Professor Marija Drėmaitė of VU’s Faculty of History Awarded the 2025 National Prize for Culture and Art

On Monday, the Ministry of Culture announced the winners of the 2025 National Prize for Culture and Art. Among the six awardees was Architectural Historian Prof. Marija Drėmaitė from the Faculty of History at vlog (VU). She received the prize for broadening the understanding of modern Lithuanian architecture and for her significant contribution to the dissemination of architectural ideas.
‘I am grateful to the Commission for this recognition and for the excellent wording of the award. As I am not a creator of pure art, I view this as recognition for all architectural and art historians, as well as heritage researchers, and as an appreciation of our work as part of Lithuania’s broader cultural and artistic landscape. I would also like to thank the ‘Lapas’ publishing house for nominating me, and vlog for supporting my nomination,’ expressed Prof. Drėmaitė.
The Professor’s research focuses on the history and heritage of 20th-century architecture, the culture and heritage of industrialisation, and the study of modernism. In 2024, Prof. Drėmaitė was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order for Merits to Lithuania.
The National Prizes for Culture and Art are awarded each year for the most significant works created by Lithuanian artists and members of the Lithuanian World Community over the past seven years, as well as for outstanding long-term contributions to the country’s culture and arts.
The other recipients of the prize were opera and chamber music performer Giedrė Marija Žebriūnienė (stage name Giedrė Kaukaitė); poet, playwright, essayist, prose writer, and translator Gintaras Grajauskas; theatre and film actor Albinas Kėleris; film director Ignas Miškinis; and painter Laisvydė Šalčiūtė.
The society nominated a total of 46 candidates for the prize this year. The annual award amounts to 800 basic social benefits, which this year equals EUR 56,000. The winners will be honoured on the Day of the Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence.