šiauliai literature Museum

Contacts
Address: Naisiai, LT-81473 Šiaulių rajonas.
Tel. (+370 ~ 41) 38 60 43.
E-mail: gelesmuz@takas.lt
Director – Rita Žukauskienė.

Information for Visitor

Opening hours:
Tuesday to Saturday 10–18.

Admission:
charge – 1 Lt.

Additional services:
ordering excursions;
allowing students to use Museum’s funds.

Collection
The museum contains collections of ex-libris and medals of the subjects of literature. It accumulates exhibits related to artists, linguists and authors who were born in this area or are otherwise connected with it.

Exposition
The Museum is established in Naisiai, poet’s Zigmas Gaidamavičius-Gėlės’ (1894–1912) birthplace home. One room is set up for the poet’s exposition.
In other two expositions halls and funds are custody and materials of 78 ancient and present day writers, men of letters and linguists.
Exposition also informs about Z. Gėlės’ prize laureates. This prize is awarded annually for best first book of poetry (prize was created in 1977). 
On the Museum’s second floor is displayed a collection of unique medals, granted to Lithuanian and foreign writers, cultural workers.
Medals were created by Lithuanian artists.

Exhibitions
Exhibitions of literature, folk art are arranged at the Museum.

Cultural, educational activity
Every year the museum organizes a ceremony to award a prize named after poet Zigmas Gėlė (Zigmas Gaidamavičius, 1894–1912). The prize is awarded to the author of the best debut poetry book.
Organizing literature evenings.
Organizing meetings with writers and poets.

Branch Museums

Picture Exposition of Anatolijus Tyčina
Address: Beržų g. 3, LT-81420, Gruzdžiai, Šiaulių rajonas.
Tel. (+370 ~ 41) 37 22 91.
More information >

Other news
The museum founded in 1984.
Museum’s establisher – former Šiauliai region Collective Farm “Už taiką” (“For peace”).

Zigmas Gaidamavičius-Gėlė
Z. Gaidamavičius-Gėlė (1894–1912), poet, born in Naisiai, county of Šiauliai.
He started writing poetry at the age of 13 and his first poems appeared in periodicals in 1908. One of his several plays, Užgavėnės (Shrovetide), was performed in Siauliai. He also wrote prose fiction and several essays on Lithuanian literature.
He died in Kiev on Dec. 4, 1912, shortly after his matriculation at the university there. Early death prevented him from manicuring as a poet. He belongs to the post-Maironis era in Lithuanian poetry, marked by aesthetic concerns and individualism. His main themes are the joys and sorrows of youth, and intimate communion with nature. Some of his poems are patterned after folk songs. A collection of his poems, called Gėlynas (Flower Bed) was published posthumously in Vilnius in 1963.