This title delights, inspires the sense of pride but at the same time it also obliges the people working in cultural field of Aukštaitija capital, all those cherishing and loving culture. The year of 2014 will be the year of great challenges to the city. Lithuania will observe us the whole year and we shall host plenty of guests not only from the whole country but also abroad. I am sure that the people of Panevėžys will do their best: they will create, fascinate, and donate unforgettable works and moments. I would like to wish all the people working in cultural field success in creativity thinking and patience. From the bottom of my heart I invite Lithuanian and foreign partners, tourists to a cosy and nice City of Panevėžys, the Lithuanian Capital of Culture.

Vitalijus Satkevičius
Mayor of Panevėžys City