U·žu·pis [oo-zhoo-pees] noun

1.  An independent republic; a district of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.

Population: 120

2. Lithuanian - "on the other side of a river".

At its peak, the ancient Greek empire of Athens was an epicenter of art and culture that opened doors to both artistic expression and cultural/political changes.  The people of Athens were informed and engaged in their community, knowing they could express themselves and have a true impact on the culture of which they were a part.  Since then, many societies have tried to emulate the ancient Greeks’ ability to fuse art and society and cultivate a symbiotic relationship between the two.

In 1998, Užupis, the bohemian art sect of Vilnius, sought and won independence from Lithuania, making it the first Republic founded as an artistic socialist society.  With the mix of its bohemian lifestyle and esoteric views of art and culture, it is now the modern day Athens of Northern Europe.

Užupis Theatre Company is designed to cultivate and celebrate the artistic integrity found in Užupis while integrating the stated mission of the Athens-Clarke County Arts Council (see Appendix A).  In being Athens, Georgia’s, premiere, professional, 501(c)(3) non-profit theatre, Užupis Theatre Company brings dynamic, exciting, new plays by on-the-cusp, forward-thinking playwrights to the Athens-Clarke County Community and beyond.  Because each play is relevant to real-life issues present in our culture today, Užupis Theatre Company gives the community a vital theatrical platform to see and speak about what we face, thus helping to make the Athens-Clark County Community the modern day Athens of the West.