The festival’s concept originates from Democracy festivals in Nordic countries. The Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania has partnered with the festival since its beginning in 2017.
Project purpose and goals
“Būtent!” was initiated in 2017 by Lithuanian non-governmental body “Visos idėjos”, which was established in the same year with the goal of being the founder of the Lithuanian Democracy Festival. In 2017, the festival was launched together with the Lithuanian Open Society Foundation, the British Council, Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania and Swedbank.
One of the primary objectives of the event is to showcase that significant decisions are intrinsically linked to the diversity of perspectives and the inclusion of various societal groups in the decision-making process.
Long-term goals of the festival:
- Provide a Platform for Key Ideas: Create a venue to elevate ideas crucial to the well-being of the state and its citizens.
- Strengthen Institutional Cooperation: Enhance collaboration among various institutions and organizations, including the public sector, businesses, academia, and non-governmental organizations.
- Foster Unity and Inspire Collective Action: Cultivate concord and inspire collective action for advancing national development.
- Promote a Culture of Dialogue: Foster a culture of discussion, establish common ground, and promote tolerance.
Openness:
- The festival is open both for the participants and the content.
- The event is free of charge.
- Quality content is formed by separate organizations, enterprises, individuals rather than a festival team.
- Variety of topics.
- The event is non-political but open to all political ideologies.
- The event is family friendly.
Festival website: www.diskusijufestivalis.lt
Key events and activities
Each year, the Office, in collaboration with the Nordic embassies, hosts discussions at the festival, bringing together Nordic and Lithuanian experts to address today’s most pressing questions. These talks facilitate the exchange of experiences and mutual learning.
Būtent!’17
At the 2017 event, the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania hosted discussions on the following topics:
- Alcohol policies in Lithuania and in the region: is similar policy going to be similarly fruitful?
- National states in the age of globalisation
- “Economics of happiness”: what is the cost ff Scandinavian happiness in Lithuania?
- Ethnic minorities: how are they seen by Russian / Polish media?
Būtent!’18
For the 2018 Festival, we invited to explore the following topics:
- 0 died on this road this year
- Iceland 1:1 Lithuania, or let kids play football
- Lithuania – start-up of trust. The shareholders meeting
- Digital Future – are governments lagging behind the citizens?
Būtent!’19
For the 2019 Festival, we welcomed discussions on the following topics:
- Technology and community: Who serves whom?
- Nordic Leadership: how to work with Vikings?
- Happy childhood in the Nordic countries. When in Lithuania?
- Vision of sustainable city in 2050
Būtent!’22
The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the loss of connections at both the individual and community level, while Russian aggression in Ukraine has strongly affected the global security environment. This year’s Nordic programme reflects the latest developments on a global scene and puts resilient Democracy high on the agenda:
- How to create a resilient society? Insights from Lithuania, Finland, and Sweden
- How to make Tech work for Democracy?
- If not me, then who? How civil societies mobilize during crises in Lithuania and the Nordics
- Dead planet vs Green transition: do we know the real price?
Būtent!’23
This year’s discussions were shaped by two significant events: the municipal elections in Lithuania, marked by an extremely low turnout of young voters, and the launch of the new edition of the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations. This comprehensive scientific paper, for the first time, provides guidance on how to eat in a way that is both healthy and sustainable:
- Youth and Politics: It’s a Match!
- From Science to Plate: The Future of Nordic-Baltic Food
