The Švėkšna Traditional Crafts Center was established in 2014 as a branch of the Šilutė Tourism Information Center under the project of the Lithuanian Rural Development Program 2007-2013 measure “Rural Renewal and Development” activity “Creation and Development of Traditional Crafts.”

The purpose of the activity is to foster intangible cultural heritage by developing the Traditional Crafts Center as a tourist attraction in Western Lithuania, to nurture and promote traditional craft technologies, and to create conditions for traditional craftspeople to present and sell national heritage products.

MAIN ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE TRADITIONAL CRAFTS CENTER:

  1. Organizes and conducts one-time and outreach educational programs;
  2. Holds regular ceramics classes for children and adult groups;
  3. Conducts educational activities for students according to the cultural education system;
  4. Organizes workshops, educational programs, and other activities with invited professional and amateur craftspeople;
  5. Participates in and organizes exhibitions, fairs, craft festivals, creative competitions, and children’s camps;
  6. Produces ceramic items and other souvenirs based on individual orders;
  7. Sells various handmade products: ceramic items, handmade candles, soaps, weathervanes, straw gardens, and various other souvenirs with regional symbolism
  8. (Organizes and conducts experiential education „Paprūsės skoniai“ (“Tastes of Paprūsė”);
  9. Provides consultations on national heritage products and certification issues for traditional craftspeople;
  10. Provides tourism information about tourism resources and services in Šilutė district municipality;
  11. Rents facilities for conferences, events, and other gatherings;
  12. Develops and implements projects.

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED ACCORDING TO THE CULTURAL EDUCATION SYSTEM:

  1. Ceramics Studio „Molio paslaptys“ (“Secrets of Clay”),
  2. Šiaudinukų vėrimas (Stringing Straw Decorations),
  3. Popieriaus kelionė (Paper Journey),
  4. Mažosios mozaikos istorija (The Story of Small Mosaics),
  5. Nuo vilnos iki veltinio (From Wool to Felt),
  6. Candle Making Workshop “Ką mena vaškas” (“What Wax Remembers”),
  7. Kvapaus muiliuko gamyba (Fragrant Soap Making),
  8. Kraičio skrynia (The Dowry Chest),
  9. Kuriu sau vėtrungės magnetą (Creating My Own Weathervane Magnet),
  10. Tradicinių žaidimų skrynelė (Traditional Games Box).

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES ABOUT CALENDAR HOLIDAYS:

  1. Užgavėnių kaukių gamyba (Making Shrovetide (Mardi Gras) masks),
  2. Tradicinė žemaitiška verba (Traditional Samogitian palm (Easter palm)),
  3. Kiaušinių marginimas (Easter egg decorating/dyeing),
  4. Joninių vainiko pynimas (Weaving Midsummer (St. John’s Day) wreaths),
  5. Advento vainiko pynimas (Making Advent wreaths),
  6. Tradicinių kalėdinių žaisliukų gamyba (Creating traditional Christmas ornaments),
  7. Popieriaus karpiniai (Paper cutting art),
  8. Šiaudinio sodo vėrimas (Stringing traditional straw garden decorations).