Events

What can we learn about love and repair through the development of arts-based programs in a psychiatric institution? What is the role played by art by generating innovative forms of knowledge, engagement, and education? What are the differences and similarities of the Estonian and Portuguese cases integrating arts-based programs in mental healthcare? And what kind of impact can be generated by these programs in patients, participants, the city, and in ourselves?

In this event we will look into particular cases of arts-based projects co-developed in portugal by the PhD researcher Lígia Fernandes (research focused on love and relational systems), and we will watch the film “On being human” by Laura Liventaal, developed during the PLAY(THE)GROUND residency, at Lisbon’s Psychiatric Hospital Center.

We will further foster a roundtable discussion about the role of creative and experimental initiatives in collaboration with psychiatric institutions and their impact in communities, residents and participants, with guest professionals, artists and researchers.

Both the screening and discussion are held in English.
Moderated by Maarja Mõttus. 

On Tuesday, 2 December, the Estonian Academy of Arts will host the opening of two exhibitions and an evening discussion focusing on the capacity of contemporary art to reinterpret difficult history and heritage.

At 17:00, at the outdoor gallery of EKA exhibition “New Frames for a Monument: The Past as Artistic Material”  will open (02.12.2025–25.01.2026), which introduces artists’ proposals for preserving and reframing three monumental artworks that are at risk of destruction. This will be followed by a tour led by Kirke Kangro and Ülo Pikkov of the short exhibition “The Monument and the Fairy Tale” (1.12.–5.12.2025) in the EKA foyer.

At 18:00, a science café will begin in the event area of the EKA foyer, featuring a roundtable discussion inspired by the artistic interventions presented in the exhibitions and by the experiences gathered during the creation of the works.

We live in a time when monuments cannot be ignored. Across the world, there are debates about their meaning and about whether and how to display contested memorials in public space. Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine has brought one of the centres of monumental conflict to Eastern Europe. In Estonia, most Soviet-era monuments—especially those commemorating World War II—have now been removed.

The discussion will examine the capacity of contemporary art to engage with dissonant heritage and the memory conflicts embedded within it in public space—while also exploring the broader societal potential of contemporary art. The conversation takes its starting point from the three artistic design competitions held within the project “How to Reframe Monuments”, which experimented with different ways of reframing various kinds of controversial heritage—a memorial, a painting, and a sculpture. To date, only one of the artistic interventions has materialised: the reframing of the Tehumardi memorial.

Across the three art competitions, a total of 17 artists participated in 2024–2025.
Those involved in conceptualising the Tehumardi memorial complex on Saaremaa—now partially dismantled—were Kirke Kangro, Neeme Külm, Anna Mari Liivrand, Johannes Säre, Kristina Norman, and Taavi Piibemann.
Anna Škodenko, Hanna Piksarv, Jevgeni Zolotko, Kati Saarits, and Sigrid Viir proposed solutions for reworking the monumental murals from 1955 located in the former passenger terminal of Tallinn Airport.
Trevor Kinna, Bob Bicknell-Knight, Hasso Krull, Camille Laurelli, Samuel Lehtikoinen, Ülo Pikkov, and Yiyang Sun created digital artworks inspired by the memorial “Vyatchko and Meelis Defending Tartu” (1950/1956) located in Tartu.

Moderator: Gregor Taul (Estonian Academy of Arts)

Discussion participants: Kirke Kangro, Neeme Külm, Ülo Pikkov, Sigrid Viir, and Anna Škodenko

The exhibitions and discussion are part of the joint research project “New Frames for a Monument” (2024–2026) of the Estonian Academy of Arts and Tallinn University. The goal of the project is to create new approaches to reinterpreting monuments and other forms of dissonant heritage, bringing together knowledge and expertise from multiple fields (historical and art historical research, conservation and heritage studies, as well as contemporary art and creative research practices) and engaging various stakeholders and communities.

Please register for participation by 28 November 2025 HERE.

The event is free, and all those interested are welcome.

Drinks and snacks will be provided at the science café.

What is Palestinian literature talking about today? And who is it talking to? Hazem Jamjoum and Heba Hayek, curators of the November issue of Vikerkaar magazine devoted to Palestinian literature, discuss the role of art in dark times – in the Middle East and around the world.

On December 10th at 4 p.m., an open lecture entitled “Palestinian Literature Today” will take place in the EKA foyer event area. The lecture takes place in English. It will be followed by a discussion and moderated by Hille Hanso. 

Hazem Jamjoum is a cultural historian, archivist, and teacher based in London. He is the managing editor of the recently established publishing house Safarjal Press. His translation of Ghassan Kanafani’s “The Revolution of 1936–1939 in Palestine” published by 1804 Books won the 2024 Palestinian Book Award. Her translation of Maya Abu al-Hayyati’s novel “No One Knows Their Blood Type” was published by CSU Poetry Center in 2024.Heba Hayek is a writer, workshop facilitator, and communications consultant based primarily in London. She seeks out stories that challenge traditional archives and imposed conditions of visibility. Her debut book, “Sambac Beneath Unlikely Skies” won the 2022 Palestine Book Award. The White Review, Middle East Eye, and The New Arab named it Book of the Year 2021.

“Carmen Electra” – like a bolt from the blue!

On October 24 at 7 pm, the band ants1 will premiere their musical “Carmen Electra” at EKA Gallery. The act combines contemporary dance, colorful costumes, disturbing music, and scandalous statements into its magical world. The libretto was collaboratively written by members of ants1, with the lead role performed by the eternally young and immortal Anumai Raska.

“Carmen Electra explores themes that feel both familiar and melancholic to a generation coming of age in a time when Europe is once again at war. It is a time when leaders of great nations won’t acknowledge climate change, when carrots cost more in Estonian grocery stores than in Belgium – even though the average income here is three times lower,” says a rabbit who wished to remain anonymous, commenting on the background of the production. “What will become of us like this?”

The band ants1 is a collective that emerged from the Estonian Academy of Arts, whose members work in various fields of contemporary art. When they come together, the collective is called ants1, whose music connects contemporary social problems with the painful yet fun language of punk music.

The musical “Carmen Electra” is not recommended for children under 12.

Performers: Ekke Janisk, Ats Kruusing, Andreas Kübar, Eke Ao Nettan, Anumai Raska, Henri Särekanno, Mattias Veller
Costumes by: Lisette Sivard
Light design by: Leon Allik
Sound design by: Roman Belov
Co-producer: elektron.art
Graphic design: Jaan Evart
Supported by: Estonian Cultural Endowment, City of Tallinn

Performances will take place on October 24, 25 and 26 at the EKA Gallery (Põhja pst 7, Tallinn). The performance is in Estonian with English subtitles. Entrance through the EKA lobby (from Põhja puiestee).

Tickets are available at Fienta:
https://fienta.com/s/ants1-muusikal-carmen-electra-esietendus 

More info: https://elektron.art/projects/carmen 

Next Tuesday (14 October), Urban Studies students are hosting their midterm event at “Shtromka”. It starts at 4 p.m. in the park across Pelguranna tn 57, Tallinn.

They invite you to a postcard workshop with food and drinks to learn more about Shtromka.

You are cordially invited to attend the event.

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Hello there,

Greetings from Shtromka! At first glance, it seems like a holiday idyll between the sea, forest and wide meadows. But ask around and you will quickly learn about other stories and contradictions. Apparently, Shtromka has a somewhat negative image due to its history. Its identity is shaped by various experiences, prejudices and affiliations. What makes this multi-layered place special? And is Shtromka even a place or is it an imagination, a construct, a feeling?

You decide what image you have of Shtromka. Ours is just one of many. Which one do you see?

We welcome you to a workshop with food and drinks: design your own postcard of Shtromka and discover with us the diversity of narratives, images and characters of this place.

Warm regards from the beach benches

EKA will celebrate its 111th birthday on Thursday, October 30, with an auction, alumni reunion, and party. All former and current EKA members are welcome to attend!

PROGRAMME:

• 18:00 – The group exhibition “compose◠decompose” opens at the EKA Gallery. As part of the opening, Albertina Tevajärvi’s performance will be presented at 18:30
• 19:00 – EKA Rector Hilkka Hiiop welcomes the party guests
• 19:30 – Graphic Design students start the Color Bingo
• 20:00 – The charity auction “The Special First”, led by Siim Raie. Works by alumni, staff, and students will be auctioned. Half of the proceeds go to student scholarships and half to the authors. View the auction works HERE
• 21:30 – Siim Pojeng on the stage
• 22:00 – The cake arrives, and DJ Kersten Kõrge sets the mood for dancing.
• 23:00 – The legendary Helina Risti karaoke begins.

A shop selling EKA souvenirs and publishing products will be open. Alumni can place orders for EKA graduation rings at the party.

Food and drinks will be sold by Kuri Koer, Fermendid and TOHI.

Alumni are welcome to visit their departments:

• 17:00 – Textile Department: Launch of the first three publications in the Textile 110 interview series and a reunion of alumni and students | room D505
• 17:00–18:00 – The Dean’s Office of Fine Arts faculty welcomes all alumni | room D301
• 17:30 – Printmaking Department: Open doors, all alumni welcome. Prize for the best joke | room B409
• 17:30 – Animation Department: Welcoming all animation alumni | room B311
• 18:00 – Product Design Department: Party for students and alumni. Music by student DJs Lumi & Maheviin, plus an open Halloween bar | room C301
• 18:00 – Architecture and Interior Architecture: Inviting all alumni from the Faculty of Architecture to drop by the Dean’s Office to chat, sketch on a napkin, and project into the future | room D409
• 18:00 – SDSI, Interaction Design, Social Design, Circular Design: Four EKA Design masters’ invite the students, alumni and friends over for Food, Drinks & Music. DJ Örn & Friends on the decks | room D306
• 18:00 – Graphic Design: Student-organized activities, dancing, and DJs | room C304
• 18:00 – Design & Innovation student bar | room A300
• 18:00 – Ceramics Workshop open and welcoming all ceramics alumni | room B602
• 18:00 – The Institute of Art History and Visual Culture welcomes all KVI alumni | room D309
• 18.00 – Cultural Heritage and Conservation Department welcomes all alumni in the sculpture conservation studio | room D308
• 19:00 – Glass Department: Welcoming all glass alumni | room B604

See you at the EKA 111 party!

EKA 111 Facebook event
EKA 111 Auction Facebook event

As part of Tallinn Photomonth, FOKU gallery hosts the presentation of And Then It Fades (Away), a new bilingual (Lithuanian-English) book on contemporary Lithuanian photography. The publication brings together twelve artists whose works explore themes from placelessness and archives to instability and identity, weaving personal, cultural, and ecological narratives into a vivid map of the present.

Editors Geistė Marija Kinčinaitytė and Paulius Petraitis will discuss the book with moderator Annika Toots, touching on its themes as well as broader questions of contemporary photography. Published by Six Chairs Books, the volume highlights photography as a medium of inquiry and experimentation.

The presentation will be preceded by an introduction of the new MA in Photography programme at Vilnius Academy of Arts, Kaunas Faculty. MA in Photography is a unique programme in the Baltic states, dedicated to exploring photography as a critical, experimental practice that responds to and questions contemporary realities.

The presentation and discussion will be held in English.

Are you a student passionate about creating a more inclusive and socially sustainable world? You are invited to an inspiring workshop, “Designing Our Future for All,” conducted by the design and architecture facilitator, Jasmien Herssens from Fourmind.

“Design for All” concept is about exploring how design can enrich the lives of every person. The goal is to create a more inclusive and socially sustainable world for everyone by designing environments where people know and feel their needs are supported. Ultimately, it aims to create a world where design based on caring and humanity is the norm, rather than the exception.

This is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on training in the implementation of Design for All, providing you with the insights and methodologies that enrich skills and contribute to a world where caring and humanity are the norm.

The workshop is structured in two parts:

Day 1 | 30.09.2025 | 9:45 AM – 1:00 PM | Part 1: Insight & Knowledge
Delve into the latest approaches, research, and perspectives in architectural and design practice.

Day 2 | 01.10.2025 | 2:00 PM – 5:15 PM | Part 2: Application
Apply the Design for All methodology directly to one of your own personal projects or ideas.

REGISTER HERE

Workshop is part of the EKA Design Week programme.

New Visions in Slovak and Estonian Architecture: Exhibition and Discussion

Under the leadership of Sille Pihlak, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, a discussion with a group of Slovak architects will be held on the contemporary development and visions of Slovak and Estonian architecture.

At the same time, we will also open the landscape/nature/architecture exhibition of students of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava.

The exhibition and event are organized by The Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Helsinki.

All interested parties are welcome!

Alejandra Alarcón & Sandra Mirka
GROUNDED GATHERINGS: ROOTED BEGINNINGS
Ground floor of EKA Gallery 27.09.–19.10.2025
Open Tue–Sat 12–6 pm Sun 12–4 pm
Opening: Friday, September 26 at 6 pm

As the seasons turn, “Grounded Gatherings: Rooted Beginnings” invites us to slow down, share food, and reflect on our relationship with the landscape. It offers a space to come together around the table, to simmer jams, and to share seasonal bites. This exhibition is imagined as a place for learning and unlearning, for exchanging different kinds of memories and knowledge. The work focuses on specific locations in Finland and Estonia, places where encounters with humans and more-than-humans have been flourishing. Through visual documentation from Spring and Summer, recipes, workshop events, and communal meals, the project invites us to build and maintain a long-lasting relationship with our surroundings through taste.

“Grounded Gatherings” is a multidisciplinary project by Alejandra Alarcón and Sandra Mirka, unfolding between Finland and Estonia. Sandra Mirka holds an MA in interior architecture and is a certified chef based in Tallinn. Her practice is led by sourcing and building with up-cycled materials, connecting spatial design with food cultures. Alejandra Alarcón is an interdisciplinary artist and designer based in Helsinki. She holds an MA in Contemporary Design. Her interest in (food) sustainability—the seasonality of things, non-human collaborations—is deeply tied to embodied practices such as walking, foraging, cooking, and digesting. Both creatives share a passion for food and cooking, working with it in different ways throughout their individual practices. Both creatives are deeply interested in how humans and more than humans co-exist in ways that create opportunities for more caring and sustainable practices.

Graphic design: Daria Titova
Technical support: Erik Hõim
The exhibition is supported by Sadolin Estonia and Tallinn City.
Special thanks to Joni Judén, Kaitlyn D. Hamilton, TUOTUO, Lenne Nigul, Anumai Raska, Estonian Centre for Architecture, Mariann Drell, Markus Koistinen and Radul Radulović.
Opening drinks from mirai™ and Põhjala Brewery.