Kalmar Kurs. Photo: Kiur Kaasik

Kurs comments: “As a Member of the Board I can contribute with full commitment, relying on my previous work experience and contacts, to the best possible preparation and implementation of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 programme. The international dimension of Tartu 2024 and the attention to the city’s, Southern Estonia’s and the country's visibility is very important.” 

He adds: “The Tartu 2024 artistic concept Arts of Survival was formulated as a forward-looking message for the European Capital of Culture programme, but in today's situation we understand it in a more fundamental way in the society. This means that we deal in depth with issues, such as the role of culture in society, the coping of cultural actors and organisations and their new developments.”

Prior to working as the Head of Foreign Relations at the Ministry of Culture, Kalmar Kurs was the Head of Public and Foreign Relations at the Estonian National Museum and for many years the Head of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Education and Research . 

The Tartu 2024 Foundation, leading the preparations for the title year, has a five-member Board, which includes representatives of the Tartu City Government and Council, higher education institutions, Southern Estonian local governments involved in the activities of the European Capital of Culture and the Ministry of Culture. The members of the Supervisory Board are Urmas Klaas, Lemmit Kaplinski, Anneli Saro, Tiit Toots and Kalmar Kurs. Before Kalmar Kursi, Margus Kasterpalu represented the Ministry of Culture in the Board. 

Tartu was named the European Capital of Culture of 2024 on August 28, 2019. The selection was made by a panel of international independent experts selected by European Union institutions. Tartu ran for the European Capital of Culture title together with 19 Southern Estonian municipalities. Applying for the title lasted for two years and was initiated by Tartu City Council in 2017.