Published: 20250123
The National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania has named Dr Povilas Dikavičius, Senior Guide in the Education Department, as its Museum Professional of the Year 2024. He has been recognised for his diverse contributions, including organising specialist training sessions for guides and educators, strengthening collaboration with other museum professionals, and coordinating the training and professional development of accredited guides. He has also represented both the museum and Lithuania at international academic conferences, overseen an expert exchange programme with the Royal Castle in Warsaw, and worked creatively with educators to enhance interactive activities for children.
The Museum’s Exhibition – An Endless Treasure Trove
Having joined the museum in 2022, Povilas Dikavičius still considers himself a newcomer. Coming from an academic background, the young historian had to adapt to an entirely new role—transitioning from a quiet scholar to a tour guide, responsible for bringing the cultural heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to life for visitors. His responsibilities have included introducing the museum and Lithuania’s history to delegations during the NATO Summit, and he is increasingly entrusted with key responsibilities, many of which he takes the initiative to lead himself.
"The knowledge gained through academic study gives me confidence and motivates me to contribute to major national events—whether welcoming international guests or coordinating the cultural programme for the NATO Summit at the National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. However, what inspires me most is the trust of my colleagues. Being recognised and relied upon gives me the strength to keep going and reassures me that I’m on the right path," says Dr Dikavičius.
Povilas emphasises that the work of guides and educators is deeply connected to the contributions of other museum professionals. Without the meticulous efforts of restorers, archaeologists, historians, and exhibition curators, their role would not be as highly valued: "The quality of our work depends on theirs. That’s why I see this award not just as a personal achievement but as the result of teamwork across the entire museum. The heart of a guide’s work is the exhibition itself—the museum. It holds endless layers of knowledge. During my tours, I often mention the people who helped create the National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania—the visionaries and discoverers behind it."
A Tour – Through the Eyes of a Guide
After completing his history studies at Vilnius University, Povilas Dikavičius decided to continue his academic journey abroad. He was accepted into Central European University in Budapest and later relocated to Vienna when the university moved there. Holding a doctorate in the humanities, he defended his dissertation, "The Concept of Noble Honour in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 16th Century." His research explored definitions of honour in Renaissance literature, examined its legal implications, and analysed court cases concerning accusations of insult.
"My focus was on the Central European context, so in a way, my specialisation is the Grand Duchy of Lithuania within Europe. That’s why working at the museum feels like a continuation of my studies—while preparing for tours, I constantly uncover connections between the Grand Duchy and the rest of Europe. The highly popular, though now nearly concluded, international exhibition Pacai. Lilies of the Garden of History was a fantastic opportunity to explore the links between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. For example, I studied the travel records of Steponas Pacas, who accompanied Prince Ladislaus Vasa on his European journey. These accounts reveal details of the grand receptions held in their honour, including early opera performances culminating in equestrian ballets. Later generations of the Pacas family also maintained strong ties with Tuscany, with one of the most remarkable examples being the exchange of relics with the court of Cosimo III de' Medici. A thigh bone of St Casimir was sent to Florence, while in return, Lithuania received a tooth and a lock of hair from the Pacas family’s legendary relative, St Maria Magdalena de Pazzi. This relic is currently on display at the exhibition, and the craftsmanship of its reliquary is truly exquisite," says Dikavičius.
The Museum Professional of the Year explains: "A guide must be highly attentive to detail, constantly adapting their approach to each group that enters the museum. It’s almost like switching languages—it happens instinctively, or not at all!" (laughs).
"When meeting a group, the first thing you do is ‘take the temperature’—you look for the right way to communicate the information. You might be telling the same stories and explaining the same meanings, but you have to make them resonate with your audience. One of the most important skills for a good guide is maintaining a sense of wonder in the visitor. If you succeed, they leave the tour inspired to learn more and appreciate our history," Dikavičius affirms.
He believes that engaging visitors and capturing their interest is one of a guide’s greatest challenges: "Sometimes, you suddenly notice people’s eyes glazing over… That’s when the warning signals go off—the group is slipping away! At that moment, you have to ‘warm them up’ again and recapture their attention. It’s a fascinating task. And knowledge alone is not enough. You can memorise a story, but delivering it while engaging with your listeners requires effort, energy, attentiveness, and observation. That moment you step forward to meet a group always carries a certain tension—if you manage to harness it, it gives you energy. But after a tour, you collapse in exhaustion!" (laughs).
Scholar, Guide, Skateboarder, and Photographer
"At heart, I am first and foremost a book lover, so reading is one of my favourite pastimes. I enjoy books that tell a story. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a conventional narrative—it could be an academic work exploring an idea. Sometimes, the logical development of an argument captivates me, and if it’s done exceptionally well, it’s truly inspiring. Another of my hobbies is photography. I shoot with old film cameras and develop the film myself. My subjects are usually landscapes and travel scenes. I’m still learning to photograph people, but I don’t find it easy. I like to capture stories—snapping images of passers-by against architectural backdrops or sometimes just shadows and abstract compositions. I try to capture moments that speak to me. The most famous historical landmarks and tourist hotspots have been photographed countless times, so I’m more drawn to everyday moments and the hint of a narrative within a picture," shares Povilas Dikavičius.
As a guide at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, he is also passionate about travel: "I prefer active holidays. I usually travel, and this year, I hope to go hiking in the Swiss mountains. My travel destinations are often shaped by collections of cultural heritage, so I’ve visited Italy and Austria multiple times, but somehow, I end up in Poland most frequently."
Dikavičius also has some hobbies that might seem unexpected for a museum professional—for instance, he practised competitive fencing for many years, continuing his training even while conducting academic research in Hungary and later in Austria.
"But snowboarding and skateboarding have been a big part of my life since my teenage years. I have a small group of friends who share this passion, and we often travel together to compete or watch competitions. In recent years, I’ve had to put skiing trips on hold, so in the summer, I usually travel with my skateboard, a tent, and a camera. Last year, we went to Helsinki, and before that, to Copenhagen and Vienna. For me, it’s an escape from the cultural sphere, but even on these trips, I always find time to visit museums or historic residences," reveals the Museum Professional of the Year.
Senior Guide Dr Povilas Dikavičius admits that travelling is the best way for him to recharge. He firmly believes: "New experiences and lessons learned—that’s what life is all about."
