The Museum of Applied Arts and Design
In short
The perfect place for those interested in the decorative arts, this museum regularly hosts exceptional fashion, jewellery and applied arts exhibitions. In collaboration with fashion historian Alexandre Vassiliev’s foundation, the Museum of Applied Arts and Design showcases authentic collections of clothes and accessories from the 18th-20th century.
Join a guided tour to learn all there is to know about the exhibits by Lithuanian and foreign artists. Explore the process of creation first-hand by signing up for one of the educational programmes. The museum is easily accessible for people with reduced mobility.
Brief History
The Museum of Applied Arts and Design was established in 1987 in the restored Old Arsenal Building of Vilnius Lower Castle. It was built on the remains of wooden buildings, pavements and the defensive walls of the Lower Castle dating back to the 12th-14th centuries. There is an exposition in the basement of the Arsenal Building - here fragments of the early cultural layers of Vilnius city can be viewed.
Currently, the museum exhibits works of Lithuanian folk sacral art, sacred fine art, Old Believers, Orthodox and Unitarian icons and metalwork. The Museum of Applied Arts and Design also houses a long-term exhibition “Findings of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania”.
