In 2011 Tallinn will become the focus of Europe’s culture scene when it takes on its role as a European Capital of Culture.
Tallinn is an inviting blend of medieval and modern. The city’s pride and joy is its historic Old Town, an enchanting neighbourhood of centuries – old streets, houses, towers and squares that looks like it was torn right from the pages of a storybook. Meanwhile, threaded through that same Old Town and its environs are the cutting-edge restaurants, cafés and clubs that give Tallinn its energy and buzz.
The theme the city has chosen for its 2011 programme is “Stories of the Seashore”. The idea is to re-open the city to the sea, and with the help of writers, musicians, actors, tell the stories of Tallinn´s, and Estonia´s, spiritual and cultural connection to the seashore.
The larger theme is also organized into three smaller parts:
1) Stories of singing together;
2) Stories of the living old city;
3) Stories of dreams and surprises.
„Stories of singing together“ describe how we are all changing the world – through democracy, citizenship, community, freedom and traditions. In truth, the song and dance festivals are our biggest stories of all – we are a people of song and dance; we have the ability to come together and unified we are victorious, and we cannot forget that it is through singing that we won our freedom. In addition to the Song and Dance Festivals, music events include the Birgitta Festival and the youth subculture project, AfroReggae.
„Stories of the living old city“ will tell the story of Tallinn as a city where time has never stopped. Every morning, the people – Estonians, Russians, Germans, Finns, ect. – gather here to write a new page in our city’s history. This can be witnessed in the Old Town’s drama festival, Tallinn Teater Treff, which unite representatives of world cultures and will breathe life into the heart of Tallinn’s culture. The „Stories of the living old city“ will also feature interpretive dance with architecture in „Open Spaces Living Art“ and „Tallinn’s Marathon.“
„Stories of Dreams and Surprises“ will speak of a city and country where the internet has been declared a “human right” and which saw what the media named the world’s first Cyberwar. Together we dream of bringing the sea to the city, and we will do just this on Tallinn’s Maritime Days. Also in store is the audiovisual Plektrum Festival and the Student’s Modern Art Trianual Eksperimenta!.
Something will be happening in Tallinn every day in 2011, since the capital of culture year will be bringing some of the world’s biggest names to Estonia.
Some of the Highlights
* The Opening Ceremony of the European Capital of Culture (31.12.2010 – 01.01.2011)
A series of events taking place in Tallinn’s theatres and throughout the city which will culminate in a midnight celebration on the capital’s maritime border.
* 1st Fire Sculpture World Championships: Fire and Ice party (January 2011*)
The party will be taken to a completely new level: it will host the first ever world championships in fire sculpting in Tallinn.
* 30th Tallinn Old Town Days & Tallinn Treff (28.05.2011 – 05.06.2011)
During the week, Town Hall Square and the streets of the Old Town play host to concerts, theatre and dance performances, handicraft stalls and dozens of other events showcasing the area’s historical atmosphere and importance.
The Tallinn Treff festival (28.05-1.06) is designed to promote puppetry through a rich programme. The festival is organised by the Estonian Youth and Puppet Theatre, has formed an important part of Tallinn’s Old Town Days since 2007.
* Youth Song and Dance Celebration Festival (01.07.2011 – 03.07.2011)
The Song and Dance Celebration forms a vital part of the nation’s culture. The Song Festival Grounds will play host to 35,000 young people whose songs, dances and music will tell stories of their country and its people.
* Tallinn Maritime Days and Estonian Maritime Museum’s massive project
The city’s huge, sea-faring festival (15.07.2011 – 17.07.2011) involves all sorts of water-related attractions including boat trips, concerts and activities for kids.
In July 2011 Estonian Maritime Museum’s Seaplane Harbour will not only have a new look but also a massive new museum and sea centre with a full size submarine, sea plane, 30 meter long aquarium with Baltic Sea fishes and many more attractions, in 7000 square metres on three different levels.
* Birgitta Festival (11.08.2011 – 21.08.2011)
The Tallinn Philharmonic Society presents several days of outdoor concerts set in the stunning ruins of St. Bridget’s Convent.
* Nargen Festival (01.06.2011 – 30.09.2011*)
The Nargen Festival began on Naissaar before expanding throughout Estonia to become the biggest event in the country’s musical culture. It is rapidly developing into one of the most important festivals of its kind in the Baltic Sea region. The guiding principal behind the festival is that all of its venues must be accessible by sea.
* Richard Wagner’s opera PARSIFAL (25.08.2011 – 28.08.2011)
One of Wagner’s most majestic works, directed by Nicola Raab from Germany
* Design Night Festival (01.09.2011 – 30.09.2011)
Exhibitions and fashion shows, as well as seminars and workshops, introduce the world of design to the public in this well-established festival.
* PÖFF 15 – Black Nights Film Festival (15.11.2011 – 15.12.2011*)
World cinema is the focus of this major annual film event. Sub-festivals also cover student films and animation.
* Old Town Christmas Market (27.11.2010 – 09.01.2011 and 26.11.2011 – 08.01.2012)
Christmas comes to Town Hall Square in the form of this charming market where traditional gifts, food and drink are sold.
* Closing Ceremony of the Capital of Culture year featuring the bells of Tallinn (27.12.2011 – 31.12.2011*)
The end of Tallinn’s year and Capital of Culture will be marked with the ringing of the city’s church bells in a unique work by Estonian composer Peeter Vähi.
Visit the Tallinn 2011 website at www.tallinn2011.ee to find out more!
