The project “Readings of Countess Butleriene” (Afternoon in the Manor) was implemented during the European Heritage Days in 2021 in  Kvietiskis Manor, Marijampole city, Lithuania. It was designed to revive historical and cultural heritage and remind the community about founders of our town Counts Butleris. Countess Pranciska Butleriene lived in 18th century in Kvietiskis Manor.  
The project period was from May 10, 2021to September 30, 2021.
The whole event consisted of some parts.  In May a competition of Praise and poems (the ancient genre of literature) for Counts Butleris was announced. 5 authors were selected and invited to read their Poems during the afternoon in the autumn. 
On September 17  the search game - competition  “Walks about” was organized for  4 groups of participants. They had to find 18 places of interest in the territory of Kvietiskis Manor. After walks in the historic building of Manor participants played charades and even had a meeting with ghosts in the old vaulted cellar. 
The main event - The Readings of Countess Butleriene - was held on September 17. There were lectures of famous Lithuanian historians, the authors of the competition of Praise read their texts and poems, excerpts from heritage collections were read, the ancient music was played. 
The project was designed for Involving  heritage category. The participants and audience was very wide-academic youth, gymnasium students, members of the Marijampolė municipality community, history teachers and philologists; everyone interested in the history and culture of their region.

While implementing the project a big research work was done cooperating and collaborating with the Butleris family ancestors who live in Ireland (the family came to Lithuania from Ireland) and Poland, so the project got European dimension.

Project    Readings of Countess Butleriene (Afternoon in the Manor)
Location: Marijampole Kvietiskis manor, Lithuania
Time: May 10 to September 30, 2021

Project was implemented by Cultural club "Aistuva" of Marijampole, the head of the club Vida Mickuviene

The project “Readings of Countess Butleriene” (Afternoon in the Manor) was implemented during the European Heritage Days.
Countess Pranciska Butleriene lived in 18th century in Kvietiskis Manor and she was the founder of Marions church and monastery, which gave the beginning of our town Marijampole. She is known personality Grand Dukedom of Lithuania and in Marijampole region and we want the ‘Readings” to become the traditional event, establish it as the cultural historical heritage in community. 
The project period was from May 10, 2021to September 30, 2021.
At the beginning of the project a Competition of praise and poems (the ancient genre of literature)  for the elders of Prienai, Count Butleris, the founders of Marijampole was announced. This competition was designed for promotion of creative self-expression, revival of the tradition of literary genre that existed in the culture of manors 15-19th centuries. 5 authors were selected and were invited to read their poems during the Manor afternoon in the autumn. 
On EU Heritage Day, 18 September “Walks about” were organized. This game-competition consisted of heritage search games with tasks: using the map of Kvietiskis manor territory, enthusiasts were invited to find the oldest lime tree in the alley, the Rebel Oak, the images of Kvietiskis owls and the cat in the tree, the herb garden and other places of interest in the territory. 
The game was very important as the untangable  involving heritage point that attracted youth and other participants with he objects of Kvietiskis Manor. Stops. In the historic building - the grain magazine - participants played charades using the exposition of old agricultural technics, and later had a meeting with ghosts in the old vaulted cellar. This part was a competition for participant groups with prizes. 
The main event - The Readings of Countess Butleriene - was held on September 17. There were lectures of famous Lithuanian historians: Gintaras Karosas, President of the Association of Lithuanian Castles and Manors, dr. Marius Daraskevicius, architectural historian, architectural heritage expert about history cultural life of Lithuanian manors, including Kvietiskis. These history experts  evaluated the Grain magazine as unique historical object that should be saved for future. It proves that our project concerns  the heritage where past meets future.
During this event the authors of the competition of Praise read their texts and poems.
Excerpts from heritage collections - the Chronicles of Marions, the writings of Countess F. Butleriene were read by actress Virginija Kochanskytė, the ancient music was plaid by the students of Art school. 
The participants and audience was academic youth, gymnasium students, members of the Marijampolė municipality community, history teachers and philologists; everyone interested in the history and culture of their region.
The aim of the project was to start a tradition related to Kvietiskis Manor and the founders of Marijampole, Counts Butlers. We strived for showing the significance of the intangible heritage to the residents of the city and the county. The main tasks were: 
to involve the participants of the event in various cognitive, creative, educational activities and excursion routes; 
to encourage and activate the participation of different social groups in the events organized in the manor for creative cooperation in cultural heritage activities;
to advertise Kvietiškis manor, its existence in various historical periods.
The results. 
The content and activities of the project will expand the historic 18 - 19 h century enriched the knowledge of the culture and traditions of the manors, consolidated the knowledge of the influence of the Kvietiškis manor not only on the city of Marijampole, but also on the region.
Enable project participants to actively participate in heritage tasks and games,
The project served to develop traditions of communication and cooperation; promote interest and activity through participation in culture (cultural activities aimed at fostering the intangible cultural heritage). This provides  an opportunity to organize events related to the manor in the future as well.
Dissemination of the project results were carried widely in the region. An article was published in national  media. 
 

This project is the result of long cooperation and collaboration with Polish and Irish colleagues, researchers of historical heritage,  historians and ancestors of Butleris family. The collaboration last about 10 years so its European value significant for  the region and the community. In case of getting European grant it may be possible to organize international event or events involving other European countries. Great Dukedom of Lithuania and Rzeczpospolita that existed till the end of 18th century is our mutual history with Poland.