Lietuvos meno laukas: jaun j meno kūr j po iūris

The article analyzes an artistic field and its perception by Lithuanian art creators. It discusses the meanings of being an artist in Lithuania, the structure of an artistic field and young art creators’ self-constructions. Firstly, the study focuses on Pierre Bourdieu’s sociological perspective. It argues that Pierre Bourdieu’s artistic field theory is one of the most important perspectives and methodological approaches in the sociology of art. The second part of this study focuses on the Lithuanian subfield of visual arts and the empirical qualitative research of young Lithuanian art creators’ habitus. The data analysis demonstrates that the Lithuanian artistic field is dominated within the field of power. The article also explores the structure of relations between the young artists’ position and positions occupied by other agents – art critics, other artists, the Contemporary Art Centre, the Lithuanian Artists Association, the Vilnius Academy of Arts, galleries etc. The research reveals the crucial importance of social capital in the practices of Lithuanian artists. Recognition and awards for artists from other agents of the artistic field are considered more significant than recognition gained from society or state institutions. Finally, the article examines artists’ dispositions towards the state and its cultural policy. In general, artists are neither positive nor negative towards the cultural policy, but the article discusses their negative attitudes towards the state’s system of support for the arts.