Art Festival “Out of Town”

Can art stop urbanisation? Can world-class art be found behind the forest and on the edge of the field? Could one of the internationally renowned landmarks of Tartu county be an art route that winds out of the town?

The artworks created by Estonian and foreign artists will form an inspiring route that follows known and less known roads and draws attention to fascinating, valuable and also forgotten places. By walking along the art route, both creators and spectators can break out of their familiar surroundings and entrenched thinking patterns.

The works will stay with people after the festival has ended, until they decompose in a nature-friendly way (and in an aesthetically pleasing way to the human eye). Art does not have to be eternal, but it can draw attention to eternal themes – nature conservation, waste management and the appreciation of heritage landscapes.

The highlight of the festival will be the opening of the Art Route that winds out of Tartu in the summer of 2024. The beautiful landscape of Tartu municipality will be decorated with murals, eco-friendly sculptures and installations. Art can be found by the lake and at the fields, in the pedestrian tunnel and at Raadi airport – places you’d never expect to see art! The art route will be complemented by curatorial tours, excursions, on-site exhibitions in Tartu municipality and a travelling exhibition in Elva and Nõo municipality. Both young and old art lovers are welcome to attend the public workshops.

The artworks will be created in an international art camp and workshops in the run-up to the festival. Care for nature is an important part of the creative process: the works are designed to age with the environment, and green culture will be discussed in workshops during the festival.

The art route is set to continue to grow in the future, and all the works created will continue to delight culture lovers long after the festival is over! With the help of a web map in the making, anyone interested will be able to discover the picturesque route on their own.

We make access to art equal and easy, and value cultural life and living environment outside Tartu. We also contribute to the appreciation of environmentally conscious art, rural art life and cooperation in Europe and Estonia. The Capital of Culture art route will continue to make the environment stand out and inspire artists and visitors alike. We wish to start a tradition of an international arts festival in the municipality of Tartu.