2025

This wasn’t just another conference — it was a living ecosystem. A co-creation of many minds, hearts, and institutions working together as one: Team Lithuania. Not profit, but purpose-driven. It activated a kind of magnetic field – attracting and involving diaspora and local professionals alike, weaving visible and invisible networks of trust, care, and co-creation. It’s a space of radical inclusion and radical participation, where you take as much value as you're willing to create. A platform that opens doors. A movement fueled by volunteer work, evenings, weekends, and shared belief vardan Tos!

Creative industries have been an integral part of the North American Lithuanian Business Forum for the third year in a row — standing alongside life sciences, high technologies, startups, and defense as one of Lithuania’s key priority sectors for global collaboration. The sector is increasingly recognized as a strategic force driving export, innovation, social inclusion, and public well-being.

Together with Lithuanian American Business Association in Los Angeles, Lithuanian World Arts Council, Consulate General of Lithuania in Los Angeles, Baltic Film & Creative Tech Cluster, Lithuanian Creative and Cultural Industries Association (KIK Lietuva), AGATA, the Lithuanian Game Developers Association, the Lithuanian Design Association, Innovation Agency Lithuania | Global and the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA), we explored opportunities for international collaboration and discussed how creativity contributes to economic growth, social inclusion, and health and wellbeing.

The panel “Arts on Prescription (Arts on Rx): An Innovative Approach to Well-being and Social Change” was a true highlight - showcasing how art is increasingly being recognized as a valuable tool in public health. Massachusetts is the first U.S. state implementing an Arts on Prescription program, where doctors can prescribe cultural activities to combat loneliness, anxiety, or depression. Huge thanks to Erik Holmgren (Mass Cultural Council) for masterfully leading this powerful conversation and Chris Appleton, Meg McGrath, Laurynas Žakevičius, Jonas Liugaila for for their thoughtful and engaging contributions.

During the visit in Boston, we also had the privilege to meet with faculty and creative leaders at MIT Media Lab, MIT Morningside Academy for Design, and Berklee College of Music, planting seeds for future collaborations. To everyone who contributed, created, participated, and made last week extraordinary – a heartfelt thank you. We’ll soon begin preparations for next year’s Forum. If you felt the energy – stay close. We’re building something meaningful together.

Dream Team: Daiva Navarrette, Erika Aleksaite Kasulis, Sondra Litvaityte, Justina Jakavonyte, Gražina Michnevičiūtė, Romanas Matulis, Edita Sabalionyte, Algirdas Orantas, Jonas Liugaila, Agne Begete, Rytis Jadzevičius, Laurynas Žakevičius, Miglė Caporke, Kestutis Drazdauskas, Darius Vizbaras, Vytas Laucius, Tadas Bojarskas, Dominykas Silickas 👏

Photo credit: Gintaras Sekmokas