1. General Provisions
1.1. The Lithuanian Folk Artists’ Union Vilnius Community (hereinafter referred to as the Community) is a public legal entity with limited civil liability. The Community voluntarily unites folk artists from Vilnius city, Vilnius county, and surrounding counties who have been recognized as artists in accordance with the procedure established by the Law on the Status of Artists and Artists’ Organizations of the Republic of Lithuania, as well as those seeking to be recognized as artists in the established manner. The legal form of the Community is an association.
The Community seeks, in the established manner, the status of an artists’ organization, which will grant the Community all the rights and obligations of an artists’ organization.
1.2. The Community operates in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, the Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania, the Law on Associations of the Republic of Lithuania, the Law on the Status of Artists and Artists’ Organizations of the Republic of Lithuania, the Law on the Fundamentals of State Protection of Ethnic Culture, other laws, resolutions of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, other legal acts, and these bylaws.
1.3. The Community has financial and organizational independence, an independent balance sheet and bank accounts, a seal, the Community’s name and symbols.
1.4. The Community is liable for its obligations with its assets. The Community is not liable for the obligations of its members; Community members are not liable for the Community’s obligations.
1.5. The Community’s activities are not time-limited, and the financial year is the calendar year.
1.6. The Community’s registered address is Vytenio St. 13, Vilnius.
1.7. The Community advocates for the unity of Artists’ Unions and seeks to become a member of international folk art organizations and artists’ associations and unions.
2. The Community’s Purpose, Areas and Types of Activity
2.1. The Community seeks to preserve and nurture the ethnocultural heritage of Lithuanian folk art. It encourages the creativity of folk artists, attends to the professional affairs of folk artists in Vilnius city, Vilnius county, and surrounding counties, and brings folk artists together for joint activities.
2.2. In pursuing this purpose, the Community:
2.2.1. attends to the creative and living conditions of folk artists, helps them acquire materials and tools for work, sell their works and obtain commissions, allocates grants, and mediates in the acquisition of creative workshops;
2.2.2. mediates and assists in preparing documents to obtain artist status in accordance with the procedure established by the Law on the Status of Artists and Artists’ Organizations of the Republic of Lithuania, arranges creative assignments and internships in Lithuania and abroad;
2.2.3. organizes exhibitions, craft festivals, and creative competitions;
2.2.4. organizes scholarly, theoretical, and practical conferences, seminars, creative camps, lectures, and exhibition discussions;
2.2.5. engages in publishing activities;
2.2.6. builds collections of the finest works from various branches and genres of folk art;
2.2.7. organizes exhibition-sales, folk art fairs, auctions, and other events promoting folk art;
2.3. The Community may:
2.3.1. freely disseminate information about its activities in writing, orally, or by other means, and promote the Community’s goals and objectives;
2.3.2. establish mass media, publish press publications;
2.3.3. organize gatherings: rallies, pickets, demonstrations, various marches, and other peaceful assemblies and mass events;
2.3.4. purchase or otherwise acquire property necessary for its activities, use, manage, and dispose of it;
2.3.5. establish (be a founder of) enterprises registered and operating in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Lithuania;
2.3.6. hire persons to carry out the activities provided for in the bylaws;
2.3.7. receive funds or other property and other forms of support from international public organizations, foundations, as well as from individuals;
2.3.8. establish funds for the development of Community members’ creativity, improvement of living conditions, health and recreation, as well as for unemployment and other cases. The procedure for their establishment is determined by the Community Board. It approves the regulations of the funds.
2.3.9. open creative and production workshops, recreation and creative centers, clubs, and other facilities necessary for improving the activities of Community members;
2.3.10. submit the finest works for various prizes and awards, propose that its members be granted state scholarships;
2.3.11. represent its members and, in the manner prescribed by law, defend the creative, social, copyright, and legitimate interests of the Community and its members in state authorities and administrative institutions, as well as in private enterprises and institutions, and in courts;
2.3.12. submit proposals to state authorities and administrative institutions regarding the adoption, amendment, and repeal of laws and other legal acts;
2.3.13. cooperate with Lithuanian and foreign organizations and companies;
2.3.14. exercise the right to receive free of charge from state institutions and other organizations information necessary for defending the rights and interests of Community members, implementation, and fulfillment of agreements.
3. Community Members, Their Rights and Obligations, Procedure for Admission of New Members, Their Withdrawal or Removal from the Union
3.1. The Community consists of members and honorary members.
3.2. Community members may be citizens of the Republic of Lithuania not younger than 18 years of age who create professional ethnocultural works based on tradition:
3.2.1. recognized as artists in accordance with the procedure established by the Law on the Status of Artists and Artists’ Organizations of the Republic of Lithuania;
3.2.2. seeking to be recognized as artists in accordance with the procedure established by the Law on the Status of Artists and Artists’ Organizations of the Republic of Lithuania;
3.3. Honorary members of the Community may be citizens of Lithuania living in Lithuania and abroad, as well as citizens of Lithuania and other countries who actively support the Community’s activities and have merited Lithuanian ethnoculture.
3.4. A person wishing to become a member of the Community submits to the Community Board:
3.4.1. an application;
3.4.2. three photographs of themselves;
3.4.3. several of their works (if not possible – photographic or video material);
3.4.4. a list of artworks with photographs, other evidence that they create professional ethnocultural works based on tradition and that they may be granted artist status in accordance with the procedure established by the Law on the Status of Artists and Artists’ Organizations of the Republic of Lithuania;
3.4.5. evidence of participation in at least two folk art exhibitions or organization of their own solo exhibition, if it is not organized by the Lithuanian Folk Artists’ Union.
3.4.6. at least three recommendations from members of the Lithuanian Folk Artists’ Union.
3.5. Proposals for admission of new Community members are reviewed by the Community Board, which makes the decision on admission of a Community member.
3.6. A Community member has the right to:
3.6.1. a decisive vote at the conference;
3.6.2. elect and be elected to all Community bodies, represent the Community if authorized by the Community conference, Board, or Chairman;
3.6.3. submit proposals and express opinions on all matters of the Community’s activities;
3.6.4. participate in Board and Audit Commission meetings when their matter is being considered;
3.6.5. address inquiries and proposals to any Community body;
3.6.6. use the creative, material, health improvement, and recreation opportunities and fund resources available to the Community;
3.6.7. sell their works at events organized by the Lithuanian Folk Artists’ Union and the Community (exhibition-sales, fairs, auctions, etc.), enter into contracts with companies and organizations through the Community;
3.6.8. recommend persons wishing to join the Community;
3.6.9. voluntarily withdraw from the Community.
3.7. An honorary member of the Community has the right to participate with an advisory vote in Community conferences, submit proposals and defend their opinion on all matters of the Community’s activities, and receive all information of interest regarding the Community’s activities. An honorary member of the Community does not pay an admission fee or membership fee.
3.8. A Community member:
3.8.1. adheres to the Community’s bylaws, implements the decisions of its bodies, and complies with the requirements of contracts and agreements adopted by the Community;
3.8.2. participates annually in events promoting folk art;
3.8.3. adheres to creative ethics;
3.8.4. pays the admission fee and membership fee, the amount and payment procedure of which are determined by the Community Board.
3.9. The activities of Community members take place individually and in art sections: paper-cutters-graphic artists, weavers, embroiderers, knitters, wood carvers, jewelers, ceramics, painting, blacksmithing, weavers, leather, souvenirs. Sections engage in creative activities independently. In the sections, according to the representation norm at the conference established by the Board, representatives are elected to the Community conference.
3.10. The creative records of Community members are maintained in accordance with regulations approved by the Board.
3.11. A Community member who does not create professional ethnocultural works based on tradition, does not seek to be granted artist status in accordance with the procedure established by the Law on the Status of Artists and Artists’ Organizations of the Republic of Lithuania, does not comply with the requirements of the Community’s bylaws and ignores the Community’s goals, and does not pay the admission fee or membership fee, may be removed from the Community. The decision on removal of a member is made by at least 2/3 of the Community Board members.
3.12. Members who have withdrawn or been removed from the Community have no rights to the Community’s common property. The admission fee and membership fee are not refunded.
3.13. Members who have withdrawn or been removed from the Community may be readmitted to the Community only after 3 years have passed.
4. COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE
4.1. The highest body of the Community is the conference, which has the rights of a general meeting of members. The Community conference is convened by the Community Board at least once every three years. The representation norm for the conference is determined by the Community Board. The conference date and recommended agenda are announced no later than two weeks before the start of the conference; the conference is held within three months from the beginning of the calendar year.
4.2. An extraordinary conference is convened by decision of the Board or if requested by at least half of the Community members. The agenda of the conference is proposed by the initiators.
4.3. The Community conference:
4.3.1. approves and amends the bylaws;
4.3.2. elects the Community Chairman by secret ballot;
4.3.3. elects and recalls members of governing bodies (salaried Community employees with whom an employment contract has been concluded may not be elected to the Board and Audit Commission);
4.3.4. elects and recalls members of the Audit Commission;
4.3.5. approves the Community’s activity report for each past financial year;
4.3.6. makes decisions on the transformation or termination (reorganization or liquidation) of the Community;
4.3.7. determines the main directions and objectives of the Community’s activities;
4.3.9. resolves other relevant issues of the Community that are not assigned to the Community’s governing bodies.
4.4. The conference is valid when at least 2/3 of the representatives participate. Decisions are made by a simple majority of votes, except for decisions on matters provided for in sections 4.3.1., 4.3.5., and 4.3.7. of these bylaws. On these matters, decisions are made by 2/3 of the votes of the representatives participating in the meeting. Each representative has as many votes as the number of Community members they represent.
4.5. Conference decisions are binding on Community members.
4.6. The collegial governing body of the Community is the Community Board, which consists of 9 Board members. The Community Chairman is also a Board member. Board members are elected for three years.
4.7. The Community Board:
4.7.1. manages the Community’s activities between conferences;
4.7.2. discusses emerging problems, determines methods and procedures for resolving them;
4.7.3. admits and removes Community members, provides recommendations to Community members seeking artist status;
4.7.4. convenes Community conferences;
4.7.5. determines the representation norm for the conference;
4.7.5. prepares and submits to the conference the Community’s activity report for each past financial year;
4.7.6. appoints an auditor to verify the annual financial statements;
4.7.7. determines the amount of the Community member’s admission fee and membership fee, and their payment procedure;
4.7.8. approves targeted programs and projects;
4.7.9. approves the distribution of funds received for targeted programs and projects;
4.7.10. nominates Community members’ candidacies for state scholarships;
4.7.11. nominates Community members’ candidacies for culture and art prizes;
4.7.12. forms an Art Council from the chairpersons of art sections;
4.7.13. establishes other legal entities, branches, and representative offices and approves their regulations and candidates for directors.
4.8. Board meetings are convened at least once per quarter. Board decisions are valid if more than half of the Board members vote in favor.
4.9. The sole governing body of the Community is the Community Chairman. The Community Chairman is elected at the conference for three years.
4.10. The Community Chairman:
4.10.1. acts and enters into transactions on behalf of the Community, signs other contracts and agreements;
4.10.2. hires and dismisses salaried employees;
4.10.3. announces or organizes the publication of public information;
4.10.4. manages the Community’s property;
4.10.5. maintains records of Community members;
4.10.6. represents the Community in state authorities and administrative institutions, public, international, and foreign organizations;
4.10.7. convenes the Art Council;
4.10.8. performs other functions of the sole governing body established by legal acts.
4.11. The Community conference elects an Audit Commission. The five-member Audit Commission is elected for three years from among Community members who have not been elected as Board members or Chairman. The Audit Commission elects its own chairman. Commission meetings are valid if more than half of the members participate.
4.12. The Audit Commission:
4.12.1. monitors how conference decisions are being implemented;
4.12.2. provides conclusions on the Community’s financial activities, on the distribution of funds received for targeted programs and projects, and their proper use;
4.12.3. if necessary, proposes to the Board to conduct audits of fund utilization;
4.12.4. recommends to the Board an auditor to verify the annual financial statements;
4.12.5. participates in preparing and signs the annual Community activity report.
4.13. The Chairman of the Audit Commission may participate in Board meetings with an advisory vote.
4.14. Community members organized into art sections elect an art section chairperson. The art section chairperson is elected for three years. The number of terms of the art section chairperson is not limited.
4.15. The art section chairperson:
4.15.1. coordinates the section’s activities, convenes an art section meeting once a year, submits an annual section activity report to it, proposes a program for further activities, and organizes its implementation;
4.15.2. recommends new Community members;
4.15.3. submits proposals to the Board on improving the Community’s activities;
4.15.4. participates in Art Council meetings.
4.16. The Community Board forms an Art Council from the chairpersons of art sections. The Community Art Council is an advisory body.
4.16. At the instruction of the Community Chairman, the Art Council:
4.16.1. reviews targeted programs and projects;
4.16.2. reviews Community members’ candidacies for state scholarships;
4.16.3. reviews Community members’ candidacies for culture and art prizes;
4.16.4. prepares proposals for the Community Board on admission of new members and issuance of recommendations to Community members seeking artist status;
4.16.5. assists in selecting Community members’ works for exhibitions;
4.16.6. submits proposals to the Community Chairman and Board on other matters related to Community members’ creativity.
5. Procedure for Providing Documents and Other Information about the Community’s Activities to Community Members
5.1. The Community’s activity report is presented at the Community conference. The Board must enable each Community member to review the previous year’s activity report at the Community’s registered office.
5.2. The previous year’s activity report, conference and Board decisions, and other documents must be sent to Audit Commission members within seven working days of their preparation. The Chairman is responsible for providing information about the Community’s activities.
5.3. A Community member who has submitted a written request to the Chairman has the right to review all Community documents and receive information about the Community’s activities. Conditions for a Community member to review all Community documents must be provided and information about the Community’s activities must be submitted no later than seven working days from receipt of the request.
6. Procedure for Publishing Community Notices and Announcements and Public Information
6.1. Community notices and announcements that, according to legal acts and decisions of Community bodies, must be published publicly, are published in the daily newspaper Lietuvos Rytas.
7. Community Property and Sources of Income, Procedure for Use of Funds and Property,
and Activity Control
7.1. The Community may own real estate, movable property, and other property. Community members have no rights to this property either upon withdrawal from the organization or upon termination of its activities.
7.2. Sources of the Community’s income:
7.2.1. members’ admission fees and membership fees;
7.2.2. funds transferred free of charge by sponsors;
7.2.3. targeted funds transferred by the state and municipalities and their enterprises, institutions, and organizations;
7.2.4. inherited property;
7.2.5. interest from credit institutions on Community funds held with them;
7.2.6. income from enterprises owned or partnered by the Community;
7.2.7. property and funds transferred by individuals and legal entities residing in the Republic of Lithuania and abroad;
7.2.8. funds and property received for implementing targeted programs and projects;
7.2.9. income from activities provided for in these bylaws;
7.2.10. income from leased property;
7.2.11. support received in accordance with the procedure established by legal acts;
7.2.12. other lawful income.
7.4. The Community’s funds and property are used in accordance with legal acts to achieve the purposes specified in the bylaws.
7.5. After the end of the financial year, no later than two months, a Community activity report must be prepared, which must include:
7.5.1. information about the Community’s activities in achieving the activity goals provided for in the bylaws;
7.5.2. the number of Community members at the end of the financial year;
7.5.3. the number of hired employees at the end of the financial year;
7.5.4. the Community’s annual financial statements;
7.5.5. other information determined by the Community conference.
7.6. After the end of the financial year following which a Community conference will be held, before the conference is convened, the Audit Commission provides conclusions on the Community’s financial activities and, if necessary, recommends to the Board an auditor to verify the annual financial statements. The auditor is paid remuneration for their work. The amount and procedure of remuneration are determined by the Board.
8. Reorganization and Liquidation of the Community
8. The Community is reorganized and liquidated in accordance with the procedure established by legal acts.
The bylaws of the Lithuanian Folk Artists’ Union Vilnius Community were adopted
at the Community conference on February 9, 2006.
Chairman