Seminar “Financing, compensation and dissemination of cultural heritage objects”

Welcoming the participants of the seminar gathered in the capital of Žemaitija, the Vice-Mayor of Telšiai District Municipality, A. Jakavičiutė – Miliauskienė, presented a report on the program of revitalization of Old Towns and historical towns in Telšiai district from the municipal budget.

According to the vice-mayor, the condition of many buildings and its territory in the old town of Telšiai is rapidly deteriorating. The situation of the buildings is especially bad from the side of the yards. “The main shortcomings of the buildings are the replacement of windows and doors done without respecting authenticity (shape, division, materiality). Also, the plinth of most of the buildings is cracked, fragmented and in many cases covered with moss or other biodegradants due to moisture. Most of the balconies are in bad condition, which can become the cause of big losses and even accidents, – A. Jakavičiutė – Miliauskienė named the shortcomings. – The condition of the wooden buildings is satisfactory-bad in most cases, the condition of the roofs is partly good, but there are such buildings whose roofs do not protect the facade and other valuable elements, so maintenance and renovation of rainwater systems are required.”

Assessing the current state of the old town territory, the vice-mayor emphasized that the territories are full of visual pollution sources, as well as silicate brick buildings, which are unused and in most cases in an emergency condition, therefore darkening the general picture of the old town.

According to the vice-mayor, when such a situation arose, in 2021, the Telšiai district municipality’s heritage management program was initiated, which gives managers the opportunity to apply for partial funding. The purpose of the program is the revitalization of old towns and historical towns in the Telšiai district (Telšiai old town, the historical part of Tryškii town, Luokė old town, Varniai old town) aims to prevent the decay of cultural heritage objects, improve the aesthetic image of old towns and historical towns, the quality of life and the environment in such a way to contribute to the creation of an attractive environment for investment in the district, tourism and to do it properly – in accordance with the regulations of legal acts.

Managers of immovable cultural assets – individuals, companies or co-owners of an object who have mutually decided to renew their property (buildings located in protected cultural heritage territories) – can participate in the heritage management program.

For the implementation of this program in 2022 20 thousand was foreseen in the municipal budget. Eur. Partial financing was intended for two objects: the building located on Respublika st. 71, in Telšiai for compensation for the purchase of materials for facade maintenance work – EUR 1,808 and for the building Respublikos st. 41, for the replacement of wooden windows – 3 windows were replaced, aligned with the existing ones while maintaining the materiality – EUR 1,728.

in 2023 The municipality’s budget provided 66 thousand for the program. Eur. Partial financing was intended for two objects: the building located on Kęstučio st. 21 A, Telšiai, to pay the partial costs of the roof and facade repair works – 16,325.64 EUR and the building located at Turgaus a. 8, to compensate partial costs of purchasing materials for roof and facade repair works – 4,336.22 EUR.

in 2024 In the budget of the municipality of Telšiai district, it is planned to allocate 115 thousand for the program. 700 hundred EUR.

“In protecting the heritage, the most important thing is the contribution of the society – the nurturing of one’s living environment, daily maintenance,” said A. Jakavičiutė – Miliauskienė, the vice-mayor of the municipality of Telšiai district. – As managers’ awareness and responsibility for preserving the valuable properties of heritage objects increases, it is likely that with joint efforts we will gradually restore and preserve the most significant buildings for the district, improving public infrastructure will contribute to a positive impact on the investment climate, increase investments and commercial activity, create new jobs, etc.”.

You can find more information about the revitalization program of the municipality of Telšiai district’s Old Towns and historical towns in the Telšiai district’s partial financing from the municipal budget funds HERE.

Also during the seminar, information was presented on the changes in the financing procedure for immovable cultural property management works (heritage management), financing of movable cultural property conservation works, reimbursement of expenses for maintenance works of state-protected cultural heritage objects accessible to the public, etc.