Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture

09/25/2026

LITHUANIAN DIPLOMATIC DELEGATION VISITS CHICAGO’S BALZEKAS MUSEUM OF LITHUANIAN CULTURE

CHICAGO, IL — The Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture recently welcomed a distinguished diplomatic delegation from Lithuania to its Chicago locations, highlighting the strong cultural ties between Lithuania and the global diaspora.
The visiting delegation included Lithuania's Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristupas Vaitiekūnas, Director of Global Lithuania Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tadas Kubilius, and Consul General of Lithuania in Chicago Remigijus Jablonskas. During their visit, the officials toured both the museum's long-standing facility at 6500 S. Pulaski Road and its new downtown venue at 172 N. Michigan Avenue.
Guided by museum staff and leadership, Vice Minister Vaitiekūnas and the delegation explored the extensive collection:
Karilė Vaitkutė, Head of the Genealogy Department and Lithuanian language instructor, shared insights into the museum's historic archives and educational programming.
Jolanta Taras, Museum Librarian, and Regina Vasiliauskienė, Registrar and Membership Director, along with staff member Kipras Varkala, presented key cultural exhibits and rare collections.
Rita Janz, member of the Museum Board of Directors, provided a special briefing on “For Freedom,” the museum’s latest exhibition currently on display at the downtown Michigan Avenue location.
Originally opened in 2018 to mark the 100th anniversary of Lithuanian independence, the “For Freedom” exhibition explores the vital history of Lithuanian emigration and the profound impact of the diaspora. Curated by Irene Brokas Chambers, the exhibit highlights the enduring bond between Lithuanian Americans and their homeland, illustrating how immigrant communities provided pivotal support to restore and safeguard Lithuania's independence. Through rich historical artifacts and narrative displays, “For Freedom” honors the resilience, dedication, and shared spirit of those who fought for a free Lithuania across generations.
The visit provided an opportunity to showcase the museum’s ongoing mission to preserve, honor, and promote Lithuanian history and heritage in North America.
About the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture
Founded in Chicago in 1966, the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history, arts, and traditions of the Lithuanian people worldwide.
Contact:
Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture
6500 S. Pulaski Rd. / 172 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL

09/23/2026

The Guild of the Balzekas Museum is currently finalizing plans for a tour of Lithuania in March 2027. We hope you'll consider joining us for what promises to be a memorable 12-day exploration of Lithuania. We are delighted to share this thoughtfully planned itinerary, created to offer a wonderful balance of history, culture, local traditions, scenic beauty, relaxation, and time to enjoy each destination at your own pace.

From the colorful traditions of the Kaziukas Fair in Vilnius to the Baltic coast, charming resort towns, historic Old Towns, and the relaxing mineral waters of Birštonas, this journey offers an opportunity to experience many different sides of Lithuania. In addition to visiting the beautiful sights of Lithuania we will be there to experience Kaziuko Mugė. Lithuania's largest folk-craft fair which fills the Old Town streets for three early-March days. 2027 marks 200 years of the fair!

Full itinerary:

https://travefy.com/trip/itinerary/k5SSks4AegYWBJLOAI22UAXAwMDEEJnNVFvEpXVX3mKND2w0kRVB?d=84615775

Interest form: https://travefy.com/trip/6yw9rqe5xtsv9p6cddmqqhansblerwuu5l3jqmbcvusvq/9287622/6ws9rqearjjqra8jqtlrq4tueuwb7vrd8v7vp5px/full?q=5193040

If your interest in receiving more information please contact Rob via email at [email protected].

09/06/2026

Prepare for a windy Fall or an icy Chicago winter with some of our favorite Lithuanian Merchandise! This Slam-Dunking Skullman Winter Hat is great for fans of Lithuania, Basketball, or just good fashion. Now available in the Balzekas Museum gift shop and online!

Buy here:
https://balzekasmuseum.myshopify.com/products/original-lithuania-tie-dye-%C2%AE-slammin-skullman-%C2%AE-30th-anniversary-hoodie-1992-2024-copy?_pos=1&_sid=83c0a4496&_ss=r

09/03/2026

From the early days of the Museum, Val Ramonis was there as an artist, an editor of the Museum Review, a future Executive Director, and longtime Museum advocate. In April 1967, the Museum hosted its first exhibit of Val's work featuring twenty selected paintings setting the scene for many future successful art exhibits at the Museum. Val was also Executive Director during the time when the Museum moved from Archer Avenue to Pulaski Road in 1986. Val would later leave the Museum in 1994 to start the independent publication Lithuanian Heritage Magazine.

In the photo, from left to right, are Stanley Balzekas Jr., Stasys Lozoraitis, Jr., the Lithuanian Ambassador to the United States, and Val Ramonis.

Have you attended any of Val's exhibitions or have you been a regular reader of his writings? Let us know about it in the comments and !

08/31/2026

The Guild of the Balzekas Museum is delighted to have you participate in our 2026 Balzekas Museum “ Oktoberfest” Lithuanian Style. The event will be held at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60629 on Sunday, October 4th, 2026, doors open at 12:30 pm. Suggested donations for tickets for the event are $40 in advance and $45 at the door. Join us for an afternoon of music, dance, raffles, and a buffet of traditional Lithuanian food and beverages!

08/31/2026

The Guild of the Balzekas Museum is delighted to have you participate in our 2026 Balzekas Museum Holiday Craft Fair and Social. The event will be held at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60629 on Saturday, November 21, 2026. Please submit your registration as soon as possible as our table reservations are limited and will be reserved on a first come first serve basis. Please plan to join us as we start the holidays off with some Christmas Cheer!

Reservation Request:
*Please Completely Fill Out Your Request Below - $30.00 Per Table & One Craft Item for our on-site Raffle in support of the museum. (A second table can be reserved for $20.00.) Please review and complete the information below then mail it to the address provided below with your payment to reserve your table.
YOUR REGISTRATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2026. Your information will be included as a participant in the Event Flyer. The flyer will be updated as participants are received. Please drop off your registration at the museum or mail to: ROB MARTIN, GUILD OF THE BALZEKAS MUSEUM, 6500 SOUTH PULASKI ROAD, CHICAGO, IL 60629.

The Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, the Guild of the Balzekas Museum or anyone affiliated with this event will not be held responsible or liable for accidents, injuries, or the loss or damage of goods associated with 2026 Balzekas Museum Holiday Craft Fair and Social.

08/21/2026

08/21/2026

WEEKLY FRIDAY FINDS:

This week we found "Madona of the Fields" (Laukų madona), a 1942 linocut print created by Lithuanian graphic artist, painter, and sculptor Domicelė Tarabildienė (1912–1985).
This piece, created during World War 2, displays Christian iconography and deeply rooted Lithuanian folk art traditions. The classic image of Madonna and Child is reimagined through a uniquely Lithuanian lens with sharp contrasts between black ink and negative white space. We would like to thank the Artists’ Association of Lithuania that donated this piece to the Balzekas Museum.

08/20/2026

For over 60 years the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian culture has been dedicated to fulfilling our mission to preserve, perpetuate, showcase, and celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of the Lithuanian nation and people worldwide. After serving the waves of Lithuanian immigrants in our West Lawn neighborhood, the Chicago area, and the United States It has been our pleasure to extend our mission by opening a second Balzekas Museum location earlier last month. The Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture was founded in 1966 during the height of the Cold War when Lithuania was subsumed into the Soviet Union and cut off from the rest of the world. Concerned about the plight of their ancestral land, leaders of Chicago’s Lithuanian community established the Museum to serve as a cultural ‘home away from the homeland’ for Chicago Lithuanians and a gateway to Lithuania, its language, history, culture, and traditions for all Chicagoans. With the good fortune of being located in a diverse and culturally welcoming city, the help of an active core of volunteers, and the support of an ever-growing number of members and donors, the Museum’s exhibitions and programs developed and flourished. In 20 years, its collections outgrew the original facility. In 1986, the Museum purchased and moved to the building it currently occupies, the former Von Solbrig Hospital in Chicago’s West Lawn neighborhood. Today, in 2026 after a bit more blood, sweat, and tears, we’ve continued to expand and facilitate the healthy growth of the Lithuanian American community. We welcome you to visit our new satellite location!

We want to thank all the officials who attended the opening and most importantly, we want to thank you our patrons, followers, audience, and partners that helped make it all possible.

If you are interested in becoming a museum member visit our website:

https://balzekasmuseum.org/member-sign-up-page/

Your continued support helps support our educational programs, library and archives, and development of new exhibitions, films, and publications.
Thank you!

08/19/2026

What are Sutartinės?
You may have heard of the term Sutartinės
during the Lithuanian song festival, a friend, or from Joninės, but what does it mean and where did it come from?

Inscribed in the Representative list of Intagible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, UNESCO details it best:

Sutartinės (from the word sutarti – to be in concordance) is a form of polyphonic music performed by female singers in north-east Lithuania. The songs have simple melodies, with two to five pitches, and comprise two distinct parts: a meaningful main text and a refrain that may include nonce words. There are almost forty different styles and ways of performing Sutartinės. Mainly, they can be performed by two singers in parallel seconds; by three singers in strict canon, all performing both phrases of the melody at staggered intervals; or by two groups of singers, the lead singer of each pair singing the main text, while the partner sings the refrain, before the second pair repeats. The poetic texts encompass many themes, including work, calendar rituals, weddings, family, wars, history and moments of daily life. Choreography is uncomplicated and movements are moderate, often austere, such as walking in the form of a circle or star while linking arms and stamping feet. Sutartinės are performed on solemn occasions, as well as festivals, concerts and social gatherings. Their performance promotes the sharing of cultural values and provides a feeling of cultural identity, continuity and self-esteem. Sutartinės are usually sung by women, but men perform instrumental versions on pan-pipes, horns, long wood trumpets, fipple flutes and plucked zithers.

Learn more here:
https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/sutartins-lithuanian-multipart-songs-00433