Vabariigi kodanikud on Tallinn European Capital of Culture

The tv show „ Vabariiki kodanikud“ on ETV focused on Tallinn as the future Culture Capital of Europe.

In the studio there were Andrei Hvostov, writer and journalist, SA Tallinn 2011 creative council’s member, the journalist Johannes Tralla, PÖFF leader Tiina Lokk and Linnar Priimägi, culture and advertising expert.

Johannes Tralla, Reporting about his experience in Linz – previous EU Culture Capital, noted that thanks to this status the city has become something quite different from what it was before.

Something that could be achieved also in Tallinn even if, according to his estimations, to get a great result an investment of couple of hundred million EEK would neede.
“But that, I guess, is probably too optimistic right now.”

Linnar Priimägi stressed that the question is about what kind of a trace or impression Tallinn will leave thanks to being in this rare position.

“The Council does not think that it is important how many concerts there will be or if Kultuurikatel will be ready with the money invested in it. The Council wants to understand what the status of Culture Capital will add to the city of Tallinn in terms of quality of life”.

Culture capital and European Film Awards ceremony in December 2010 is very related to each other, accentuated Tiina Lokk. When first signs of problems with the culture capital project got to Germany, then the organizers became really angry at her during some unpleasant phone calls. Ms. Lokk is now hoping that common sense will win and the project will be funded as it was promised before the whole 2011 planning was attacked by budget cuts.

Talking about the project, Andrei Hvostov said also that it exists and will be brought to public at some point. “Those 40 events will be made public at the end of the month,“ he promised. But he admitted that we need at least 150 events because 40 culture events in an year is not enough. “

Hvostov did not agree with culture minister Laine Jänes, who had lately said that first of all the city is responsible for the culture capital’s success.“

Priimägi thinks that it could be smart to use the chance of being the European Union Capital of Europe for organizing a conference inviting experts from all over the Union and discus, together the future asset of Europe.