of Culture since 1998, when it began preparations to celebrate the Millennium anniversary of its name. In April 2005 a Lithuanian delegation delivered the Vilnius - European Capital of Culture 2009 proposal to an independent selection panel of experts made up by the European Commission.

A panel of experts evaluated Lithuania’s application and recommended to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union that Vilnius be presented with this status.  On November 14, 2005, by EU Council decision Nr. 2005/815/EB, Vilnius was officially given European Capital of Culture status.

Vilnius – European Capital of Culture 2009 spheres of activity:

• Cultural, artistic and social projects – to promote the cultural and civic activities of  residents in the culture of today‘s contemporary European society in order to  create conditions for all to become authors and participants of the live culture programme.
   
• Marketing and communications activities in Lithuania and abroad – to increase the contribution of cultural initiatives towards the expansion of tourism in Vilnius and the country, investment opportunities, and economic development.
   
• Development of cultural infrastructure – to implement the development of cultural structures by renovating them, making them suitable for the disabled and utilizing new forms of construction, and to develop and reconstruct transportation and information systems in Vilnius.

Please find more information and events listing on the following website - http://www.culturelive.lt/en