žemaičiai Museum "alka"

Contacts
Address: Muziejaus g. 31, LT-87357, Telšiai.
Tel. (+370 ~ 444) 70 282.
E-mail: alka@andernetas.lt 
http://zam.mch.mii.lt/
Director – Elvyra Spudytė.

Information for Visitor

Opening hours:
1st April – 1st November:
Wednesday – Saturday 9–17; Sunday 10–16.
1st November 1st April:
Tuesday – Friday 9–17; Saturday 10–16.

Admission:
adults – 5 Lt; 
pupils, students and OAP – 2 Lt;
child under 7, disabled, ICOM members – free.

Guided tours – 20 Lt.

Additional services:
ordering excursions to Rainiai;
ordering excursion journeys "Telšiai – Rainiai – Šatrija – Gaulėnai";
presentation of educational counsel in all the Museum's Departments;
permission to use funds of accumulated exponents, also accumulated written materials.

Collection
The museum contains collections of archaeological finds, numismatics, exhibits related to history and nature of the Žemaičiai area and fine art.
Museum – regional studies manner. Funds are made up of ethnographic, archaeological collections, applicable folk and figurative art works, historical collections (photos, documents, cartographic publications, books), cultural inheritance (legacy) of manors (pictures, furniture, books, sculptures, archives), examples of applied art, negatives and filmed materials; copious Educational Archive (collected recollections, diaries, educational works).

Exposition
Telšiai’s Past – a part of Samogitia’s History: exhibits shown tell of the history, culture, and way of life of Telšiai.

Exhibitions
In the Museum's newly added wing of two halls are constantly organized art, ethnographic and applied art exhibitions.
A unit of exhibits is organized from exponents in the museum's funds, unit – collected works of painters from Telšiai.
At the museum also take place exhibitions of creative art works of Vilnius Art Academy, of Klaipėda creative group "Guboja" and of Telšiai Children's Art School.

Cultural, educational activity
Closing exhibitions of long duration in the museum's old building, created a possibility to assign greater attention to educational activity. Detached museum's divisions engages in educational activity. This educational activity program is allocated to the school of Telsiai.
Afternoons' organization.
Concerts' organization.
Opening of exhibitions.
Presentation of lectures on diverse occassions of State Holidays and anniversaries.
Meetings' organization.
Organization of Samogitian Cultural Association's events.
Preparation for publishing educational information articles.

Departments
Active in the Museum are departments of Archaeology, History, Ethnography, Fine arts, Folk art and Nature departments.
Here is also an active Educational library and phototaxis.

Branch Museum

Museum of Samogitian Village
Address: Malūno g. 5, LT-87357 Telšiai.
Tel. (+370 ~ 444) 70 001, mob. tel. (+370 688) 42 566.
More information >

Public Museum
Gaulėnai Village Museum
Address: Gaulėnų kaimas, Luokės seniūnija, LT-88237, Telšių rajonas.
Tel. (+370 ~ 444) 41 170.

Other news
The museum opened in 1932 on the initiative of "Alka", a society devoted to the history of the Žemaičiai (Samogitians). Designed by architect Steponas Stulginskis (1908–1995) the museum's building dates back to 1937.
Museum's establisher – Telsiai Region Municipality.

Telšiai
Telšiai is the capital of Žemaitija (Samogitia) – the historical, ethnical northwestern part of Lithuania. The city is the administrational, catholic centre of Telsiai region and Telšiai County. Telšiai had been founded on seven hills on the banks of Lake Mąstis. Its name derives from the small River Telšė that flows into the lake.
Archaeological findings from peat bogs around the lake suggest that people have been living here for at least 6 000 years. Telšiai was marked on 13th century maps. The historical sources Telšiai were first mentioned in 1450.
Telšiai started to grow in the 17th century. At that time a noblemen's seimelis (little Seimas) met regularly and the town benefited from trade privileges. When Bernardine monks settled here a baroque and classical church and an abbey were built.
In 1791 King Stanislovas Augustas granted Telšiai the Magdeburg Rights at the coat of arms. The town grew to become a centre for many religious communities. In the 19th century there was a famous school of rabbis where representatives from all over the world came to study. The Russian Orthodox Church, built in the middle of the 19th century, is still there.
A bishop's palace was built and seminary opened which was closed after the Soviet occupation. It was reopened during the times of the revival movement in 1989.
Up till now the city has retained its status as a centre for Catholicism: the bishop's palace, Catholic schools and societies are situated here.
Telšiai School has a long history. The first school opened in 1612. Later the city had many gymnasiums. Now there are 10 schools and a school of applied arts where young people from all over the country study textiles, knitting, design, woodwork and metalwork.
For over 50 years Telšiai has had the Alka Museum, which houses many items of Samogitia's distinctive cultural heritage. The collection was built up by enthusiasts, societies and organisations. It includes folk art given by the makers themselves or by their children or grandchildren, materials depicting the cultural life of the region's estates, its history and nature. There is also Samogitia's open-air museum, which authentic buildings from the 19th and early 20th century, and a wooden windmill. Visitors can visit an old smithy in which a fire burns, and watch a theatre company performing in a barn. Folk art festivals and international folklore festivals are held here.
The old town of Telšiai is famous all over the Republic. There are 74 cultural monuments in the town.
Telšiai has also got very old and deep literature traditions.