Estonian artists’ association board resigns ahead of general assembly

The president and vice-president of the Estonian Artists’ Association have resigned ahead of its general assembly on November 16, ERR reported Wednesday. Maarin Ektermann and Tüüne-Kristin Vaikla stepped down last week but will continue leading the association until the assembly.

Ektermann said she and Vaikla would decide by the end of October whether to seek re-election. She told Postimees that resigning would make room for potential candidates, amid criticism of the current board since the crisis, and mean the association’s council would not have to vote on a motion of no confidence at the assembly.

At a press briefing Wednesday, Ektermann said the association had withdrawn its Muhu holiday complex from a planned sale, but sold its apartment at J. Koorti 16 in Lasnamäe. Earlier in the week, she said proceeds from a successful auction meant some planned property sales could be avoided.

The association’s extraordinary auction last weekend raised 2.3 million euros. It was held to recover 700,000 euros lost in a telephone scam.