The Užupis Art Incubator, governed by the Vilnius City Municipality, is one of the first and largest art incubators in the Baltic States, offering a dynamic space where visual artists and creative professionals come together to collaborate and reside.
Spanning 1500 sqm, the Incubator is home to over 50 artists and creative start-ups from various cultural and creative industries, with an average residency period of 3 to 5 years. Here, we foster entrepreneurship, community engagement, and artistic innovation, promoting artistic fusion through peer-to-peer collaborations and creating open, accessible art that resonates with audiences both nationally and internationally.
The Incubator nurtures a diverse profile of creators, including but not limited to sustainable start-ups, art-tech entrepreneurs, photographers, painters, sculptors, textile artists, graphic designers, architects, and interdisciplinary artists. At the Incubator, their creative ideas come to life through community engagement, peer collaborations, artistic innovation, and a commitment to sharing creativity with both national and international communities.
Located in the heart of Vilnius in the unique and bohemian district of Užupis—also known as the independent Republic of Užupis—the Incubator embraces art as an integral part of the area’s historical and cultural identity. The Incubator spans two unique locations: the historical 'Vilnelė' building complex, which preserves the legacy of the early Užupis artist community of the 1990s, who helped shape the area’s cultural landscape, and the modern 'Kalnas' building complex, set against the backdrop of a serene nature reserve.
Since 1991 - informal gatherings of artists in an abandoned building on Užupis st. 2A.
In 1995, the Galera Gallery was founded. The first exhibitions begin.
1996 The alternative art centre Užupis-2 is established. It brought together local artists, organised festivals and other events.
In 1998, Užupis residents establish the symbolic Republic of Užupis, a unique entity with its own president, anthem, constitution, currency, festivals and traditions.
In 2000, a sculpture alley is created in the Galera courtyard.
In 2002, Užupis Art Incubator is founded.
In 2014, the Užupis Art Incubator exhibition and residency space Kalnas (Krivių str. 12) opens.
In 2017, the Information Centre of the Republic of Užupis, also known as Magnets and Wonders, opens its doors.
