Estonian museum association seeks higher culture support and heritage storage

The Estonian Museum Association has asked that Estonia’s 2027 state budget and budget strategy prioritise access to culture for children and young people, higher museum wages and the construction of storage facilities for the country’s cultural heritage, ERR reported.

Support of 52 euros per pupil

The association says every schoolchild in Estonia should be able to visit, as part of the curriculum, a theatre, museum, art exhibition, concert and cinema during the school year.

Access to culture should not depend on a child’s place of residence, their family’s financial situation or a school’s ability to cover transport and ticket costs, it said.

To achieve this, the association wants the culture backpack support scheme increased to 52 euros per pupil. The measure would require an annual budget of 9.5 million euros, including 7.1 million euros for basic school pupils and 2.4 million euros for students in secondary education.

Higher wages for museum workers

The association said museums cannot retain the necessary expertise or ensure the sector’s future without competitive pay. It said the issue affects not only workers’ ability to make a living but also museums’ capacity to fulfil their public duties.

The national minimum salary for cultural workers should remain in place and reach at least 90 percent of the average wage in Estonia, the association said. Museum payrolls should also be increased so that the average museum worker’s salary reaches at least the national average. Pay for employees in leadership roles should reflect their additional responsibilities and duties.

Storage facilities sought for investment plan

Estonian museums preserve approximately 7.1 million artefacts, of which 4.6 million belong to the state. Only a small part of the collections is displayed to the public, while 96 percent of the artefacts are kept in storage.

About two-thirds of the artefacts are currently stored in conditions that do not ensure their long-term preservation. Due to a lack of space, several museums have had to restrict or stop adding to their collections.

The association has therefore asked for a Northern Estonia heritage storage facility and a Southern Estonia heritage storage facility to be included in the state investment plan.

The Northern Estonia facility, together with the Kanuti Conservation Centre, is planned to cover 14,700 square metres and is estimated to cost 55 million euros.

The Southern Estonia facility would include the reconstruction and expansion of the Estonian National Museum’s Raadi storage facilities. It is planned to cover 7,200 square metres and is estimated to cost 27.4 million euros.

The association said heritage storage facilities are not convenience investments for museums but infrastructure needed for the state to fulfil its primary responsibility. Delaying their construction would increase the risk of damage to cultural valuables and future costs.