Your age?

39

Where are you from\where do you live?

I am, as I like to say, little Lithuanian wondering and wandering mainly in Brussels for the last decades.

What is your job?

Good question – I am still figuring it out, I guess. I have many hats, and at the same time it is also just all me. I am a practitioner in cultural relations, a student in political science, a lecturer in cultural diplomacy and also a researcher in the role of culture in the time of crises, co-founder of emerging think-tank on bridging cultural policy-making and practice, educated in cultural management, an advocate for culture in EU bubbles, a dreamer with somewhat artistic mind, a collaborator and a friend with some managerial skills when and where they are needed. I guess my superpower is connecting all these together and ever looking how these intersections could build a somewhat better environment for all of us, if possible, through collective action.

What is the Lithuanian in you?

Family and roots; the language somehow to be proud of and protect; the childhood memories; the friends that known me then and now; the acknowledgement of history and resilience, the growth and humble pride of the achievements of the society; the creativity and somewhat annoying stubbornness.

What is the European in you?

Opportunity and promise; I am one of those “believers” in the idea and feeling of European first and foremost. The Europe that opened up when I was young, brough me education, Erasmus, travel, adventure, friends, languages and cultures. These formed me to a certain extent who am I today as a person and what I work for as a professional. Do I like where we are now? Not every day, but I think if we have a will, we can get there.

 

For identity I choose suncreen. When I was a child I realised a tan a bit quicker than most of my fair skin lithuanian friends. This led to understanding and connecting with my Crimean-Balkan roots. The reflection of identity is important, but I think it is more interesting of what we have in common rather when how are we different. I also like the idea of suncreen, to protect us from what can unintentionally harm us.