Lasnamäe pavilion aims to become top art venue for 16-year-olds

The new leaders of Tallinn Art Hall’s Lasnamäe pavilion want to make it the preferred place for 16-year-olds to encounter art, ERR reported. Mia Maria Rohumaa and Irma Holm said the ambition inspired them to take on the role of curator-project managers.

Tallinn Art Hall plans to reopen its main building at Freedom Square at the end of the year after several years of renovation. With support from the city, the Lasnamäe pavilion will continue operating after the main building reopens.

Rohumaa and Holm received the pavilion’s keys on Wednesday. Their first co-curated exhibition is due to open in November, with a focus on young people. They plan to make an open call for the exhibition and hope to hear from young people across Estonia.

The exhibition will feature teenage artists, Rohumaa said, adding that young people may be more likely to visit if they can see work by their peers, classmates or friends. Holm said the aim was not only to offer young people art to view, but also a chance to take part.

The pavilion will also continue to involve the local community. Rohumaa said she valued the idea of bringing a major art institution beyond central Tallinn, noting that the Art Hall had operated in Lasnamäe for several years.

The two new leaders are from the Estonian Young Contemporary Art Association, whose work focuses on supporting young artists, collective creation and cooperation with Lasnamäe school students, families and local initiatives. They want the pavilion to give young artists room to experiment and explore issues that matter to them, while enabling local young people to have a say in what happens nearby.