The runners-up were ‘Hamster’ by Ed Labetski and Madis Taras and ‘Improvisation’ by Ivar Jaanus. The national round was used to find the cleverest creative solution to advertise Tallinn as the European Capital of Culture, both within Estonia and abroad.

The idea running through the winning work is ‘culture makes us better people’. One idea the artists proposed was that careless drivers should be issued with museum passes instead of parking fines; that school kids who do something wrong should be given tickets to the theatre or concert instead of a note home for their parents; and that library-goers who fail to return their books on time should be given cinema tickets instead of a late penalty.

The artists even see ATM receipts acting as passes. Their campaign is designed to influence people through culture and help them bring about changes within themselves.

“This is a really original approach, and handing out tickets in the way the campaign sets out is bound to have a novel effect,” said Katrin Remmelkoor, the marketing manager for the Tallinn 2011 foundation, who formed part of the competition jury along with other representatives of the foundation, the Postimees and advertising agencies.

“It’s sure to generate more interest in Estonia, too,” she added.

The winners will take part in the Young Creatives Integrated Competition of the Eurobest festival. As in the national round, those taking part in the competition will have 48 hours to come up with an advertising campaign for a charity or non-profit organisation.

The pan-European Eurobest festival, an offshoot of the Eurobest Awards, is being held this year for the second time. It will take place in Amsterdam from 25 to 27 November. The Young Creatives Integrated Competition is open to advertising students and advertisement designers up to the age of 28.

The public procurement carried out in spring for the design of the seaplane hangar exhibition and for the restoration design work for the hangars was won by KOKO Arhitektid, who involved engineers Professor Karl Õiger and Heiki Onton in the restoration. KOKO Arhitektid are well known for such designs as the Estonian pavilion at EXPO2000 in Hannover; Tallinn Synagogue; the Fahle building; and Metro Plaza.

“The seaplane hangars are the most unique architectural monument in Estonia from an engineering and technical point of view,” explained KOKO Arhitekid director Andrus Kõresaar. “We’re planning to be very tactful in the way we restore it. In the way we set up the exhibition we’re taking international visitors into account, so in world terms it will be an entirely modern and very exciting museum.”

In addition to its plans for the hangars, the Maritime Museum will also be revealing its vision of the Lennusadama port as a whole on 22 September. “The museum, or part of it, should be in close proximity to the water, or even better: own the port,” said maritime historian and museum director Urmas Dresen. “You don’t have to look very far for precedents: Karlskrona, Stockholm, Turku, Kaliningrad, Gdansk, Gothenburg, Roskilde, Bremerhaven, Kiel, Flensburg, Liverpool, Rotterdam, Amsterdam... The only option for us at the Maritime Museum is the historical area of the old Lennusadama port.”

Those attending the presentation on 22 September, which is scheduled to begin at 4.00 pm, will be offered smoked fish and tea with a tot of rum. Pictures and introductory clips will also be shown regarding the future exhibit, and performances will be given by the Estonian Defence Forces Orchestra and the Navy cadets. Also present at the event will be Sir Mark Stanhope, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff of the British Navy.

Restoration of the seaplane hangars at the Lennusadama port and the construction of the innovative new exhibition are being financed from the European Structural Funds. The work has been budgeted at 130 million kroons and represents the second stage of the plans for the reconstruction of the port.

The local organising committee of EFA 2010 comprises Black Nights Film Festival director Tiina Lokk, CEO Kristo Tohver, event manager Peeter Rebane and television producer Tarmo Krimm. “Even a couple of years ago the idea of a major film gala being held in Tallinn would have been a pipe dream to most people,” Rebane remarked. “But then the same could be said of the concert hall, and both of them are now a reality!”

Tiina Lokk added: “The opportunity this presents for our culture is unprecedented – not only will Tallinn and Estonia be playing host to the cream of the European film industry in December next year, but for the three days they’re here they’ll get to know, see and hear some of the country’s very best artists, whether they’re musicians, visual artists, writers or in the film industry.”

Chairman of the Tallinn 2011 board Mikko Fritze says that the foundation is happy to be working with the organisers of the gala which, being held in December 2010, will form something of an introduction to the city’s year as European Capital of Culture. He explains that the Cultural Capital movement and the film academy have a shared history: “The EFA’s awards gala took off twenty years ago at the same time Berlin was the European Capital of Culture.”

Tallinn was awarded the right to host the 2010 EFA awards gala at the 20th gala, held in Berlin in December 2007. In addition to the famous film stars, EFA members and almost 300 journalists the event will attract, the awards gala will be broadcast from the Estonian capital direct to the homes of viewers in more than 50 countries.

Tallinn Maritime Days 2009 takes place in the network of a corporate event held by the city of Tallinn, Foundation Tallinn 2011, Port of Tallinn, Estonian Sea Museum, Estonian Union of Historical Ships and under supervision of Foundation Tallinn 2011.

For more information www.tallinnamerepaevad.ee.

His five-day visit will feature a number of high-profile meetings: today, 15 February Sir Robert will meet with Mikko Fritze, the director of the Tallinn 2011 Foundation; on Monday 16 February meetings are planned with Tallinn mayor Edgar Savisaar and deputy mayor Kaia Jäppinen and representatives of the Ministry of Culture; and on Tuesday 17 February Sir Robert will meet President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at Kadriorg.

Sir Robert was elected to the head of the selection committee for the European Capital of Culture by the European Commission in 2008. Part of his role is to monitor the preparation processes of those cities chosen as cultural capitals. He was one of the driving forces behind and leading advisers on Liverpool’s candidacy for the title of European Capital of Culture, which the city held last year. He also acted as an adviser in the early stages of Tallinn’s candidacy for the title.

Tallinn 2011 Foundation director Mikko Fritze says that Sir Robert has been unwavering in his support of Tallinn since the very beginning and that his many years of experience in the preparations of cultural capitals means that Tallinn could have no better adviser.

Sir Robert is also the chair of the Greenwich Conservatory of Music and Dance and the chair of the Granada Foundation in Manchester. He was a member of the Manchester Olympic Committee and a founding member and director of Manchester’s Centre of Film and Visual Art.

The European Capital of Culture programme dates back to 1983 when, on the proposal of then Greek Minister of Culture Melina Mercouri, the ministers of culture of the European Community decided that one European city each year would be named the European Capital of Culture. The aim was to promote intercultural dialogue, engender respect for cultural differences and bring the people of Europe closer together. It was also hoped that greater attention would be turned to culture within the European Community. Athens was named the first European Capital of Culture in 1985.

February 15

The Creative Council of the Foundation Tallinn 2011 that is preparing the cultural capital program gathered already for the third time on 1 December, in order to assess the proposals received for the ongoing idea competition.
The Creative Council reviewed 22 project ideas during the meeting. 11 applications were given positive opinion and will be further worked on to develop their precise artistic conception and examine the possibilities for execution. 11 proposals were rejected.

Among others referred  for further development was the project of Kanuti Gildi SAAL that considers important associating culture with different city districts not only downtown. The idea helps to expand the awareness of the local people about the possible cultural area of Tallinn.

The socio-cultural project in question is aiming to put all the districts of the capital into the focus. The plan is to bring 8 creative people from all over the world representing different genres to Tallinn; they will be living in different city districts of Tallinn for a month preparing their art projects being guided by their personal backgrounds and experiences on the spot. Concerning the genre there are no limitations to the artists, they can create a theatrical performance, concert, photo reportage, documentary or something else.

The developed projects will be presented publicly and for free in the local cultural centres - cinemas, schools or other establishments. The presentation of the projects is accompanied by discussions involving art critics, sociologists and other specialists of art and urbanistics among others.

“This project would in no doubt have an enlivening effect on the cultural life in Tallinn, both a crumbling shack in Kopli and the region of villas in Merivälja can be given artistic dimension. I believe that the outcome has a widening and surprising effect on the sense of the city and the cultural sense of the people of Tallinn, “Priit Raud, the initiator of the project commented. “We have gotten too used to our city. A look from aside would perhaps help to appraise our home with a fresh eye,” Raud explained.

The Creative Council of the Foundation Tallinn 2011 that is deciding on the cultural capital program meets once in every 8 weeks. The next meeting of the Creative Council will be held at the end of January.
It is important to have 75% of the cultural program of 2011 fixed by the end of next year. The whole program of the cultural capital year will be put together by the spring of 2010 and presented to the public at the end of the year 2010.

12/12/08

The Creative Council reviewed 32 project ideas during its meeting. Positive assessment was given to 13 applications, whereas additional requirements were established for four more applications before the final decision.  15 proposals were rejected.

“The current campaign for the competition for ideas has received many ideas, work with the projects is intensive,” argued Merilin Pärli, Communication Manager of the Foundation Tallinn 2011. “We have received several very exciting ideas, which is also the aim of the present campaign,” explained Pärli.

One application that was approved concerns bringing Ars Ornata Europeana – gathering of the European Jewellers’ Association every second year – to Tallinn. This means organising different exhibitions, conferences, workshops and festive events in which the best modern European jewellers take part.

Bringing Ars Ornata Europeana to Tallinn is curated by the jeweller Julia Maria Künnap, who also represents Estonia in the European Jewellers’ Association. “The year of the European Capital of Culture is best for such an important event to take place in Tallinn as it is the series of internationally remarkable events,“ Künnap commented on the participation in the competition for ideas.

The Creative Council of the Foundation Tallinn 2011 that determines the programme of the Capital of Culture meets every 8 weeks. Next meeting of the Creative Council will be held at the end of November.

By the end of the present year, all the major ideas are planned to collect, altogether about 10-15. By the end of next year, it is important to determine 75% of the programme, and by spring 2010, the programme of the whole year of the Capital of Culture should be fixed.

The Creative Council comprises Anu Liivak, the Directress of the Finnish Retretti Art Centre, Taavi Eelmaa, an actor, Rein Raud, Rector of Tallinn University, Madis Kolk, music producer, Andrei Hvostov, a journalist, Berk Vaher, a writer, Kristiina Davidjants, a film reviewer, and Mikko Fritze, Director of Foundation Tallinn 2011.

10/09/08

The central idea of the event is opening Tallinn to the sea. Therefore, we invite the townspeople to the seaside and offer activities for everyone, in order to consolidate the coastal area as an exciting open space. The Maritime Days combine substantial maritime and harbour related programs, concerts, boat trips, water attractions and performances.

The event sites of the Maritime Days are the Admiralty Basin and Lennusadam, connected by the 'walk’ set on the future Maritime Promenade or Culture Kilometre, and the boat trips between the two harbours. The walk on the Maritime Promenade is directed by Ain Mäeots.

In Lennusadam you can visit boats, and the up-stairs venue hosts exhibitions, the mini-railway, diverse competitions and a special play-area. A stage is also set up and a visit space is opened in Lennusadam to inform the curious.

A trade street, a Swedish village, a play-area, an Admiralty-area, and a large stage with enjoyable concerts will be established by the Admiralty Basin. Two Swedish ships will also arrive at Tallinn Harbour for the Tallinn Maritime Days 2008 – Göteborg and Tre Kronor. The ships are open to visitors on 21st and 22nd June, and an exhibition especially composed for the event can be seen with the ships. The ships visit Estonia in cooperation with the Swedish Embassy.

The organisation of the Tallinn Maritime Days 2008 is supported by the Swedish Embassy in Estonia, the Swedish Trade Council, the Maritime Administration, the restaurant ‘Admiral’, Meremess (Maritime Fair), Pro Kapital, Rotermann Eesti OÜ and Tallink.

See you at Tallinn Maritime Days!