University of Tartu to celebrate European Capital of Culture year with the city of Tartu

The University of Tartu participates in the Tartu 2024 programme with a diverse range of events inspired by the artistic concept of the Capital of Culture to tell the story of the Arts of Survival. Throughout the year, you can visit exhibitions, festivals and concerts, and take part in educational programmes on future knowledge, skills and values.

Eveli Soo, Head of International Marketing at the University of Tartu, believes that the year of the Capital of Culture is a great opportunity to introduce the university's contribution to science and culture to the world. "The participation of our researchers, lecturers and students will enrich the Capital of Culture programme and highlight Tartu as a centre of knowledge and innovation," said Soo.

Among the events in the main programme, Viljandi Culture Academy will organise the Heritage Festival to explore how traditional cultural knowledge can provide sustainable solutions to economic and environmental challenges. Participants can also learn heritage skills themselves. The University of Tartu Centre for Ethics will host a series of community academies – Tartu World University – to seek local solutions to global problems, and vice versa.

The exhibition “Unknown” at the Natural History Museum will showcase contemporary art in the middle of its permanent exhibition to bring to public attention different aspects of extinction and the cultural meaning of endangerment through artistic means. The Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden will cooperate to organise the Arts of Survival Urban Nature Festival to make people notice the biodiversity around them. The University of Tartu Youth Academy and Tartu Student Club will take up a joint initiative Kissing Tartu consisting of an educational programme, concert performance and an unprecedented mass kissing session. The University of Tartu Museum will bring Toomemägi, central to the city of Tartu, to life with light, culture and science.

In addition, the University of Tartu will be in charge of several subevents and co-organise many other events in the main programme. Read more on the university home page.

The title of the European Capital of Culture is designated by the European Union for one year. The city of Tartu as the holder of the title this year, will organise hundreds of pan-European events showcasing the culture and customs of Southern Estonia, the research done in the student town, and debates on environmental issues. Along with Tartu, Bad Ischl in Austria and Bodø in Norway were also chosen as the Capitals of Culture for 2024.