The M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum is a group of museums based in Kaunas

Kaunas

Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...

, Lithuania

Lithuania

Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...

. It is primarily dedicated to exhibiting and publicizing the works of the painter and musician M.K. Čiurlionis (1875-1911).

The museum was founded in 1921, and opened a temporary gallery in 1925. It was renamed Vytautas the Great

Vytautas the Great

Vytautas ; styled "the Great" from the 15th century onwards; c. 1350 October 27, 1430) was one of the most famous rulers of medieval Lithuania. Vytautas was the ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania which chiefly encompassed the Lithuanians and Ruthenians...

 Museum of Culture in 1936, receiving its current name in 1944. An expansion took place in 1969.

In addition to Čiurlionis's works and memorabilia, the museum holds collections of Lithuanian folk art, fine and applied art works from the 17th through 20th centuries, ancient Egyptian art, and numismatic items. Its branches include the Mykolas Žilinskas Art Gallery, Kaunas Picture Gallery, Kaunas Historical Presidential Palace

Historical Presidential Palace, Kaunas

The Historical Presidential Palace is a Neo-baroque building in the Old Town of Kaunas, Lithuania that served as the Presidential Palace during the interwar years. Today, the palace is a branch of the M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum.-History:...

, Ceramics Museum, Devils' Museum

Žmuidzinavicius Museum

Žmuidzinavičius Museum, commonly known as the Devils' Museum , is a museum in Kaunas, Lithuania, dedicated to collecting and exhibiting sculptures and carvings of devils from all over the world. As of 2009, its holdings encompass about 3,000 exhibits. The collection was initiated by painter Antanas...

, M. K. Čiurlionis Memorial Museum, Antanas Žmuidzinavičius

Antanas Žmuidzinavicius

Antanas Žmuidzinavičius was a Lithuanian painter and art collector. Sometimes he used Antanas Žemaitis as his pen name....

 Memorial Museum

Žmuidzinavicius Museum

Žmuidzinavičius Museum, commonly known as the Devils' Museum , is a museum in Kaunas, Lithuania, dedicated to collecting and exhibiting sculptures and carvings of devils from all over the world. As of 2009, its holdings encompass about 3,000 exhibits. The collection was initiated by painter Antanas...

, Paulius Galaunė

Paulius Galaunė

Paulius Galaunė was a Lithuanian art historian, museum curator, and graphic artist. He was one of the first professional museum curators in Lithuania and was well-published on topics of Lithuanian folk art...

 Family House, Liudas Truikys and Marijona Rakauskaite Museum, Juozas Zikaras

Juozas Zikaras

Juozas Zikaras was a Lithuanian sculptor and artist, who created the design for pre-war Lithuanian litas coins. He is considered to be one of the first professional Lithuanian sculptors.-Biography:...

 Museum, and Vytautas Kazimieras Jonynas

Vytautas Kazimieras Jonynas

Vytautas Kazimieras Jonynas was one of most renowned 20th century Lithuanian artists...

 Gallery.

The museum shares its building with the Vytautas the Great War Museum

Vytautas the Great War Museum

The Vytautas the Great War Museum is a museum in Kaunas, Lithuania. It was opened on 16 February 1936 and named after Vytautas the Great, Grand Duke of Lithuania. The museum displays historical artefacts pertaining to Lithuania and Kaunas from prehistoric times to the present day, including a...

 and is located in the New Town

Centras (Kaunas)

Centras is an elderate in the city of Kaunas, Lithuania, based on two neighbourhoods of Kaunas - the Old City and the New City. It lies at the confluence of two major Lithuanian rivers, the Nemunas and the Neris....

 of Kaunas. The oldest still functioning Žaliakalnis Funicular Railway

Žaliakalnis Funicular Railway

Žaliakalnis Funicular Railway is a funicular railway in Kaunas, Lithuania. Built in 1931, it is the oldest funicular in Lithuania. The funicular is made of a wood-paneled coachwork and is serviced by a uniformed, English-speaking operator. The climb of up from behind the Vytautas the Great War...

is situated nearby. The museum sponsors international exhibitions along with lectures, concerts, conferences, and special educational activities for children.