About Us
Our Mission
The Lithuanian Folk Art Institute (LTFAI) is a North American non-profit organization devoted to preserving Lithuanian heritage through its traditional arts and crafts. Established in 1977, by the visionary and influential folk artists Antanas and Anastazija Tamosaitis, the Institute provides a forum for collaboration and communication among folk artists in the diaspora. Our mission is to continue the preservation of traditional folk art by archiving material and providing opportunities for scholarship and learning.
This website was created to promote the Institute and its activities and to showcase traditional folk art created in the diaspora during and after the Soviet occupation of Lithuania in the twentieth century. Our website is in English, so that younger generations of Lithuanians may easily access the information we provide.
We have provided a digital archive that includes photos, techniques and reference material for a wide variety of folk art including weaving, Easter eggs, straw ornaments and others. This information is available in the Resources section.
Our Guiding Principles
Promote understanding
Preserve our cultural treasures
Honour artists and craftspeople
Provide accessibility to art and techniques
Serve as a seminal source of information and scholarship
We welcome all to enjoy the beauty of this art and to participate in helping to preserve our past and inspire new works of art.
Who We Are
For more information regarding the different types of Lithuanian Folk Art, events, workshops, or general inquiries click the button below..