As Estonia prepares for its 100th anniversary celebrations, officially starting February 24th, an exciting programme of art, music and history-themed events has been released.
While celebrations will take place throughout Estonia to mark all the most important milestones in the emergence of a unified country, a wide range of exclusive events, covering themes from history and heritage to design and music, will also take place in the UK.
This decision to expand the programme of events outside its borders is a testimony to Estonia’s commitment to raise the profile of the destination from a cultural perspective in a key market such as the UK.
Director of Visit Estonia, Tarmo Mutso, commented: “It is an incredibly exciting time for Estonia, with the independence celebrations officially starting in February, and we hope to attract even more visitors throughout the year as they join us to celebrate this momentous occasion.
“We wanted to launch a programme of events that champions Estonia and its cultural offering as whole, both here and in the UK, as we believe there’s a growing appetite for unique experiences and the centenary celebrations are the perfect opportunity to showcase the best we have to offer.”
In London, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir is set to perform the music of Arvo Pärt, one of the most successful Estonian composers in music history, as well as a selection of Estonian music.
Under the supervision of music director Kaspars Putninš, the performers, world-renowned for their superb sense of balance and vocal cohesion, will offer a unique insight into the musical spirit of the country.
The event will take place at the Barbican on January 30th.
Later in the year, the Estonian Contemporary Art Development Centre is coordinating an exhibition and screening programme in London devoted to the centenary of Estonia’s independence.
‘Democracy to come’ is an international exhibition speculating on future possibilities for democracy.
Curated by London-based Emily Butler and Jonathan Lahey Dronsfield from The Wilkinson Gallery, it will feature a parallel film programme in the Whitechapel Gallery.
The documentary @katjanovi, to be premiered at the historic Regent Street Cinema, narrates the story of one of the most promising Estonian young artists working today, Katja Novitskova.
The series of Estonian contemporary art exhibitions and screenings will run from March 1st-October 31st.
More Information
For more information on Estonia 100 events taking place across Europe, head over to the official website.