The first multifunctional centre of culture and arts opened after the restoration of Lithuania's independence, and the largest art gallery revealing the links of Lithuanian art with the culture of other countries and nurturing a culture of understanding visual art. Built in 1980 by Lithuanian architects Gediminas Baravykas and Vytautas Vielius, the National Art Gallery has since been renovated. Today, it is an excellent example of late Lithuanian modernist architecture.

The permanent exhibition presents contemporary Lithuanian art of the 20th and 21st centuries, including sculptures, drawings, photographs, objects, installations, and video art. This is an environment for active communication; viewers get acquainted with the permanent exhibitions, participate in cultural events, attend lectures and participate in educational programmes. It has hosted more than 46,000 exhibits, serves as the largest information archive of Lithuanian artists from the 20th and 21st centuries, and has a library with a reading room.

The educational centre holds art classes, guided tours, lectures, and meetings with Lithuanian and foreign artists.