Exhibitions archive

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

29 January - 28 February 2026

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 – it is a story about people who believed in Lithuania's restored independence.

As they took their first steps toward freedom, Lithuania and the other Baltic states received comprehensive support from democratic countries. One of them was Denmark. This exhibition tells the story of how Denmark became one of Lithuania's closest supporters after 1990 – from telegrams of support to joint cultural, educational, and security projects.

What will you see at the exhibition?

Documents, newspaper clippings, photographs – evidence of more than three decades of friendship.
Interviews with representatives from various fields about our relatins today and in the past.
Historical footage on the big screen – a vivid sense of solidarity from the first days of freedom.
Danish artist Helle Bull Sarning's installation "Friendship Fleet" – a poetic reminder that unity between people and nations crosses seas and borders.

A brief history

Denmark, which never recognized the annexation of Lithuania, welcomed the news of March 11, 1990, with joy. Ordinary Danes expressed their sincere support by gathering at solidarity rallies and participating in a fundraising campaign initiated by the press to establish a Danish cultural institute in Vilnius.
On February 28, 1991, reacting swiftly to the bloody events of January 13 of that year, Denmark confirmed the continuity of its recognition of Lithuanian independence granted in 1921.
In 1992, Queen Margrethe II became the first head of state to pay a state visit to the newly independent Lithuania.
Denmark supported Lithuania's path to the EU and NATO, provided assistance in the field of health, invited soldiers to study, Lithuanians attended Danish folk schools, and artists and scientists from both countries participated in joint projects.
The first LEGO sets appeared in Lithuania, and the SAS route between Vilnius and Copenhagen opened up new opportunities for exploration.

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