Puur says presidential culture adviser must stay connected to creative work

Rasmus Puur says a presidential culture adviser should maintain a connection to creative work while serving in the role. He is leaving the presidential team as Alar Karis’s term ends, after five years in the job, ERR reported.

Puur took up the post while studying at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. He initially had no plans to join the president’s team, but was eventually persuaded to try the role.

He worked as a culture adviser on a quarter-time basis, allowing him to continue composing and pursue other creative activities. The workload varied, however, and at times required more hours than the arrangement suggested.

“In a job like this, I think it is very important to stay connected to your creative self and to the field, so that you do not become isolated,” Puur said on Vikerhommik.

An important part of the adviser’s work is helping the president take part in cultural events and recognise the work of people in the arts. Puur said a president’s presence and attention, or the presentation of an award or decoration, can matter to cultural workers even if they do not seek it directly.

During Karis’s five years in office, he attended events and anniversaries involving artists’, writers’ and singers’ associations, as well as song festivals and other festivals. He was also the patron of the Year of the Book.

Puur also highlighted traditions started by the president or established during his term, including a reading event for Mother Language Day and Estonian Literature Day. On the latter occasion, the president named the Literature Teacher of the Year.

He said celebrating Mother’s Day and Father’s Day in different parts of Estonia helped bring local communities together and make their activities more widely visible. Puur cited broadcasts from Kilingi-Nõmme, Haljala and Jõgeva, where the president addressed the local community on public broadcasting.

The president also sought to promote Estonian culture abroad by bringing cultural figures on foreign visits to build international contacts and create opportunities for Estonian culture. Puur said Karis believed art and culture could sometimes reach people more effectively than conventional diplomacy.

One example was an effort to present the work of Konrad Mägi in France. During the Paris Olympic Games, an Estonian delegation visited the Orsay Museum and discussed the possibility of holding a Mägi exhibition there. The museum may now reconsider the idea.

Puur said his five years on the presidential team taught him the importance of a reliable, close-knit group. The pace at the presidential office was fast and decisions carried significant responsibility, making it important for colleagues to support one another and double-check important matters.