The funding of the foundation Tallinn 2011 consisted of 7.58 million euros from the city of Tallinn, 4.49 million euros from the government of Estonia, 1.74 million euros from other sources (among them private supporters) and 1.5 million euros European funding (Mercouri Prize). During the year 300 projects were realised offering about 7000 cultural events (film performances, concerts, exhibitions, theatre etc.). By the end of the year different projects of the European Capital of Culture were attended by 1.9 million people. Almost half of the events were free of charge.

„A beautiful and rich year is about to end. By looking at these numbers we are happy that everyone who wanted – and these are more than Estonia’s inhabitants – found something in the programme of the European Capital of Culture,“ says the board member of Tallinn 2011 Jaanus Mutli. „We presented Estonian culture in all its variety, offering traditional next to contemporary, large and small scale events and showed the creativity of all nations living here.“

Although the programme offered quite many large scale events like the Tallinn Maritime Days (100 000 visitors), song and dance festival (77 000 visitors), concert „Song of Freedom“ (75 000 visitors), the final day of the European Capital of Culture „Happy End“ (25 000 visitors) or the Tallinn Marathon (17 884 participants), the biggest ambition of the foundation Tallinn 2011 was to breathe life into smart, fresh and unique ideas and the events that bring culture into the city space. „We wished to create as many cultural start-ups as possible and give this unique opportunity to local creators instead of imported performers,“ comments the head of programme of Tallinn 2011 Jaanus Rohumaa. „We wish to thank the makers and our courageous public who curiously embraced even the most unexpected and new ideas.“

Thanks to the Capital of Culture unique projects like „Silent movies go loud“, „Cinema in the city space: Rooftop cinema and Guerrilla cinema“, „MIM goes sustainable“, „SIGNA: Bleier Research Incorporated“, „World of Glass“, „60 Seconds of Solitude in Year Zero“, „Song of the Tower Bells“ and many others were created. Also the city space was engaged in a completely new way by „Object no 2011“, NO99 Straw Theatre, urban installations of the festival LIFT11 and many other events. The latter provoked a lively media discussion about using the city space more skilfully in the future.

Worth a special mention are the world premieres of musical compositions: “Adam’s Lament” by Arvo Pärt, „Awakening“ by Erkki-Sven Tüür, opera „Two Heads“ by Timo Steiner, Tallinn mass „Dance of life“ by Roxanna Panufnik,  choir opera „Labyrinth“ by Urmas Sisask, „Salt“ by Helena Tulve, opera „From the roof“ by  Jarek Kasar aka Chalice, the mystery „Mother of God’s prayer“ by Galina Grigorjeva, „Dance of Death“ by Gergory Rose and new pieces by Tõnu Kõrvits, Helena Tulve, Tatjana Kozlova and Mirjam Tally at the NYYD new music festival. As the last specially created composition the „Song of Tower Bells“ by Margo Kõlar was performed on the final day of the European Capital of Culture.

In addition to the exciting cultural programme the foundation Tallinn 2011 started a sustainable volunteers movement (1500 volunteer joined it), promoted Tallinn to become a more bicycle friendly city, introduced a hospitality programme and initiated a young audience programme to bring children from outside Tallinn closer to cultural events.

One of the main targets of Tallinn 2011 was to bring cultural life to the former wastelands by the seashore in town centre. One of the main centres of these activities was the former power plant, today Kultuurikatel. In spite of the delay in reconstruction works the architecturally and historically interesting building inspired many directors. Sasha Pepelyaev staged his neck breaking „Dancing Tower“ in June, Peeter Jalakas the existentialistic „Gilgamesh or the Button of Eternity“ and Christian Römer „The Black Rider“ by Tom Waits. In autumn Kultuurikatel was a venue of several exhibitions like Raoul Kurvitz’ anniversary  „VOOL works“ and „On the Road to Heaven“ by Finnish artist Kaisa Salmi.  The final party of the Club 2011 series in Kultuurikatel attracted 1600 people.

Next to Kultuurikatel the Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia (CAME) is located in the same complex of buildings. Its summer programme of four exhibitions was started by the successful launch of a new contemporary arts prize Köler Prize.

In addition to stirring up the cultural life in the city and promoting the international cooperation of the culture sector, the year as Capital of Culture had a positive influence on tourism, and most of all cultural tourism. By the end of September the number of overnight stays by foreign tourists has risen by 23% compared to the year before resulting in 494 909 added hotel nights. To compare, this year’s other European Capital of Culture Turku in Finland attracted 6% more tourists leading to 42 989 additional hotel nights by the end of October, mostly by domestic tourists.

International media has covered the European Capital of Culture Tallinn in nearly a thousand publications reaching an audience of hundreds of millions. In addition to the opening and closing ceremonies international media focused on events like  Tallinn Music Week, Punkt Tallinn – Jazzkaar opening, international youth art triennial „Eksperimenta!“, Treff theatre festival, song and dance festival, STALKER – festival, „gateways“ new media art exhibition and NO99 Straw Theatre.

„The passing year has had a strong influence and left a mark into Tallinn’s and Estonia’s life: a talented and hard-working team has realised the biggest involvement and image project of the past dozens of years, whereas the real impact will be felt in the years to come,“ says Tallinn 2011 board member Jaanus Mutli. „Passing on the title doesn’t mean that good ideas and ventures will stop. Tallinn has always been a cultural city and will stay one also after the year as European Capital of Culture.“

Thank you for this year!