Kultuurikompass Forum 2025
Schedule
Parallel sessions • Thursday • 18 September • 13:15–14:45
Parallel sessions • Friday • 19 September • 13:15–14:45
Speakers
Tiina Lokk
Founder of PÖFF, Northern Europe’s only A-class film festival. Has worked as a top executive in media, hosted film programmes, and served as correspondent at international festivals. Named by Variety among the most influential women in global entertainment.
Ragnar Siil
Expert in cultural policy and creative economy, head of Creativity Lab. Former Deputy Secretary General at the Ministry of Culture, EU Eastern Partnership culture expert, and coordinator of the South Estonia cultural survey.
Hedi-Liis Toome
Associate Professor of Theatre Studies at the University of Tartu and director of the “Draama” festival. Her research focuses on theatre audiences and ways to enhance audience engagement in cultural institutions.
Karin Närep
For over 20 years she has worked on using data to improve life in Estonia. As Development Adviser at the Ministry of Culture, she now focuses on how data support cultural policy.
Sven Tobreluts
Together with local leaders and partners, he shapes development in Tartu County and leads cooperation initiatives across South Estonia and internationally.
Oliver Berg
Cultural manager and writer. As head of the “Tartu with Europe” programme line, he brought nightlife as a cultural phenomenon into the main programme of Tartu 2024.
Angela Ader
Coordinator of the “Tartu 2024 Extended” youth programme and main organiser of Kultuurikompass. In the European Capital of Culture team, she has led ambitious education and youth projects.
Hanna Simona Allas
Head of the “Tartu with Europe” programme line of Tartu 2024 and editor-in-chief of the Tartu 2024 final report.
Kristi Vals
Head of cultural cooperation in Võru County, committed to preserving the region’s cultural heritage. Main organiser of the Võru Children’s Festival and former member of the Tartu 2024 expert commission.
Eerika Mark
Director of Põlva Culture Centre. Former head of the event marketing manager at the Estonian Open Air Museum, and executive producer of the Estonian Music Days.
Annela Laaneots
She helped Tartu and South Estonia win the European Capital of Culture title and coordinated cooperation between 20 municipalities. For her work in culture and communication she has received several regional and national awards, and in 2014 was elected Chief Herald of Setomaa.
Erni Kask
One of the founders of Tartu 2024. He has advanced the international visibility of South Estonia and represents Estonia on the European Commission’s Capitals of Culture expert panel.
Aleksandr Fadeev
International relations coordinator of Tartu 2024. He has built cooperation with fellow Capitals of Culture Bodø and Bad Ischl and led the exchange programme “Tartu–Bodø Duo Networking.”
Peter Mikl
Austrian Ambassador to Estonia who values culture as a core part of diplomacy. Under his leadership, the embassy actively contributed to several Tartu 2024 projects.
Mari-Liis Rebane
Cultural manager and artist, leader of Maajaam residency. For Tartu 2024, she brought together local and international creators to stage “Wild Bits”, a unique cultural experience in South Estonia’s nature.
Sandra Kaldasaun
Project manager at the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum, leading events from family days to youth conferences and the Sports and Olympic Film Festival.
Joanna Hoffmann
Director of Tartu Art Museum. She led “Surrealism 100”, a major Tartu 2024 project that culminated in a joint exhibition with the National Gallery Prague at the Estonian National Museum.
Jorma Sarv
Strategy consultant and co-founder of the think tank Creativity Lab. He has advised organisations in culture, sports, education and business, and trained cultural managers.
Kati Tihkan
Event manager who led Tartu 2024’s Car-Free Avenue programme and projects such as the theme song and the performance Põmaki. She now works at the Estonian Film Institute and manages the band Meelik.
Andero Uusberg
Professor of Affective Psychology at the University of Tartu. He studies the mechanisms that regulate human behaviour, such as emotions, motivation and self-regulation, and is a leading figure in behavioural science in Estonia.
Andris Kaposts
Youth worker and non-formal education trainer, head of the Latvian youth organisation Development platforma YOU+.
Kadri Laanmets
Supported cooperation, programme development and events of South Estonian municipalities during Tartu 2024. Led the Tartu–Bodø project for young people of small ethnic communities.
Triinu Laan
Cultural manager, writer and Võro language speaker. She coordinated “Tartu World University”, a Tartu 2024 main programme project connecting researchers and communities.
Kairi Kasearu
Lecturer and researcher at the University of Tartu. For over 20 years she has contributed to community life in South-East Estonia and worked in NGOs supporting regional development.
Ester Vaitmaa
Creative director at Delfi Media. For the past decade she has led major content projects and headed Delfi’s TV unit as well as the photo and video team.
Armas Riives
Head of Communications at Tartu 2024 with ten years of experience in media consulting. Previously developed Estonian-German cultural relations and worked as a journalist.
Sirla
Street artist and founder of the Stencibility festival. Over 16 years, the festival has added more than 150 works to Tartu’s urban space, making the city the street art capital of Estonia.
Beatriz Garcia
Expert in international cultural policy and major events. She chaired the jury that selected Tartu as European Capital of Culture, has researched the impact and legacy of Capitals of Culture, and reflects on the programme’s future beyond the 40th anniversary.
Hanna-Liis Kont
Curator, art scholar and lecturer. She leads Creative Connections, an art education platform launched within Tartu 2024 that fosters children’s and communities’ social and emotional skills through art.
Jorma Riivald
Mayor of Otepää, who has led the region’s cultural life and values family-oriented events, which found strong representation in the Tartu 2024 programme.
Karoliina Kalda
Curator at the University of Tartu Museum. She led the Tartu 2024 main programme project “Toomemägi Revisited” and has curated several exhibitions.
Andres Kuusik
Professor of Marketing at the University of Tartu, whose main research and teaching focus is branding. He has advised both companies and municipalities on brand strategy and initiated the Baltics’ largest business festival, sTARTUp Day.
Júlia Bucz
Bridge builder between nations and people with experience at the Hungarian Cultural Institute and the Austrian Cultural Forum. She has managed international relations for Veszprém 2023 and Chemnitz 2025, and founded the ECoC international relations network.
Madli Teller
Dance teacher, creator, and cultural organizer who has contributed to both Tallinn 2011 and Tartu 2024. She believes the greatest value of the European Capital of Culture lies in highlighting community uniqueness and creating distinctive events across South Estonia.
Inta Šoriņa
Chairperson of the Board for Liepāja 2027. With a background in arts marketing and strategy, she leads a programme that highlights the city’s identity, fosters inclusion, and embeds culture in long-term development.
Piia Rantala-Korhonen
CEO of Oulu 2026. With a background in cultural management and urban policy, she develops initiatives that boost creativity, improve quality of life, and strengthen Oulu as a cultural hub in Northern Europe.
Anneli Saro
Professor of Theatre Studies at the University of Tartu and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Her research focuses on the relationship between theatre and society. She took part in Tartu’s bid for the ECoC and served as a member of the Tartu 2024 council.
Sille Talvet-Unt
Coordinator of the transnational legacy project “ECoC Echo” and External Funding Expert for Tartu 2024. She works to turn ECoC achievements into lasting policy change for communities and regions.
Jaanus Rohumaa
Cultural manager, actor, Director of the Estonian History Museum. He has shaped Estonia’s theatre and cultural policy, advised Estonian President T. H. Ilves, led Tallinn 2011 and EV100 programme.
Marili Vihmann
Head of Communication and Marketing Divisionat at Tartu 2024 since 2022. Previously the main organiser of sTARTUp Day, the largest business festival in the Baltics.
Aavo Kokk
Head of the Siuru Cultural Centre. He has worked as editor-in-chief of Eesti Ekspress, publisher of Eesti Päevaleht, in the management of Eesti Hoiupank, and at the Ministry of Finance. He is also the author of several books.
Carmen Kask
Organizer of the KAUGE festival, who contributes to revitalizing the alternative music scene through Reivkom. Her work is guided by the desire to connect creativity with a sustainable way of life.
Katrina Milta
New media art student in Liepāja. Her primary medium is performance, but she also explores installation, theatre, text, video, and textiles. She enjoys collecting humor in unexpected places.
Kristiina Avik
Head of culture for the City of Tartu and programme manager of Kultuurikompass, which she also named. She believes culture requires knowledge and support for navigation rather than GPS directions.
Kaisa Ling
Blues singer and adventurer, literary journalist and radio host, translator, clown, critic, ship’s cook and feminist.
Berk Vaher
Head of the Tartu Literature House and board member of the Prima Vista literature festival. Author of the Tartu 2024 creative concept “Arts of Survival”, co-author of the bid books and vision book, and member of the Tartu 2024 Artistic Council.
Hendrik Toompere jr.
Artistic Director of the Estonian Drama Theatre. Has worked for many years as an actor and director. Within Tartu 2024, premiered the acclaimed production Business as usual/Rahamaa.
Suvi Innilä
Leads preparations for Turku’s 800th anniversary. Played a key role in Turku 2011 and the Finland 100 programme. Serves on the European Commission’s expert panel for Capitals of Culture.
Martin Rästa
A renowned graphic designer, interdisciplinary artist, and musician dedicated to exploring the interplay between visuals and sound across diverse experimental forms.
Margus Tammik
An architect with a passion for creating educational and creative environments. He mentors students and leads the VARES architecture residency in Valga.
Klaudia Kaasik
A member of the Tartu 2024 Extended youth programme and the Tartu Youth Council, recipient of the Young Achiever of the Year 2024 title.
Karl Sirelpuu
A concert promoter and music agent. He has previously headed the Baltic operations of Warner, one of the world’s largest record companies, and organised concerts for Estonia’s leading artists.
Māra Kristiāna Klimoviča
A new media art student from Latvia whose practice is driven by exploration. Skilled in video and photography, she is currently expanding into textile and print, seeking forms where process, and thought intertwine.
Jaan Ulst
Cultural manager, dance teacher, and choreographer-director who led the programme line Tartu With Humanity. He led the Tartu 2024 Volunteer Engagement Strategy.
Triin Siimer
Head of the Tartu 2024 programme line Tartu with Earth. Under her leadership, the Tartu 2024 guidelines for organising environmentally friendly events were developed and applied across the Tartu 2024 programme.
Kaido Kaasik
Head of PS Music Agency and Production Director of the EMEA Music Event of the Year. This spring, he led the project for DJ Martin Garrix’s concert at Raadi Airfield in Tartu.
Sine Persson
Active in youth politics in Nordland, she has contributed to Ung 2024 events and worked extensively with culture and youth in Bodø, focusing on fostering a sense of belonging for young people.
Matis Leima
Composer, musician, and teacher who seeks to break stylistic boundaries in order to explore the phenomenon of music in its broadest sense.
Kristian Iversen
Political Advisor from Bodø, former Board Member of Bodø Young 2024 and Chair of the Bodø Youth Council, experienced in youth advocacy and Arctic community development.
Lisete Vaarman
Organiser of the youth programme Tartu 2024 Extended, where she has contributed to the organisation of several events and festivals.
Auli Solo
Sales and Service Manager at the Tartu Song Festival Grounds and Tähtvere Leisure Park, where she has overseen development and client relations for six years. She also serves on the Tartu City Council’s Culture and Social Affairs Committees.
Maret Mikk
Cultural manager who previously worked as Head of Marketing at Jazzkaar and continues to support several Estonian artists in their professional activities. She is currently responsible for client and organizer relations at Sviby.
Indrek Grigor
Head of the Exhibition Department at the Tartu Art Museum. As part of the Tartu 2024 project Surrealism 100, he curated Kris Lemsalu’s solo exhibition “DONATELLA. Whirlpool of Life” and the caricature exhibition “Initiative from Below. Estonian Caricature in the 1980s”.
Kristiina Tambets
Professor of Archaeogenomics at the University of Tartu’s Institute of Genomics. Her research explores human demographic history through genetic data preserved in our species’ past. She will speak about his collaboration with artist Ryoji Ikeda and the intersections of science and art.
Robert Kähr
About 20 years ago, long before Tartu held the title of European Capital of Culture, he made his first steps and moves in the city’s nightlife scene.
Kalle Paas
User experience designer and audience researcher. He collected data and prepared reports on the audiences and economic impact of Tartu 2024’s major concerts and the production Business as Usual/”Rahamaa”. He now works as Head of Communications at Tartu JK Tammeka.
Andrei Liimets
A culture critic and civic activist, engaged professionally and voluntarily with topics ranging from international relations to human rights. He has led discussions and events from citizens’ assemblies to TEDx.
Kultuurikompass afterparty
What is Kultuurikompass?
The vision of Kultuurikompass
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Cultural organisers from Tartu and Southern Estonia, with their ambition and entrepreneurial spirit, are equal partners to leading cultural organisers across Europe; they support one another, and their activities are socially and environmentally responsible.
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To inspire, to share knowledge, to connect, and to raise awareness among cultural organisers.
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Kultuurikompass is future-oriented, personal, flexible, informal, inspiring, and supportive.
Kultuurikompass in numbers
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Past Kultuurikompass events 20
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Empowered cultural organisers 3000