Tartu 2024 organisers: a wonderful year will be behind us, but this is only the beginning, the impact of the European Capital of Culture will continue to last
Tartu 2024 drew the European Capital of Culture title year in Tartu and Southern Estonia to a close. Over the year, guests took part in more than 1,600 events that told the story of the creative concept of Arts of Survival.
The largest regional cooperation project in Southern Estonia was born out of combining the uniqueness and customs of Tartu, Põlva, Võru, Valga, and Viljandi. Its impact will extend beyond the borders of Southern Estonia and the title year. Together, more than a thousand cultural organisers laid the foundations for long-term change in the region, both among creators and audiences across Tartu and Southern Estonia.
According to the Minister of Culture Heidy Purga, the phenomenon of Tartu 2024 has established itself well in Estonia and many other parts of Europe. “As the European Capital of Culture, Tartu has given the entire cultural sector the skills, courage, and ability to think and communicate more globally, all while not losing its identity, but on the contrary – by holding on to its uniqueness and valuing it even more,” Purga said. “I am sure that we will be able to enjoy the fruits of this year for many years to come.”
The year of the Capital of Culture was packed with activities. It was not just about high-quality performances, concerts and outdoor events, but about bringing together European values, cultural spaces and ways of thinking. A programme of more than 1600 events showcasing the unique aspects of Southern Estonia gave many a reason to come and discover the region.
According to Kuldar Leis, the CEO of Tartu 2024, the European Capital of Culture showed that cooperation between 20 very different and unique local governments in Southern Estonia is possible and will continue beyond 2024. “I hope that all the local authorities, their leaders and cultural figures involved in the Capital of Culture will now carry on the spirit of this momentum and that the more than 500 partners abroad will also find their way back here,” said Leis.
The impact of the Capital of Culture will be understood in the years to come
Many of the events brought to life by Tartu 2024 will continue in Estonia and abroad. Already, short films produced as part of the Arts of Survival documentary programme are garnering recognition at foreign festivals. Ryoji Ikeda’s score with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir will reach the Paris Philharmonic. The performance about money laundering scandals, “Business as Usual”, will travel the world and return to Tartu in the summer, and the concert “Pärt&Handel” will be heard on stages across Europe.
Kati Torp, Artistic Director of Tartu 2024, expressed her delight that the cross-cultural cooperation took place on such a large scale. “We want international cultural exchange to become a tradition in Southern Estonia as a result of the European Capital of Culture. The region could be open to the whole of Europe through international residencies, exhibitions, performances or other activities,” said Torp. “We will leave behind us a wonderful year, but this is just the beginning – the impact of the arts of survival shall continue to last well into the future.”
The goal to reach one million visitors
This year, Tartu and Southern Estonia were visited by 90 high-level delegations with 1400 guests from 20 different countries. The activities of the European Capital of Culture have been covered more than a thousand times by the prestigious media in more than 20 countries. “This shows that Southern Estonia, with its unique characteristics, belongs to the European value space and could continue to be an international meeting place,” said Erni Kask, International Relations Manager at Tartu 2024.
Although the exact figures will be revealed in the final report, it is already clear that preliminary estimates suggest the European Capital of Culture attracted around one million visitors, more than 100,000 of them from abroad. This exceeds all the initial expectations of Tartu 2024.
According to Piletilevi’s data, the most visited events were the Tartu 2024 Song and Dance Festival, the major concerts at the Tartu Song Festival Grounds, the hit production “Business as Usual”, and the exhibition “Wild Bits”. Tartu 2024 Car-Free Avenue was visited 177,000 times. More than 10,000 people attended the Tartu 2024 Grand Opening in January, the concert performance “Kissing Tartu” in May, and also the Tartu 2024 Summer Celebration in August. Ryoji Ikeda’s solo exhibition had been viewed by more than 7,800 visitors by the end of November.
The Final report will be revealed at an international forum
To assess the impact of Tartu 2024, the Capital of Culture is conducting a large-scale study to map the impact of the title year on the culture and economy of Southern Estonia. The study will be carried out in cooperation with the Estonian Institute of Economic Research and Norstat. The results will be presented at the international Culture Compass forum in autumn 2025.
The title of the Tartu 2024 Final Celebration, “Jää ja loo” (“Stay and Create”), symbolises endurance and the continuous process of creation. To find out what the Tartu 2024 programme will give to Estonia and Europe in the future, visit the Tartu 2024 legacy website.