Category: Faculty of Art and Culture

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.

The 2025/2026 academic year open lecture series will be held in collaboration with the Institute of Art History and Visual Culture and the Faculty of Architecture. The theme of this academic year is “Architecture and the Ethics of Care” and the lectures will be curated by KVI Senior Researcher Dr. Ingrid Ruudi.

On November 27 at 6 pm Robert Mull will give a lecture “The Free World”.

Robert Mull will discuss the ethical responsibility of architecture and its duty of care to others through the work of the Global Free Unit in areas of displacement and conflict including France, Greece and Turkey and now in support of Ukraine and Gaza.

Robert Mull is Adjunct Professor of Architecture at the University of Limerick, a visiting Professor at Umeå University Sweden, and a Director at Publica, London. Robert was previously Director of Architecture and Dean of The Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Head of Architecture and Design at Brighton University. Robert now leads the Global Free Unit, a transnational educational structure with academic, research, NGO and institutional partners focusing on live projects within areas of displacement and war and institutions including prisons, schools and communities. Robert is currently working with partners in Ukraine in support of the Kharkiv School of Architecture and on projects in Cairo in support of displaced Gazan students and academics. Robert is also part of the Office of Displaced Designers.

Within the framework of a series of open lectures, the Faculty of Architecture of EKA presents a dozen unique practitioners and valued theorists in the field in Tallinn every academic year.

The lectures are intended for all disciplines, not only for students and professionals in the field of architecture.

All lectures are held on Thursdays at 6 pm in the EKA main auditorium. All lectures are in English and free of charge.

The lecture series is supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia.

Previous open architecture lectures can be viewed at www.avatudloengud.ee

EKA Graduation Show TASE ‘25 opens on May 28, 2025

The Estonian Academy of Arts’ grad show TASE ’25 is back, with the main event being the graduation exhibition held at the “Projekteerijate maja”, located at Rävala puiestee 8, Tallinn.

The TASE ‘25 opening event will be held on Wednesday, May 28, at 17:00 in the park in front of the Rävala 8 building. During the public opening event, awards for Young Artist, Young Applied Artist, and Young Designer will be presented to both bachelor’s and master’s level students.

PROGRAM

TASE ’25 opening events schedule on Wednesday, May 28, 4:00 PM–11:00 PM:

4 PM procession from the Estonian Academy of Arts to the building at Rävala Puiestee 8

5 PM opening ceremony on the lawn in front of Rävala Puiestee 8, announcement of the Young Designer, Young Artist and Young Applied Artist MA and BA awards

6 PM TASE ’25 exhibition doors open

7.30 PM Avemaria concert on the lawn in front of Rävala Puiestee 8

8 PM Taavet Kirja DJ set

11 PM End of the party

In addition, Hulkur Bar and ÖKU food truck will be present.

TASE pop-up shop

28.05.–1.06.25 Rävala puiestee 8 first floor lobby, open Wed 18.00–23.00 Thu–Sun 13.00–19.00

TASE ANIMA 2025 animation final project screening on Friday, June 13, 17.00–19.00 at Sõprus cinema, free admission.

Participants: Paulina Belik, Maya Chaudhary, Nataliia Domini, Kate Jansone, Timofei Jerjomenko, Annaliisa Lepik, Anne Lucas, Natalya Mirzoyan, Léo Dominique Mourey, Katrina Oll, Mia Rulli, Yiyang Sun, Alex Toodu, Kaisa Vallaots, Lukas Wind, Shunyuan Yao

Thesis of the Faculties of Architecture, Design, Art Culture and Liberal Arts

Rävala puiestee 8, Tallinn29.05.–19.06.25, open daily from 13.00–19.00, free admission

The final project of contemporary art master’s students Yvette Bathgate & Jake Shepherd “a space for gathering, a space for growing”

EKKM Community Garden, Kursi 5, Tallinn

28.05.–19.05.25, open 24/7, free admission

The program has been prepared in collaboration with Keithy Kuuspu, Kati Saaritsa, Feminist Culture House, and Laura De Jager.

Art Studio Master’s student Alyona Movko-Mägi’s final project “Being. Creator. Gender.” Seek Gallery, Väike-Pääsukese 5, Tallinn6.06.–27.09.25, open June–August 20:00–2:00, September 20:00–00:00, admission 7€/5€

Event introducing the final theses of graphic design master’s students “Cover, Show”

Skoone bastion, Tallinn

6.06. 11:00–19:00

Participants: Fatima-Ezzahra El Khammas, Hanafi Gazali, Rok Ifko Krajnc, Linnea Lindgren, Laura Martens, João Pedro Nogueira, Karthik Palepu, Archil Tsereteli

Thesis “Internal Spheres” by Dana Lorên Vares, Master of Jewelry Design

Rehearsal Hall of the Von Krahl Theatre, Telliskivi 60a-9, Tallinn

2.–3.06.25, entrance from the railway side, free

Introduction of Bachelor’s and Master’s theses in Interior Architecture led by Gregor Taul, starting in the lobby of Rävala Puiestee 8.

Wednesday, June 4, 15:00–16:00, in Estonian

Social Design Studio – a series of events and installations for social design master’s students

The exhibition ends with a discussion by recent graduates on the topic “What is social design?”

6.–7.06.25 Rävala Puiestee 8, first floor lobby, free admission.

More information:  https://www.facebook.com/sotsiaalsedisainistuudio/

Faculty of Architecture exhibition tours

Open to all space enthusiasts, both incoming students and professionals in the field:
June 4, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Interior Architecture Final Theses, Curriculum Director Gregor Taul
June 11, 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Architecture Today, Dean Sille Pihlak
June 18, 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Faculty of Architecture final theses will be introduced by architect and head of master’s studies, Prof. Toomas Tammis
June 18, 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Faculty of Architecture final theses will be introduced by architect and head of master’s studies, Prof. Toomas Tammis

Register for the tour here

Anna-Liisa Villmann-led tours with the laureates of the Young Designer, Young Artist and Young Applied Artist MA and BA awards, starting in the lobby of Rävala puiestee 8.

Saturday, May 31, 13–14:30, in Estonian

Saturday, June 14, 13–14:30, in Estonian

Saturday, June 14, 14:30–16:00, in English

Public defenses of final theses

Final theses defenses at the Estonian Academy of Arts and at the TASE Final Thesis Festival at Rävala puiestee 8, Tallinn, 26.05.–11.06.2025

Check out the schedule on the website https://www.artun.ee/et/kalender/eka-loputoode-kaitsmised/

Get to know TASE ‘25 program and list of graduates on the website tase.artun.ee – the website will open on May 23.

The written parts of the theses can be viewed in the EKA Digital Archive at https://eka.access.preservica.com/

TASE ’25 Facebook event

3.03–07.03

Join us for Mental Health Week – take a break and prioritize your well-being!

Monday – Digi Detox (3.03)
Swap your phone for a piece of fruit for a set time of your choice and enjoy a screen-free moment. Plus, grab a wellness shot during lunch!

Tuesday – Quiz Night (4.03)

Test your knowledge in a fun quiz night!
https://fb.me/e/63DbEu5zp

Wednesday – Yoga Class (5.03, kl 18, A501)
Find your balance and unwind in a yoga class. Suitable for all levels!

Pre-registration required

Wednesday & Thursday – Sauna Evenings (5.–6.03)

Relax and unwind in the sauna after a long day.

Pre-registration required

Thursday – Scream Room (D600)
Release your stress in a safe and soundproof space!

And much more! Find more details on Instagram.

See you at Mental Health Week!

Dear EKA members!

I invite you all to the celebrations of the 107th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia on Friday, February 21st at 13.00 on the lobby steps.

The keynote speaker will be Signe Kivi, EKA’s Rector Emerita, textile artist and member of the Riigikogu. Among many other activities, Signe Kivi has a solo exhibition “Signature” running until the first Sunday in March at the Estonian Museum of Applied Arts and Design.

The event will end as tradition dictates with a shot of vodka, kissel and sprat sandwich.

Long live Estonia!

Mart Kalm
Rector

The Estonian Academy of Arts (Associate Prof. Kristina Jõekalda) together with Yale University (Prof. Bradley Woodworth) is organizing a history seminar on the Baltic Germans on February 7-8 2025:

“Bulwark against the East or Imperial Outpost? Baltic Germans in the Russian Empire“.

Among the speakers is also EKA’s junior researcher Ragne Soosalu.

The seminar takes place at Yale University in USA, but can be followed via Zoom. For an overview see the recap.

On Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 4:00 p.m., open debate of EKA rector candidates will take place.

EKA rector candidate programs (in Estonian):

Rector candidate Hilkka Hiiop’s program
Rector candidate Kirke Kangro’s program

Hilkka Hiiop is the dean of EKA’s Faculty of Arts and Culture from 2021. Hiiop is a professor in the Department of Cultural Heritage and Conservation. Hiiop’s candidacy was submitted by the members of the EKA Council.

Kirke Kangro is the dean of EKA’s Faculty of Fine Arts from 2016. She is a professor at the Department of Installation and Sculpture. Kangro was nominated by the Faculty of Fine Arts and Faculty of Design of EKA.

The EKA rector’s elections will take place in auditorium A-101 on Friday, January 31, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.

At the election meeting, the members of the electoral board will vote by secret ballot. The rector candidate who receives more than half of the votes will be elected.

Information related to the rector’s elections can be found at artun.ee/rektori-valimised.

The term of office of the new EKA Rector will begin on April 4, 2025.

On Friday, December 6th at 11:00, a symposium on postmodernism “Lost in Time Like Tears in the Rain” will take place at the Tartu Elektriteater.

The transition period from the collapse of the Soviet Union to the rise of independence Estonia can be considered in many ways an unique and exceptional period. It was a time of historical openness, where one way of doing things had ceased to exist, but another was just taking off. It was a time of intellectual and artistic possibilities, in spite of the fact that means and possibilities were scarce. And it was at this time that the new postmodernism as a new cultural logic, promising perhaps another kind of diversity, plurality and freedom. A confused thing arrived in a confused time and began to resonate in its own way. What it was or much of it was there at all? That is what Estonia’s leading cultural figures and researchers will give their own perspective on what was in the air and what it was like for them, what postmodernism meant to them then and what it means now.

SCHEDULE

11–12:30 Session I
Peeter Laurits / Ene-Liis Semper / Janek Kraavi / Kiwa / Tõnis Kahu /
Barbi Pilvre

12:30–13 Coffee break

13–14:30 Session II
Hanno Soans / Virve Sarapik / Luule Epner / Andrus Laansalu / Piret
Viires / Marju Lauristin

14:30–15:30 Lunch break

15:30–17 Session III
Hasso Krull / Märt Väljataga / Valle-Sten Maiste / Epp Annus / Raili
Marling / Aare Pilv

17–20 Reception (Lossi 3 lobby)

The event is organized by the Institute of Cultural Studies of the University of Tartu and the Interuniversity Research Group of Contemporary Estonian Culture

The event is supported by the Estonian Science Foundation grant PRG636 “Patterns of development in Estonian culture of transition period 1986–1998)”.

Mental Vitamin Week is back and happening next week! From November 18–22, we will host various exciting activities to bring some fun and relaxation to the long and tiring school days.

**MONDAY, 18.11.2024**

– Morning run at 8:00 (meeting in front of the school)
– Fruit in exchange for your phone
– 12:00–18:00 Sauna in the school courtyard
– Gaming in A300

**TUESDAY, 19.11.2024**

– Morning run at 8:00 (meeting in front of the school)
– Health shots
– 12:00–18:00 Sauna in the school courtyard
– Gaming in A300
– Scream room in the ÜE tower
– 19:00 EKAAJU quiz (in the atrium, registration required)

**WEDNESDAY, 20.11.2024**

– Morning run at 8:00 (meeting in front of the school)
– Gaming in A300
– Confession room and worry box (5th floor box)

**THURSDAY, 21.11.2024**

– Morning run at 8:00 (meeting in front of the school)
– Gaming in A300

**FRIDAY, 22.11.2024**

– Final morning run of the week at 8:00 (meeting in front of the school)
– Gaming in A300

On Saturday, October 19, the Spooky Drag Night organized by the EKA Students Queer Association (ETKÜ) will take place at EKKM, where drag artists from EKA and elsewhere will perform.

The event celebrates the birth of a new student initiative, the goal of which is to bring together the queer community of EKA and stand for a safer learning environment. People who would like to try drag for the first time, but have not yet found the opportunity to do so, are also invited to perform.

Location: EKKM
Time: 19.10 at 20.00
Ticket information: Admission by donation.

More info: https://fb.me/e/1SJ2IwwjT