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Cooperation

Collaboration in the Capital of Culture continues!

Tartu 2024 was not just a year full of events — it is a movement that continues beyond the official title year. The European Capital of Culture programme has left a deep mark on the cultural landscape of Tartu and all of Southern Estonia, highlighting our unique identity and bringing local creativity to Europe as well.

We are not shaping the future alone. The development of Tartu and Southern Estonia is built on collaboration — the combined efforts of local residents, communities, businesses, creatives, and municipalities. The legacy of the Capital of Culture is alive and evolving. Together, we are shaping the future of Tartu and Southern Estonia to be more sustainable, more connected, and more creative than ever before.

Tartu together with Southern Estonia

Tartu organised the Capital of Culture together with 19 municipalities: Antsla, Elva, Kambja, Kanepi, Kastre, Luunja, Nõo, Otepää, Peipsiääre, Põlva, Rõuge, Räpina, Setomaa, Tõrva, Valga, Võru and Tartu municipalities, as well as the cities of Võru and Viljandi. The network of local municipalities in Southern Estonia will continue its work even after the title year ends.

Approximately 260,000 people live in the European Capital of Culture region. Tartu 2024 was the largest collaboration in Southern Estonia’s history.

International Relations

We will continue to develop international relations in cooperation with foreign embassies and cultural organisations. Tartu 2024 will remain part of the European Capitals of Culture network, supporting cultural organisers in Tartu and Southern Estonia in finding international partners and exchanging experiences.

Collaboration with the city of Bodø in Norway will continue through the Duo Network, and in Latvia, we will support Liepāja (European Capital of Culture 2027) through the ESTLAT ECoCs Together project. Tartu 2024 will also join the extended Culture Next network of Capitals of Culture and continue sharing knowledge with the teams of future Capitals of Culture.

In 2024, the European Capital of Culture was visited by the Ministers of Culture from Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, and Poland, the Deputy Minister of Culture from the Czech Republic, and Presidents Alexander Stubb and Edgars Rinkēvičs.

Hospitality network

The Tartu 2024 hospitality network will be taken over by the Southern Estonia tourism cluster. The network includes more than 350 businesses from the region. We invite everyone to continue promoting hospitality across the area and to take part in the development programme starting in January.

In January, the Southern Estonia tourism cluster launched a development programme designed to help businesses raise their service standards and offer an even better experience to visitors.

Window of Culture

During the title year, the Window of Culture/Kultuuriaken events portal became an important cultural gateway to all of Southern Estonia. The regional cultural calendar now also includes a valuable new feature — the ability to describe the accessibility of events. Thanks to the support of Tartu 2024, the number of Window of Culture users has increased significantly, and we encourage everyone to continue adding their events to the platform.

The European Capital of Culture events calendar has been integrated with the Window of Culture calendar. Together, the Tartu 2024 and Window of Culture calendars featured more than 1,600 European Capital of Culture events.