Discovering the Southern part of Estonia

In this issue we are focusing on the art scene in the Southern part of Estonia which is known for its mixed cultural heritage and long history, not to mention the beautiful and extraordinary nature of the area which inspired many Estonian artists in the early 20th century.  

Tartu as the centre of the region is the university town which is well known for its classical architecture and historical art school Pallas which dominated the Estonian art scene in the first half of 20th century. Pallas University of Applied Sciences still functions today. Nowadays Tartu is also known for its young and vibrant queer scene and street art festivals. 

Smaller towns, such as Võru or Viljandi have become interesting cultural spots for contemporary art. In Viljandi there is a new art residency, run by the Rüki gallery, and a unique museum of Estonian outsider art. Besides a museum with an art gallery, there is also a new studio house for local artists in Võru.  

The coastline of Lake Peipus is home for the Old Believers (starovéry) and the South eastern part is the land of the Seto people who have their own language and customs. 

Every August, for one day, the residents of the Tammelinn neighbourhood in Tartu set up small cafes in their backyards and offer drinks, pastries, music and a space to float around for an afternoon – known as the Tammelinna Kodukohvikutepäev (The Tammelinn Home Café Day). Among the lush gardens that one can usually only glimpse from afar, it makes for a wonderfully intimate way to understand what "home" means in Tartu.

From 29 April to 10 May, I will be coordinating a series of events in Põlvamaa under the title 'Koidukoor' to celebrate the 'dawn chorus' phenomenon. This will include a series of early morning guided listening walks during the week and a 'sound camp' live audio streaming session on the weekend as a contribution to the 24-hour International Dawn Chorus Day global radio program. For this period, we will be hosting several artists from the Soundcamp cooperative in London. They are excited to visit, as the richness of bird song in south Estonia is always a highlight for them.

I admire sacred groves and one such site, Tammetsõõr, is located in Kütiorg, on the estate previously owned by the Estonian folklorist Mikk Sarv, whose parents managed to safeguard it throughout the Soviet period. On the other side of Kütiorg, the artist Peeter Laurits also has a house. Tammetsõõr is a place where many cultural events have started and an area where people involved in art and culture live. This year, the 5th Uma Pido, a festival focused on elevating the slowly disappearing local Võru language will be held in Intsikurmu, Põlva. I would also like to highlight Vana-Võromaa Kultuurikoda, where solo exhibitions by Evi Tihemets and Aimur Takk will be taking place in the summer and at the end of the summer, a curatorial project by Margit Säde and Johanna Ulfsak will open as well.

The Tartu2024 programme will no doubt promise a rich diversity of events throughout the year in the larger cities of south Estonia, and for culture-thirsty crowds there will be a lot to experience. Still, sometimes the most exciting gems are not found in the cities, but out in the countryside where amazingly enthusiastic people have built small islands. Two of them are the Voronya Gallery in Varnja village located on the Onion Route near Lake Peipus, and the Maajaam Art and Technology Farm located in Otepää parish. The fishing village of Varnja is a charming summer destination in any year, with locals selling fresh produce from their gardens as well as delicious smoked fish. At the same time, Voronya Gallery offers a versatile cultural programme complemented by its famous waffles and moonshine. For those who want to combine their love of nature, art, and science, the Maajaam outdoor exhibition Wild Bits scattered through the meadows, forests and swamps will provide an opportunity to do just that and hopefully also meet the ‘boss’ of the property, the smiling Dalmatian dog.