Volunteers

The success of the European Capital of Culture is fundamentally reliant on volunteers, who support the organisation of Tartu 2024 events with their knowledge and skills.

If you have any questions, please write to the head of Tartu 2024 volunteer programme:

Jaan Ulst – [email protected]

Tartu 2024 volunteers are part of a close-knit team that creates events with great social impact in Tartu and South Estonia. Volunteering offers versatile work experiences and useful new contacts.

All volunteers will receive Tartu 2024 branded merchandise, comprehensive training tailored to their role and catering according to their shift. The volunteer community forms a strong, heartwarming network designed to last beyond the title year.

We consider it important to develop the topic of volunteering in Tartu and Southern Estonia in general. According to the “Participation in culture survey 2020” results, 11% of Southern Estonians aged 15 and older have participated as a volunteer in some culture-related activity in the past 12 months. Volunteer managers had to face the challenges of finding volunteers for their event/project.

We would like to contribute to more people finding their way to volunteering, and volunteer managers to feel confident in their role.

The Tartu and Southern Estonia Volunteers Managers Network was established in November 2022 with the aim of supporting local cultural organisers in the field of volunteering. During the European Capital of Culture title year, over 1000 events will take place in Tartu and Southern Estonia, where volunteers will play a central role in organising.

The network brings together and shares knowledge and skills on how to manage volunteers at every (major) event. Volunteer coordinators of Viljandi Traditional Music Festival, Prima Vista Literary Festival, Peaasi, Treski Music and Inspiration Festival have shared their experiences with other members of the network. Thanks to all active members for their contribution!

In the meetings that have already taken place, we have discussed the roles of the volunteer coordinator and team leader at the organisational level, and shared successes and challenges related to the volunteers management. All so that the plans of our project teams would succeed in the upcoming title year. At a separate meeting, we practised practical tips that also help in communicating with volunteers.

All those working in the field of culture are welcome to join the volunteers managers network! Depending on the level of experience, various questions may arise when managing volunteers – we believe that together it is easier to find answers to them.

Join the network if you are:

• volunteer coordinator/manager of Tartu 2024 programme projects;
• volunteer coordinator/manager at the events in Tartu and Southern Estonia;
• cultural organisers of all ages in Tartu and Southern Estonia.

For more information and joining, please contact Jaan Ulst, [email protected].

Volugram is a collaboration project between three European Capitals of Culture in 2024 (Tartu, Bodø, and Bad Ischl). The aim of the project is to empower volunteers and volunteer coordinators in the field of culture.

Project outputs: 

• Materials for volunteer coordinators and team leaders

Handbook for volunteer coordinators and a guide for volunteer team leaders will be beneficial for everyone working with volunteers, whether they are just starting or already experienced. Both materials support the organisers in the process of engaging volunteers in the cultural sector. In October 2023, the Tartu 2024 Foundation began the training programme based on the materials in order to pilot the handbook and the guideline as well as to see how to improve both materials.

• Volugram e-application

As part of the project, an e-application for validating volunteer work will be developed, allowing volunteers to obtain a certificate of their volunteer contributions and competencies acquired during their volunteer work.

The e-application provides an opportunity to showcase one’s active participation and contributions to potential employers and/or educational institutions.All the materials are available on the website of Tartu Vocational College.

The Volugram project is funded by the European Commission through the Erasmus+ programme.

Tartu 2024 is an active member of the European Capitals of Culture Volunteer Coordinators Network. The network meets once a month to address volunteer-related topics, share experiences and knowledge, and develop the field of cultural volunteering in Europe.

Together with the network, we celebrate International Volunteer Day on December 5.

In September 2024, we had a meeting of the European Capitals of Culture Volunteer Coordinators Network in Tartu in the frames of Erasmus+ project “Empowering Youth through Sustainable Volunteerism” in collaboration with Tartu Youth Work Center. We hosted cities like: Matera 2019, Rijeka 2020, Novi Sad 2022, Kaunas 2022, Timisoara 2023, Chemnitz 2025, Nova Gorica 2025, Oulu 2026 and Liepaja 2027.