In the spirit of reviving spring, the Šiauliai Cultural Center's Rėkyva Culture House is preparing to open its doors

The Šiauliai Cultural Center welcomes the spring of 2025 with joy. The reconstruction work of the Šiauliai Cultural Center's Rėkyva Culture House, which has been underway since the beginning of 2023, has been successfully completed. The building, which was completely reconstructed in 1949, was only slightly renovated after a good half century: in 2004–2006, the building's central facade, roofing, and ventilation were repaired, windows were replaced, and exterior doors were replaced; in 2015–2016, the concert hall was renovated, the hall chairs were purchased, and the rear wall of the building was insulated. Thus, the substantially renovated building will open its doors to the people of Rėkyva much more modern and beautiful. The cultural needs of the community will continue to be met here, amateur art and ethnic culture are nurtured, and the dissemination of professional art is developed.

It is no secret that cultural life is thriving not only in cities, but also in towns, villages or urban microdistricts. The Šiauliai Cultural Center's Rėkyvos Culture House is the only cultural institution in the Rėkyvos microdistrict, where many different events are held for people of all age groups: concerts, evenings, performances, poetry evenings, exhibitions, book presentations, meetings and other gatherings of the Rėkyvos community. Of course, the several-year break during the reconstruction of the building has significantly reduced cultural activity, but the Šiauliai Cultural Center intends to make amends by renewing cultural activities and creating new local traditions together with the community.

“The current Šiauliai Cultural Center Rėkyva Cultural House is located on the former territory of the Rėkyva Manor. The main hall is what was once the farm building of the manor. The Rėkyva Manor was owned by the wealthy Karpis family. Its last owner was Eustachijus Karolis Karpis. During its long existence, the Rėkyva Cultural House has had a difficult time – there have been both ups and downs: the people working there have changed, art groups have come and gone,” says Deimantė Bačiulė, director of the Šiauliai Cultural Center.

In 1949, the farm building of the manor was completely reconstructed, and on May 1, 1951, the opening of the Rėkyva Power Plant Club “Energetikas” took place there. Then, cultural life began in Rėkyva: artistic amateur activities were held, films were shown to residents, dance evenings and concerts were held. A mixed choir, a drama club, and a bagpipe orchestra were established. On September 28, 1967, a large club extension was opened, which included another hall, several rehearsal rooms and offices for employees, and the Rėkyva Library (now the Rėkyva branch of the Šiauliai City Municipality Public Library) was also located. In 1987, the Rėkyva Culture House belonged to the Šiauliai City Culture Department, and since 1990 it became the Rėkyva branch of the Šiauliai City Cultural Center, and since 2009 – the Rėkyva Culture House of the Šiauliai Cultural Center.

Although the cauldron of cultural life in the Rėkyva Culture House has been constantly boiling actively, the building has not seen major renovations since 1949, apart from the most necessary renovations of the spaces in 2004–2006 and 2015–2016. The building's spaces have become unattractive over the years. Taking into account the need to create and provide high-quality cultural services to local residents and guests, in early 2023, renovation works began at the Šiauliai Cultural Center's Rėkyva Culture House, during which the building's facade and roof were insulated, parapets and ventilation chimneys were covered, internal premises and the Concert Hall were renovated, the heating system was replaced, the heat point was renovated, the water supply and sewage systems were reconstructed, the electrical installation was repaired, and ventilation, air conditioning and air-conditioning systems were installed. The building is adapted for people with disabilities, two lifts were installed for people with disabilities to access the stage, a stair lift was installed for access to the second floor and an elevator. The Šiauliai City Municipality allocated 659 thousand euros for the implementation of the renovation works. Also, an additional 149 thousand euros was provided to ensure the functioning of the cultural facility. EUR financing and the purchase of necessary furniture, stage curtains, lighting and sound equipment.

“I am truly happy that a difficult stage for both us and the community is coming to an end – the Šiauliai Cultural Center’s Rėkyva Culture House shines with novelty. We hope that soon we will be able to invite residents to a safe, high-quality and modern environment, where traditional and new events will be organized,” says Deimantė Bačiulė, director of the Šiauliai Cultural Center.

The Rėkyva Culture House with its green zone intends to become a center of attraction. In order to ensure the arrangement and adaptation of the territory of its structural unit, the Rėkyva Culture House (Energetikų g. 7), the Šiauliai Cultural Center will implement the project “Reconstruction works of other engineering structures at Energetikų g. 7, Šiauliai” this year. The construction contract was signed in February and it is planned that the territory arrangement works will be completed in September.

It is expected that in the Rėkyva Culture House, which will open its doors, residents and guests will be able to enjoy a modern and cozy environment, and cultural events will become higher quality and attract more visitors.

Information is provided by Deimantė Bačiulė, director of the Šiauliai Cultural Center, mob. +370 671 42 889, e. p. deimante.baciule@siauliukc.lt.

Photo by Rolandas Parafinavičius, Liubov Yarmoshenko and Šiauliai Cultural Center archive.