In June, two events will be held in Balkūnai - the art plenary "Laisvas potėpis" and the village theatre festival "Kaimo liktarna"

Description

The theatre scholar Vytautas Maknys was born in Balkūnai. At primary school, plays were staged in the museum's homestead, and the Vežimai Theatre was active. Later on, a festival-contest of amateur theatres was started.
On 3 June, at 10 a.m., the art plenary workshop 'A Subtext of Freedom' will start at the homestead of the artist Antanas Žmuidzinavičius Museum (Balkūnai village, Miroslavas sen.). The workshop is one of the activities of the amateur theatre festival-contest "Kaimo liktarna", which is dedicated to the theatre critic Vytautas Maknis.  Throughout the day, until 16:00, pupils of the Art Department of the Alytus District School of Art and Sports will paint works of art in the museum's farmstead. The pupils will be assisted by the leader of the plenary workshop, art teacher and expert Arūnas Vaitkus. The painted works will be exhibited in the museum's homestead, and on 17 June they will be presented at the theatre festival and competition.
On 17 June at 12 noon, the amateur theatre festival-contest "The Village Fate" will take place in the Museum's farmstead. The performances will be presented by the amateur theatre 'Sodžius' of the ethnographic Pranas Dzūkas farmstead, the amateur theatre 'Cik tep sau' of the Rudamina Association's 'Leisure Employment Club', and the theatre 'Dilgynė' of the Varėnos Cultural Centre in Merkinė. The best amateur theatre will be awarded the prize named after Vytautas Maknis, a theatre scholar, and diplomas and prizes for the best actor and actress.  
The event will present the works of the plein-air workshop "Laisvas potėpis". 
The event is organised by the Alytus District Municipality Culture Centre, funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture and Alytus District Municipality.
It is also a great opportunity to visit the museum of the artist Antanas Žmuidzinavičius and to take part in a guided tour, and the Mikalavas village community "Šilaičiai" will invite you to taste a tasty dish of shiupin for a symbolic fee. 
The theatres promise that their performances will be fun, engaging and memorable, so they invite everyone to come to the festival: both the oldest and the youngest!