Taaniel Raudsepp ja Ionel Lehari
Taaniel Raudsepp will take over as head of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Estonian Academy of Arts starting in the 2026/2027 academic year.
Raudsepp has previously worked as a risk manager in the field of cybersecurity, a creative director, an artist, the director of the Tallinn Art Hall, the Deputy Secretary for the Arts the Ministry of Culture, and most recently as the organizer of the Paide Opinion Festival.
Taaniel Raudsepp will take over the position of dean from Kirke Kangro, who has led the EKA’s Faculty of Fine Arts since 2017 and will continue to serve as dean until the start of the new academic year.
A longer interview with Taaniel Raudsepp can be read here.
Ionel Lehari will take over as head of the Faculty of Design at the Estonian Academy of Arts starting in the 2026/2027 academic year.
Lehari is a recognized and award-winning creative director and lecturer. He was born in 1967 in St. Petersburg. In 1985, Ionel Lehari graduated from Pelgulinna Art Gymnasium and in 1994 from the Estonian Academy of Arts. In 1992-94, Ionel Lehari participated in the art group NEOEXPREPOST and took part in various exhibitions. In 1995-2000, he was the artistic director of the advertising agency Kontuur and in 2002-2024, he was the creative director and one of the founders of the design agency Identity. Since 2005, Ionel Lehari has taught students at the Estonian Academy of Arts, and is currently a full associate professor and head of the design and innovation curriculum at the Estonian Academy of Arts and the head of the visual communication department.
Ionel Lehari takes over the position of dean from Kristjan Mändmaa, who is serving as head of the EKA’s Faculty of Design during the 2025/2026 academic year, as well as from 2016 to 2021, and will continue as dean until the end of the current academic year.
A longer interview with Ionel Lehari can be read here.
Welcome, dear deans!
Hilkka Hiiop
Rector