Lithuania’s Independence Day in Helsinki Spotlighted by a Modern Dance Portrait of Queen Catherine Jagiellon
On the 24th March 2026 in Helsinki, the Day of Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence was commemorated by a cultural highlight. The dance troupe Plalaforma from the Vilnius Children and Youth Centre, directed by Karolina Auglytė Butavičienė, presented a modern dance performance dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the birth of Catherine Jagiellon, daughter of the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Sigismund the Old and Bona Sforza, who was also Duchess of Finland and Queen of Sweden. Before the commemoration, the Embassy of Lithuania and its partners held a high level business forum.
The dancers of Plalaforma offered the audience gathered at Helsinki’s Contemporary Dance Centre (Tanssin talo) an emotional choreographic composition set to music created by young Finnish composer Otso Kauniskangas. Through the language of contemporary dance, the performance revealed the life journey of Catherine Jagiellon (1526–1583), from her ceremonial arrival at Turku Castle, which brought the cultural Renaissance of Central Europe to Finland, to her role in shaping the fate of the Nordic region.
The performance was created at the initiative of the Lithuanian Embassy in Helsinki, continuing the Embassy’s tradition of bringing together young Lithuanian and Finnish artists. Last year, students of the Helsinki Pop & Jazz Conservatory performed metal‑style interpretations of works by M. K. Čiurlionis during the commemoration of the Day of the Restoration of the State of Lithuania.
Before the performance, Lithuania’s Vice‑Minister of Foreign Affairs Taurimas Valys presented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Honorary Award The Star of Lithuanian Diplomacy to Matti Arpiainen, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania in Tampere. The award recognizes his merits in promoting Lithuania’s name, strengthening bilateral economic and cultural ties, and supporting Lithuanian citizens and Lithuanian businesses in Finland.
On the same day, before the commemoration, the Lithuanian Embassy and its partners organized a high‑level business forum titled Lithuania–Finland Advanced Electronics and Dual‑Use Technologies Forum. Lithuanian and Finnish experts in defense and high technologies discussed the development of advanced electronics manufacturing, the implementation of innovations in the defense industry, and the integration of both countries’ supply chains to strengthen the region’s technological resilience.
Opening the forum, Lithuania’s Vice‑Minister of Foreign Affairs Taurimas Valys and Finland’s Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto highlighted the rapidly growing relations between the two countries in the field of defense. The Vice‑Minister emphasized that Lithuania and Finland are becoming increasingly close partners and invited Finnish companies to invest in Lithuania. Minister Puisto stressed that such intensive co-operation creates unique environments for both countries’ business ecosystems to jointly develop high‑value dual‑use technologies.
Presentations and experience‑sharing at the business forum were delivered by representatives of companies and organizations including Nokia, Teltonika, Patria, Ellex Valiunas, the Finnish Defence Industry Association PIA, Progressive Business Solutions UAB, Invest Lithuania, and the Finland–Lithuania Business Association SuLi.
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General partner of both events: Ellex Valiunas
Sponsors: Ignitis | Savcor | Progressive Business Solutions, UAB | Finland–Lithuania Business Association SuLi
Partners: Lithuanian National Museum | Lithuanian Culture Institute | PIA – Finnish Defence and Aerospace Industries
Photos: Seppo Samuli
