New cultural alliance seeks stronger role for culture in state policy

More than 20 Estonian cultural institutions, creative unions and event organisers have formed Kultuuritahe, a new alliance seeking to unite the sector behind a common cultural policy agenda, ERR reported.

The alliance aims to improve access to culture, stop its declining share of the state budget, and advocate fairer working conditions and stronger social protection for cultural workers.

It also wants the creative industries to become a priority sector for development and culture to play a more prominent role in shaping Estonia’s international image.

In the short term, Kultuuritahe plans to bring the cultural sector’s shared concerns to public attention ahead of the 2027 Riigikogu elections. Its longer-term goal is for culture to have an equal place alongside other fields in political party programmes by the 2031 parliamentary elections and to become an important issue for voters.

The alliance presented its positions to all parliamentary parties in the spring. It also supports the recently adopted European culture declaration, which recognises culture as a strategic priority and describes it as a driver of economic growth and a source of societal resilience in difficult times.

Current members include the Estonian Writers’ Union, the Estonian Artists’ Union, the Estonian Theatre Union, the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, the Estonian Film Institute, Music Estonia, the Estonian Actors’ Union, the Estonian Journalists’ Union, the Estonian Centre of Architecture, the Estonian Theatre Agency, Pallas University of Applied Sciences and the Tartu Artists’ Union. The alliance said its membership is continuing to grow.

Kultuuritahe’s spokespersons are Kadi-Ell Tähiste, Gert Raudsep, Märt-Matis Lill, Liina Triškina-Vanhatalo, Kristjan Hallik, Kristiina Reidolv, Maarja Kangro and Ilona Gurjanova.