In 1995, the Vabalninkas Cultural and Historical Foundation was established in the town, creating a small museum that became a branch of the Biržai Regional Museum "Sėla" at the end of 2005. Until 2010, the branch was managed by Ona Šoblinskienė, one of the foundation's founders.
In 2017, new facilities for the Vabalninkas branch of the Biržai Regional Museum "Sėla" were opened, adapted to modern museum standards.
The Biržai Regional Museum "Sėla" is currently implementing a project partially funded by the National Paying Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture titled "Development of the Vabalninkas Branch Building of the Biržai Regional Museum 'Sėla': Adaptation for Cultural and Tourism Purposes," as part of the "Biržai District Rural Area Development Strategy 2015–2023."
The project falls under the "Rural Infrastructure Renewal" measure, specifically focusing on "Support for Investments in the Improvement and Adaptation of Outstanding Natural and Cultural Heritage Objects for Local Needs" (project completion by March 1, 2021). The goal of the project is to create an interactive and emotionally impactful exhibition in the building's basement, showcasing the painful historical stages of the Vabalninkas region and the history of the building itself.
Current Projects in the Vabalninkas Branch:
"History of Vabalninkas Street Houses"
Once known as a free town, the royal settlement of Vabalninkas later became a little-known provincial town in Northeast Lithuania. It has now become a professional guardian of its unique history, attracting both local and international tourists, especially those of Jewish descent scattered across the globe.
The "History of Vabalninkas Street Houses" project
emerged out of necessity. As we received increasing interest from museum visitors from Lithuania and abroad, we encountered a problem: the collected information covered a narrow period from Soviet times to the restoration of independence, with almost no information about interwar Vabalninkas. The project's aim is to revive this period.
Thanks to the Vabalninkas locals involved in the project. Between the past and the present, there is only one bridge - THE PRESENT.
2018 Project: "Restoration of the Flag of the Lithuanian Catholic Women's Association Vabalninkas Branch"
The association was established in Lithuania in 1908, and its Vabalninkas branch was founded in the same year. It had 147 members. The association was led by and the flag was sewn by Natalija Paliulytė, daughter of Tomas Paliulis, an enlightened public figure from the Vabalninkas region.
Tours and Lessons about Vabalninkas Jews
We use the results of the "Commemoration of the History of Vabalninkas Jews" project – an informational stand detailing the history of Vabalninkas Jews. Another result of this project includes commemorative signs marking buildings in the town that belonged to the Jewish community and its members.
Biržai Regional Museum "Sėla" Project
(according to the Biržai District Local Action Group’s Local Development Strategy "Biržai District Rural Area Development Strategy 2015–2023," measure "Rural Infrastructure Renewal" activity area "Support for Investments in the Improvement and Adaptation of Outstanding Natural and Cultural Heritage Objects for Local Needs"): "Development of the Vabalninkas Branch Building of the Biržai Regional Museum 'Sėla': Adaptation for Cultural and Tourism Purposes."