23 January 2026

Exhibition “Friends in Need.Denmark – Lithuania, 2026”

As they took their first steps toward freedom, Lithuania and the other Baltic states received wholehearted support from democratic countries. One of them was Denmark. Never having recognised the annexation of Lithuania, our Baltic Sea neighbour welcomed the news of 11 March 1990 with joy.

Ordinary Danes expressed heartfelt support — through a solidarity march and a nationwide newspaper-led fundraising campaign that helped establish the Danish Cultural Institute in Vilnius. On 28 February 1991, in rapid response to the tragic events of January that same year, Denmark reaffirmed its original 1921 recognition of Lithuania’s independence. A year later, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II was the first head of state to pay a state visit to the newly independent Lithuania. The Danes wholeheartedly supported Lithuania's aspirations for EU and NATO membership, aided the healthcare system, invited soldiers for training, welcomed Lithuanians to Danish folk high schools, had artists and scientists from both countries participate in joint projects, while the first Lego sets appeared in Lithuania, and the SAS route Vilnius–Copenhagen gave an opportunity to get to know each other even better. 

The documents, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other exhibits carried by the waves of time help us reflect on more than thirty years of friendship. In interviews, representatives from different fields testify to the friendship between the two countries today and in the past. A display of historical footage rippling on a large screen shows the solidarity that has been felt since the very first days of freedom. Meanwhile, the installation Fleet of Friendship offers a poetic reminder that the unity between peoples crosses seas and national borders. 

A friend in need is a friend indeed. The unified narrative of the exhibition tells us that freedom is the best way to build strong bonds. 

Visitors to the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania will be able to view the exhibition “Friends in Need.Denmark – Lithuania, 2026” from January 30 to February 28 in the Exhibition Hall (III a.). 

For more information about the exhibition and accompanying events, please visit the National Library website. 

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Content curators – Ilona Strumickienė, Ignė Rasickaitė, Rasa Alė Petronytė, Valda Budreckaitė 

A Fleet of Friendship installation – Danish Cultural Institute and artist Helle Bull Sarning, DK 

Exhibition architecture – Algirdas Jakas 

Graphic design – Akvilė Paukštytė 

Coordinator – Daura Polonskytė 

Technical implementation – Žilvinas Baranauskas, Algirdas Jakas, Neda Rimaitė, MB „Liustrai“ 

Interviews – National Library TV Team: Aina Kirdulienė, Mantvydas Levulis, Audrius Šapkinas; Anne Splittorff  

Animation – Gluk Media  

Narrative consultant – Milda Varnauskaitė  

Translation – Nunilo Rumbutis, Dalia Cidzikaitė 

Organisers and Partners: 

Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark 

Ministry of Culture Denmark 

Royal Danish Embassy in Lithuania  

Danish Cultural Institute in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania