Queer Feminist Zine Workshop “How to Recognize Queer Feminism?”

How to Recognize Queer Feminism?

Queer Feminist Zine Workshop – Sat. 13.12.2025

You’re warmly welcomed to take part in a queer feminist zine workshop “How to Recognise Queer Feminism?” taking place 13 December 2025, at 15:00 at Kumu Art Museum, seminar room on the second floor. After the lecture “Queer Feminism as a Form of Resistance” by Aet Kuusik, Maria Izabella Lehtsaar will lead the zine workshop that explores queer feminist thinking through the zine medium. Lehtsaar will offer guidance, share their own practice and accompany participants as they create their zines. The event is for free.

Rooted in feminist and queer DIY cultures, zines – self-made mini magazines or booklets – have long been tools for self-expression, resistance and community building. They allow us to work freely with text, image and collage – no artistic background is required. You can experiment with zines and reflect on how artistic practice can become a tool for empowerment and reclaiming space. The finished zines will be replicated, printed and spread around the city in various cafés, cultural hotpots and shops for free.

Please register here, participation is limited. Registration closes 08.12.2025.

“How to Reframe Monuments”
EKA Billboard Gallery 1.12.2025–15.02.2026
Open 24/7, free admission

The Past as Artistic Material
We live in a time when monuments cannot be ignored. Around the world, debates rage over their meaning and over whether – and how – contested monuments should be displayed in public space. Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine has brought one of the epicentres of monumental conflict to Eastern Europe. To date, a large number of Soviet-era monuments in Estonia, particularly World War II memorials, have been removed. 

The project “How to Reframe Monuments” is based on the premise that removing a monument does not resolve the problem – complex heritage cannot simply be bypassed, but must be worked through. By bringing together knowledge and expertise from multiple fields, we have developed solutions that, through academic research, heritage conservation and digitisation practices, as well as artistic interventions, enable dissonant heritage not to be demolished but to be reframed within a new critical context. 

At the heart of the outdoor exhibition is the potential of art in addressing memory conflicts in public space – and, through this, the social role of contemporary art. Three design competitions carried out in the frame- work of this project illustrate ways of reframing different types of dissonant heritage – memori- als, paintings and sculptures. To date, already one of the artistic interventions has been realised: the reframing of the Tehumardi memorial by Neeme Külm. 

Between 2024 and 2025, a total of 17 artists took part in the art competitions. The conceptualisation of the Tehumardi memorial complex on Saaremaa—now partially dismantled—involved 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 their own solutions for redesigning the monumental paintings, completed in 1955, in the old passenger terminal of Tallinn Airport.

Trevor Kinna, Bob Bicknell-Knight, Hasso Krull, Camille Laurelli, Samuel Lehikoinen, Ülo Pikkov, and Yiyang Sun created digital artworks based on the monument “Vyatchko and Meelis Defending Tartu” (1950/1956) located in Tartu. These works are shown as part of the exhibition “The Monument and the Fairy Tale” in the EKA foyer during 1.–12.12.2025.

Exhibition team: Linda Kaljundi, Kirke Kangro, Annika Tiko, Maris Veeremäe
Design: Kristjan Mändmaa
Language editing: Hille Saluäär, Jason Finch
“How to reframe monuments” is a collaborative project between the Estonian Academy of Arts and Tallinn University, funded by the Estonian Ministry of Culture. 

The project’s follow-up exhibition will open in February 2026 at EKA Gallery.

EKA Doctoral School will be hosting an online info session about doctoral studies at EKA on February 11, 2026, at 15:00-16:30 EET (local Estonian time). 

Info session provides a good opportunity to hear more about doctoral studies at EKA, available programmes, admission requirements and procedure, etc; also meet and ask questions directly from people behind the Doctoral School and the programmes. The info session will be hosted online over Zoom. A link to attend will be e-mailed to registered participants shortly before the event begins.

REGISTER HERE

The Estonian Academy of Arts offers following PhD level programmes for international applicants:

• Architecture and Urban Planning
• Art and Design
• Art History and Visual Culture
• Cultural Heritage and Conservation

Admission period for international PhD applicants for 2026/2027 starts on February 1st, 2026. Deadline for submitting application is March 31st, 2026, at 3pm (EET).

Admission requirements for PhD programmes can be found HERE.

More information:
Irene Hütsi
Doctoral School coordinator
irene.hutsi@artun.ee

A collective end-event of the Studio1: Urbanization course by the first year Urban Studies students. Feel free to jump in any time, bring your headphones and dress warm!

Location: at Putukaväil, bus stop Ehte
Start date: 07. 12. 2025.
Start time: 12.00

Through the semester, we walked, talked, toured, detoured, shared, felt, lost and found the essence of Shtromka and now we would like to warmly invite you to join our final walk – a shared journey through the complexity of time, space, imagination, and communities.

But what does Shtromka, a colloquial term, an intuitive district, tell us about our time, if space can be a socio-cultural mirror? And what forms the futures might take – both for communities and for spatial structures – if we look closely at the stories of Sthromka and broader cultural, economical and political forces that hold and shape us? And ultimately, why does Shtromka matter, after all?

Together, we will peel back the layers of Shtromka, dive into the questions it arises and situate them within the wider contexts of the emerging processes. Along the way, we will share our 11 individual projects, each living at the intersection of these questions and feelings, curated into three thematic detours – each ending with a shared moment of reflection, where we can open the floor to collective discussion.

12.00 – 14.00 detour1 – – – – – – – – meeting at Putukaväil, bus stop Ehte

15.20 – 16.30 detour2 – – – – – – – – meeting at Sõle tn 67

17.00 – 18.15 detour3 – – – – – – – – meeting at bus stop Pelguranna

Students:

Mahamudul Hasan
Kadri Haugas
Md. Shariful Islam
Mihkel Uku Karindi
Catherine Vera Lavrik
Helka Molnar
Luca Oszwald
Alexander João Pereira Witte
Clara Prellwitz
Nabid Shovon
Elena Wübbeling

Tutors:

Mira Samonig
Karina Vabson

The traditional EKA Christmas Fair is happening again on Sunday, December 14, 2025, from 12:00 to 18:00.

One of Estonia’s most popular Christmas markets once again invites all art and design enthusiasts to discover and buy memorable gifts. When you buy presents at the EKA Christmas Market, you support the work of current and future Estonian artists and designers, as every item sold is created by EKA students and alumni. Those who have attended before know: the cozy atmosphere is always guaranteed.

More information on our social media channels: Instagram, Facebook event
Or via email: jouluturg@artun.ee

2025 VENDORS

JEWELRY & BLACKSMITHING:

• A6925
• Agnes Veski Jewelry
• Bianca Toots
• Celestialvirgin
• ERLE NEMVALTS
• Esox Lures OÜ
• fredtruus
• GOHARA
• Hvitolg
• Janika Mägi
• Kadi Veesaar Jewellery
• Katrin Veegen Jewellery
• Keiu Koppel Autoriehted
• Kelly Engelbrecht x ICEICEGEMZ
• killud
• Kuttenberg Knives
• Ljóf Jewelry
• Lyly x Nada x Sylvi
• Margus Elizarov
• Metashika
• Mirjam Aun
• MUSTKIVI
• Nils Hint
• PATRICK SOOME
• Paul
• Robert Idvani
• Sile Luik
• TELLISKIVI.
• Varm Country X Franky
• xensyl
• ZYLELY

CERAMICS & GLASS ART:

• 1001tassi
• BBABSxBBABS
• Craft Studies / Taidestuudium
• Elize Hiiop Jewellery
• Ethel Ütsmüts keraamika
• HYTI
• iamoffeveryday
• johannatammceramics
• kadri
• Kateriin Rikken
• Kay Shek
• Kuu keraamika
• KÄRT SEPPEL
• Lauri Kilusk
• Lilian Maasik
• Loora & Sarahi keraamika
• Maarja Sildvee
• Mari-Liis Makus Glass Design
• MEELI
• MONA SOFIA TAHK
• MSK Glass
• Palmik ceramics
• PUHU
• Sigrid Luitsalu glass
• Stuudio Raili Keiv
• SUME
• Tikrimoos
• Tilt Collection
• Triini Ceramics
• Umi
• Vakinay Glass

GRAPHICS & PAINTING:

• 35&36
• ART by TBA
• Anastasija Šteinle
• Annamaria Bereczki
• Antenninimene OÜ ja Kuraditosin OÜ
• Catherine Zarip
• EKA Graphic Design Master
• Ella-Mai Matsina
• ENKKL
• Hurray Mail
• ICIKICI collective
• Illustrations STUDIO
• Irmakmiz
• Joonas Sildre ja Elina Sildre illustratsioonid
• Katariin Mudist
• KERAAFIKA
• Kirjastus Hunt
• Kristino Rav
• Krõõt Kukkur Illustrations
• Laura Verte Illustrations
• Leore Klõšeiko
• Lucky Laika
• Lígia Fernandes
• Mania Grandiosa
• Marjamaitse / Pampel
• Marten Prei
• mesimagus
• Natalia Mirzoyan
• Nurr x UIK
• Paul Rannik
• Sandra Puusepp
• Selene Taur
• Triin Mänd

LEATHER PRODUCTS & ACCESSORIES:

• Aliisi lambad
• Annreal
• Carmen Kremm
• Ifku
• Karen Milistver
• Koa Concept Store
• LUKS
• MIRGOODS
• Mystique Art & Design
• MÄRG
• Piibe Tomp Stuudio
• SIUG

FASHION & TEXTILE:

• barbed
• B.MOR STUDIO
• carolxott
• Christoph
• ELLEN RICHARD
• Eve Hanson
• Hanna Tiina Pekk
• HANNES RÜÜTEL
• Jaagup Kaiv
• k4m4t3
• KAIRI GETMAN
• Karl Korsar
• Kirill Safonov
• Kristina Oja
• multistab.
• Poeet Design
• sask: design
• Siim Oja
• Tilda Knitwear
• Vivian Vuks

PRODUCT DESIGN:

• behäppi
• EstWallArt
• GISAIN reflectors
• Katahana
• kollektiir
• KOOSdisain
• Oliver Kanniste
• Ringdisaini sfäärid
• Sviiter
• Unzelm
• WindlaStudio

This exhibition features handmade books by EKA students as the culmination of a course in which they worked with photographs in book format. They explored the similarities and differences between artist books, self-publishing, and book dummies. In addition to creating and editing visual materials, students tried their hand at design, pre-press, and binding by hand. 

The books contain both analog and digital photos in the form of collages, typologies, narratives, and archival materials. The subjects explored include personal themes such as hometown, friendship, family, and childhood, as well as everyday life, the inexpressibility of feelings and perceptions, and mundane architecture.

Artists participating in the exhibition: Mikk Keis, Olesja Prants, Gleb Volodtšenko, Mari Karjus, Viktoria Weiszova, Tobias Tikenberg, Jana Mätas (MACA), Kristiina Aarna (DKT).

Supervisor Mirjam Varik.

The UNESCO Chair at the Estonian Academy of Arts is opening the exhibition “Estonian Heritage on the World Map” at Valga Railway Station.

We are proud of our heritage and confident that it also speaks to the wider world. Yet we know surprisingly little about what from Estonia is actually considered remarkable internationally, and what opportunities the presentation of our heritage together with others in shared networks can offer.
The exhibition by the Estonian Academy of Arts presents what from Estonia has been included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Intangible Cultural Heritage List, and the Memory of the World Register. It also highlights which places have been awarded the European Heritage Label. Several European Cultural Routes run through Estonia. Over the years, Estonian works have also been recognized with Europa Nostra awards. We usually talk about such places one by one. With this exhibition, EKA aims to create a bigger picture, to inspire owners and local governments, and to remind everyone that by working together we can achieve more. Cultural heritage offers endless opportunities for presenting ourselves and for finding like-minded partners.
EKA will open the exhibition on “Heritage Sunday,” 7 December at 12:15 at Valga Railway Station, in cooperation with the Valga Museum and ICOMOS Estonia. The exhibition will be introduced by Riin Alatalu, holder of the EKA UNESCO Chair and vice-president of the international expert organization for heritage conservation.

For more information, please contact:

Riin Alatalu
riin.alatalu@artun.ee
+372 511 9439

On December 2 at 16:00 in room A101, Andrea Caretto and Raffaella Spagna will give a public lecture titled “Bright Ecologies: Experiences, Forms, Materials”. The lecture is part of the Faculty of Design’s public lecture series “Public Lectures in Design: Adjusting Perspectives,” curated by Stella Runnel and Taavi Hallimäe.

The Italian artist duo Caretto/Spagna approach art as a space for radical openness, undisciplined inquiry, and deep engagement with the Things of the World: earth, seeds, people, stones, museums, rivers, quarries, trees, micro-organisms, and more. Through the activation of a constellation of objects – small sculptures, drawings, plants, found objects, etc – drawn from their personal archive, the artists will invite the audience on an interactive journey into their artistic research. 

The public lectures are open to students, faculty, as well as anyone else interested in design!

Andrea Caretto (Torino, 1970, Degree in Natural Sciences) and Raffaella Spagna (Rivoli, 1967, Degree in Architecture) have been working together since 2002, collaborating with public and private institutions in Italy and abroad. They live and work in Cambiano (TO).

Caretto and Spagna explore the complex web of relationships from which things emerge: the fluxes and cycles of matter and morphogenesis, the perception of the environment, the transformations of the landscape, the wild/cultivated relationship and the processes of domestication, the relationships between living/inhabiting/building. Their approach is based on an aptitude for “presence” and experience in the world, in close contact with matter in all its transformations and individualisations. An exercise of attention and care for things, understood as nodes in an interweave, which trains the ability to perceive everything that exists as a system of elements in continuous correspondence. They are among the founding members of the artists’ association Diogene in Torino, and Pianpicollo Selvatico ETS Foundation – center for research in the arts and the sciences, Levice (TO), and artistic consultants for Munlab Ecomuseo dell’Argilla in Cambiano (TO). They collaborate with the Department of Philosophy and Educational Sciences at the University of Torino and with Unidee Academy of Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto, Biella (IT).

From December 2 to December 11, EKA Library will be open from Tuesday to Thursday from 10am to 10pm.

On December 3 and 10, the library will also open its Emergency Writing Assistance Department (EWD) in half-hour flash feedback sessions from 18 to 20. Bring along your texts and presentations and ask for advice on referencing and finding sources. Appointments will take place on a first-come, first-served basis.

Free coffee, tea, and gingerbread cookies to students and readers!