Venta

Infobox Settlement
name = Venta
nickname =
settlement_type=City
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location of Venta
image_shield = Venta COA.gif
latd=56|latm=12|lats=|latNS=N|longd=22|longm=42|longs=|longEW=E
coordinates_display= inline,title
coordinates_type =region:LT_type:city(3400)
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = LTU
subdivision_type1= Ethnographic region
subdivision_name1= Samogitia
subdivision_type2= County
subdivision_name2= Šiauliai County
subdivision_type3= Municipality
subdivision_name3= Akmenė district municipality
subdivision_type4= Eldership
subdivision_name4= Venta eldership
subdivision_type6= Capital of
subdivision_name6= Venta eldership
established_date = 1966
established_name = Established
established_date2= 1978/1994
established_name2= Granted city rights
population_total = 3,412
population_as_of = 2001
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3

Venta (pronunciation|Venta.ogg) is a small city in Lithuania in the Akmenė district municipality. According to 2005 data there are 3,221 people living in Venta. It is situated along the Venta River, Kuršėnai-Mažeikiai highway, and a railroad connecting Mažeikiai with Šiauliai (the train station is called Akmenė). This makes Venta better situated than Naujoji Akmenė, the capital of the district.

The town grew after World War II together with a lime factory which later produced bricks. At its peak the factory employed about 1,000 people. The city was formed when Bauskas and Purviai villages were joined in 1966. After the 1990 declaration of independence, the factory faced severe financial difficulties while shifting from planned economy to free market. The factory's departments were made into separate companies. Some went bankrupt and their buildings were destroyed; others were privatized. In 1999 a public company, "Naujasis kalcitas" (English: "The New Calcite"; the only manufacturer of quicklime in Lithuania, supplying 50-55% of the domestic market) purchased and reconstructed a remaining lime burning technology line with rotary kiln. Recently a new heating facility using natural gas was built to provide heat for the city.

Culture

The city has a high school (established 1907), which started with about 20 students. Studies lasted 4 years and commenced in November when all field jobs have finished. Classes were held in Russian. In 1940, as the number of students grew to 40, the school moved to a new building and was renamed Dabikinė Elementary School. The building belonged to a railroad company and was not fitted for school, but the war prevented the reconstruction. In 1949 the number of students reached 120 and the school was reorganized into a 7-year school. The railroad building was too small and the school was forced to rent two other buildings more than 1 kilometer apart. In 1953-54 the school was reorganized again as a high school. In 1960 a spacious new building was opened. At that time the school had 330 students and about 20 teachers. In 1972 a new expansion was build with a gym and 14 new classrooms. The school currently employs about 50 teachers. It is known for being active in various projects and for students who do well on various national science Olympics.

In 1961 a public library was established in Venta. It started with 6,150 books and grew to 18,000 in 2000. In 1996 it won the second place in "Biblioteka - kultūros centras" (English: "Library - cultural center") contest organized by the Open Society Fund Lithuania. A club, "Ventos mūzų malūnas", was established by the library and gathers people interested in art and poetry. Juozas Miltinis (1907–1994) was born in what is now Venta.

Music traditions

Venta music school has a traditional Lithuanian music assemble "Ventukai". Its members are mostly local youth ranging from 9 to 20 years old. In 2004 it became famous after appearing in a popular song contest "Nacionalinė Muzikos Lyga" (commonly abbreviated as NML; English: National Music League) on LNK, one of the biggest TV stations in Lithuania. Critics expected that they would be voted off in the first round, but they successfully reached the finals and won the contest on May 29. It received the first prize of 275,000 litas. Later that year they released a CD, "Keliaujam su daina" ("We Are Travelling With Songs"), with 16 fast, upbeat songs. They have made appearances across Lithuania and in other countries including Latvia, Germany and Italy. In 2004 they made their one-thousandth concert in Venta.

External links

* [http://venta.akmene.mok.lt/index.htm High school official website]
* [http://www.visata.com/shop/music/product.asp?prod=1377 Listen to Ventukai samples]
* [http://www.delfi.lt/archive/article.php?id=4432718&categoryID=754662&ndate=1085799671 Delfi.lt article about NML final]