Lecturer Dr Aistė Dičkalnytė Presents Lithuanian Heritage at International Conference in Zagreb
The 3rd International Scientific Conference Multidisciplinary Research on Cultural Heritage (MRCH 2026) was held in Zagreb, Croatia, on 23–25 September, bringing together an international community of experts in cultural heritage research and preservation. Dr Aistė Dičkalnytė, Senior Lecturer in the Object Conservation and Restoration study programme at the Academy of Arts, Faculty of Arts and Education, Kauno kolegija, delivered a presentation at the event.
The conference, organised by the Croatian State Archives, the University of Zagreb and the Museum of Contemporary Art, featured Dr A. Dičkalnytė’s presentation, ‘Marquetry Technique in Lithuanian Furniture Heritage 1918–1940: Formation of National Identity and Contemporary Interpretations in Education’. In her presentation, she explored the distinctive features of Lithuanian furniture heritage from the interwar period, the role of marquetry – a decorative wood inlay technique – in the formation of national identity, and possibilities for the contemporary interpretation of these traditions in education.
International experience – direct value for the study process
Kauno kolegija places strong emphasis on academic mobility and the development of internationally oriented competences among its academic staff. The sharing of research findings by experts from the Object Conservation and Restoration study programme on international platforms makes a direct contribution to the quality of studies.
Participation in high-level international events enables the latest approaches to heritage research and restoration to be integrated into the study process. At the same time, presenting Lithuanian traditions of applied art and furniture restoration to international colleagues helps raise the visibility of the country’s cultural heritage within the global academic community.
Furthermore, the contacts established at the conference open up new opportunities for future interdisciplinary projects, masterclasses and student exchange initiatives.