Exhibition “The Journey of the ‘Klaipėda Book’ Competition, 2006–2026”

From 23 April to 21 June, the book exhibition „Konkurso KLAIPĖDOS KNYGA kelias 2006–2026 m.“ (The Journey of the “Klaipėda Book” Competition, 2006–2026) is on view at the Exhibition Hall of the Klaipėda Culture Communication Centre (KCCC), Didžioji Vandens g. 2. The exhibition is part of the Book Art Festival programme.

This year, the Immanuel Kant Public Library of Klaipėda City Municipality celebrates the 20th anniversary of the “Klaipėda Book” competition. To mark the occasion, the library has brought together the past twenty years’ winning books in an exhibition titled “The Journey of the ‘Klaipėda Book’ Competition, 2006–2026.”

The exhibition invites visitors to explore the winners of the MOST BEAUTIFUL, MOST POPULAR and KLAIPĖDA-THEMED book categories, and to trace two decades of Klaipėda’s publishing landscape. Over that period, the competition has become a significant cultural phenomenon, bringing together the city’s authors, publishers, and readers, while also giving form to Klaipėda’s history, identity, and creative spirit. Across twenty years, it has gathered stories, memories, images, and voices of Klaipėda – from old postcards to contemporary texts and art albums.

This is more than a book exhibition – it’s a portrait of the city, revealing Klaipėda, its people, and the traces of time.

Immanuel Kant Public Library of Klaipėda City Municipality

The exhibition features:

• 2006 winners: the book „Klaipėdos dvarai“ (publisher „Libra Memelensis“) and the academic publication „Archeologija Baltica‘6“ (Klaipėda University Press);
• 2007 winners: the book „Klaipėda senuose atvirukuose“ (publisher „Libra Memelensis“) and the photography album „Sukurta Nidoje“ (compiled by Remigijus Treigys and Adas Sendrauskas, Klaipėda branch of the Lithuanian Union of Art Photographers);
• 2008 winners: Vygantas Vareikis’s book „99 istorijos apie Klaipėdos miestą“ (UAB „Druka“ printing house) and Rolandas Rastauskas and Remigijus Treigys’s book „Berlynalijos“ (UAB „Druka“ printing house);
• 2009 winners: Jovita Saulėnienė and Rasa Tarik’s book „Das versunkene Memel. Nugrimzdusi Klaipėda“ (UAB „Druka“ printing house), the photo album „36 kadrai“ (Raimundas Urbonas, Klaipėda Culture Communication Centre „Kultūrpolis“) and the book „Komunikacija keičia požiūrį“ (Klaipėda Culture Communication Centre „Kultūrpolis“);
• 2010 winner: Kęstutis Demereckas and Vasilijus Safronovas’s book „Klaipėda 1945–1965…“, published by „Libra Memelensis“;
• 2011 winners: the book „Lietuvos tatuiruočių menas“ (Art Creators’ Association „MEKUSA“) and Ignas Kazakevičius’s book „Estetika vs informacija“ (Klaipėda Culture Communication Centre);
• 2012 winners: the book „Kareivinės, tapusios Klaipėdos universitetu“, compiled by Vasilijus Safronovas (Klaipėda University Press), and Michele Bianchi’s (Alberto Vimina’s) book „Lenkijos pilietinių karų istorija“ (Klaipėda University Press);
• 2013 winners: Violeta Beresnevičienė’s book „Po gerojo angelo sparnu“ (publisher „Libra Memelensis“) and the book „Kelionė į prūsiškąjį „BARBIZONĄ“ (published by the „Nidden“ society);
• 2014 winners: Vytautas Jokubauskas’s monograph „Mažųjų kariuomenių“ galia ir paramilitarizmas: tarpukario Lietuvos atvejis“ (Klaipėda University Press) and Bruno le Coutre’s „Mano miestas Klaipėda, 1900–1939 metai: atsiminimai“ (Lithuanian Sea Museum);
• 2015 winners: Algirdas Stankevičius’s book „5000 valandų po vandeniu“ (publisher „Eglė“) and the art album „Jonas Švažas“ (compiled by Saulius and Marija Švažai, published by the Klaipėda County Artists’ Association);
• 2016 winners: Gražina Juodytė’s book „Klaipėdos akvarelės. IV dalis“ (publisher „Eglė“) and Salys Šemerys’s memoirs „Apie vėjus burėse, galvoje ir kišenėse“ (compiled by the historian Dainius Elertas, published by the Lithuanian Sea Museum);
• 2017 winner: Jovita Saulėnienė’s book „Jos didenybė Prūsijos karalienė Luizė Mėmelyje“ (UAB „Druka“ printing house);
• 2018 winners: Vytautas Kusas’s book „Kertinis akmuo“ (UAB „Druka“ printing house), Benas Šarka and Remigijus Treigys’s photo album „Vidurnakt ir giliau“ (published by the Creators’ Association) and Rita Latvėnaitė’s book of fairy tales for children „Kas tas Asis“ (Lithuanian Writers’ Union Publishers);
• 2019 winners: the book „Luizianos paslaptis. Kaip išgelbėti užburtąjį orkestrą?“ (S. Jokužys Publishing House-Printing House) and the photo album „Aleksandras Dapkevičius“ (UAB „Druka“ printing house);
• 2020 winners: Vasilijus Safronovas’s book „Klaipėdos miesto istorija“ (History Museum of Lithuania Minor) and Bronius Vytas Karaciejus’s photo album „Jutimai“ (UAB „Druka“ printing house);
• 2021 winners: the book „Klaipėdos parko istorija“ (compiled by Jolanta Norkienė-Kokkalis, published by „Libra Memelensis“) and the book „Lietuvos jūrų muziejaus rinkiniai prabyla. Laivų modeliai“ (compiled by Romualdas Adomavičius and Edvinas Ubis, book designer Tadas Karpavičius, published by the Lithuanian Sea Museum);
• 2022 winners: the Lithuanian Sea Museum’s publications „Su jūra mes didesni“ and „Bėgliai. Jūrų keliais į Ameriką“;
• 2023 winners: Ilona Ugintė’s book „Žmogus avansu“ (UAB „Druka“ printing house), Saulius Grinkevičius’s book of poems „Slėpiniai“ (Saulius Jokužys Publishing House-Printing House) and Martynas Vainorius’s book „Pasaulio pabaiga ir kiti tarpukario Klaipėdos nutikimai“.
• 2024 winners: the book „Krūmo šaknys. Algirdas Jurgelevičius“, compiled by Virginija Kochanskytė (Klaipėda University Press), and Jovita Saulėnienė’s book „Klaipėdos gatvių istorijos“ (UAB „Druka“ printing house).

Opening hours of the KCCC Exhibition Hall (Didžioji Vandens g. 2, Klaipėda): Wednesday–Sunday 11.00–19.00 (closed on public holidays). Admission to the exhibition is free on the opening day; afterwards there is a charge. Please note that participants may appear in photographs and video recordings of the event published in various media.