Antano Mončio namų-muziejaus penkiolikos veiklos metų aktualizavimas : 15 metų: ką darom toliau?

ENThere are not many houses-museums dedicated to prominent artistic and cultural personalities in Lithuania. Palanga can take pride in the fact that the Museum of the works of the famous Lithuanian sculptor of the 20th century Antanas Moneys (1921-1993) has been in existence for fifteen years already. The works donated to the town by the artist himself, which gave rise to the exposition, are an incalculable value to entire art of Lithuania. In the course of 15 years of its activity, however, Antanas Mončys House-Museum has become well-known in Lithuania and abroad, the artist’s works have been displayed in different cities of the country, museum visitors in Germany, Denmark and France admired them. Each year international exhibitions and exhibitions of Lithuanian artists are arranged in the Museum, art workshops, seminars, thematic events are organised. They are significant accents of the cultural life of the town. Alongside the issues of the activity of other Lithuanian museums of this kind, the perspective of the further activities of Antanas Moneys House-Museum was discussed. It is a paradox: the wider the activity of the Museum is known the thicker clouds formed by personal property insinuations, conflicts of laws, etc. “gathe” over it. The information that is constantly appearing in the mass media (the press and TV) about the claims of the persons who are absolutely unknown in any sphere of culture and art, their legal intrigues and appeals cause great concern.The latest case is a big article about never-ending legal matters related to the building of the Museum (Clouds are Gathering over Antanas Moneys House-Museum in Palangos tiltas, 9 September 2014, No. 67). The person whose surname has never been among those who founded or created the Museum or that has never appeared in the history of building up the collection, without any moral responsibility appeals to the memory of Antanas Mončys whom he never knew, never communicated with him and claims himself to be the artist’s close friend. This is absurdity publicly spread to all the inhabitants of Palanga, the artists and art historians of Lithuania. We approve of the position of Palanga Town Municipality, one of the founders and the Administration of the Museum on preserving this centre of art and following the procedure established by laws demand that the status of the building of the Museum should eventually be resolved. We hope that competent authorities will assess properly the history of the origin and creation of the Museum related to the building at Kęstučio Street 17 / S. Daukanto Street 16, will take into consideration the fact that the artistic creation amassed and exhibited under the roof of the Museum is more important to the public and culture than private property ambitions. The works of Antanas Moneys, the quiet Samogitian from the village of Mončiai, were presented to all - the people residing in the town of Palanga and its guests, as well as to Lithuania, its artistic and cultural heritage.