Last Saturday, a new theme year – the Cultural Diversity Year – got underway across Estonia. The theme year, dedicated to the diversity of the cultures of Estonian communities and people, opened with joint events being held in every county and in the capital.
’The Cultural Diversity Year opens the door to the world of different cultures living in our common land. I thank everyone who has already contributed, and will continue to contribute, to the organisation of this theme year. Your dedication brings us one step closer to understanding our cultural diversity and thus one step closer to each other,’ said Minister of Culture Heidy Purga at the opening of the Cultural Diversity Year at the Tallinn College of Music and Ballet.
The aim of the Cultural Diversity Year is to encourage every Estonian to better notice, appreciate and cherish our diversity of cultures – to see Estonia as the common home of many cultures and to cooperate more actively with each other. With this goal in mind, the Integration Foundation, which organises the theme year, involved different communities and people from all over Estonia in the opening of the Cultural Diversity Year.
Communities and people came together in every county to begin the theme year. The first event was held on January 6 at the Haapsalu fair by craftspeople, singers and dancers from different parts of Estonia. On January 12, representatives of different cultures in Põlva County and Hiiu County took up the baton. On January 13, wonderful opening events were staged by the communities and people of Võru County, Viljandi County, Valga County, Tartu County, Saare County, Rapla County, Pärnu County, Lääne-Viru County, Järva County, Jõgeva County, Ida-Viru County and Harju County.
The events that took place in each county culminated in the opening of the theme year in the capital. At the festive gathering held at the Tallinn College of Music and Ballet, Minister of Culture Heidy Purga declared the new theme year open, and the team of the Be Active Year handed over the corresponding title to the leaders of the Cultural Diversity Year. After that, all participants had the opportunity to get acquainted with different cultures through communication, songs, dances, dishes and crafts.
The opening events of the Cultural Diversity Year were organised by the Competence Center for Physical Activity, which led the Be Active Year, the Estonian Folk Culture Centre, which unites Estonian cultural societies, and the Estonian Union of National Minorities, which historically brings together national minority groups. Support was provided by the Ministry of Culture, the Cultural Endowment and local authorities.
The Cultural Diversity Year will continue with events led by the Integration Foundation as well as the communities and people of Estonia. To give the broadest possible overview of them, the foundation has opened a calendar on the theme year website — www.kultuuririkkus.ee — where it is possible to add thematic events free of charge. On the same website, you can find recommendations from experts on how everyone can notice, value and preserve cultural wealth in everyday life.
Photos:
- January 13, 2024 Opening of the Cultural Diversity Year at the Tallinn College of Music and Ballet (Kristi Sits, Egert Kamenik): https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZsJ26VaVjzgyrXSV9
- January 6, 2024 First event of The Cultural Diversity Year in Haapsalu (Vendo Jugapuu): https://photos.app.goo.gl/ucEkTeaCRAy1nCRQA
