Triin Pikk, Tartu 2024 programme line Tartu with Earth manager commented: “Cultural events that affect many people can also be trailblazers in environmental developments. Together with experts and cultural managers, we have compiled a practical guide for making sustainable decisions that will be useful for operators in various fields - be they managers of cultural and sports events, conferences or even tourism.”

Pikk adds: “The title of European Capital of Culture gives us the opportunity to be spokespeople on major issues that are important to us. Sustainability is important for Tartu and Southern Estonia, and it is also reflected in the forthcoming European Capital of Culture cultural programme which will follow the Tartu 2024 environmental strategy and guidelines.”

Cultural organisers from fields ranging from music to sports talked about their experiences with environmentally friendly cultural management and challenges and opportunities they have faced. Kirsika Meresmaa (Viljandi Folk Music Festival), Oliver Kivimäe (Club Tartu Marathon) and Paul Lepasson (cultural organiser, SÜNK) participated in the roundtable discussion. The conversation was moderated by Kadri Kalle, one of the founders of the sustainable event management consulting company Acento and compiler of the "Let's Do It" plan for a clean world. The event was opened by Urmas Klaas, Chairman of the Tartu 2024 Foundation Supervisory Board and the Mayor of Tartu.

The live broadcast introduced to the wider public the recently published Tartu 2024 environmental strategy and guidelines for organising environmentally friendly events. The aim of the strategy is to place the European Capital of Culture’s environmental activities into the wider global and European context and to determine the most important environmental aspects in Estonia based on the example of Tartu and Southern Estonia. The City of Tartu will use the guidelines already this summer when organising the Car-Free Avenue, which will take place from July to August.

According to Acento expert Raimo Matvere, today the continuity of cultural events is interpreted more and more widely. "The goal of event organisers is to create something special and lasting, but it is often forgotten that an increasingly important factor in the continuity of events is their sustainability in the environmental sense. It is important to keep in mind that the impact of any event does not end with just the event itself, but increasingly the actual scale of the impact of all activities must be considered. Tartu 2024 is undoubtedly a prominent leader in this field in Estonia.”

The strategy was created in collaboration with the Tartu 2024 Foundation, the City of Tartu, the event consulting company Acento, the Tartu County Development Association and cultural managers in various fields. The event was broadcast on Facebook, Tartu 2024 homepage and in the Geenius portal.