Estonia/ 8.1 Support to artists and other creative workers  

8.1.1 Overview of strategies, programmes and direct or indirect forms of support

Support to creative activity has mainly been channelled through arm's length bodies, such as the Cultural Endowment of Estonia (which is divided between nine councils, of which eight represent different branches of culture and one is inter-disciplinary) and the Council for Gambling Taxes. They grant both support for projects and individual grants (see also chapter 3.2). A new basic income support scheme for freelance artists lacking other income was introduced in 2005 by the Act on Creative Artists and Creative Artists' Unions. The scheme is to be administered by the creative unions (see chapter 8.1.4).

Indirect support is provided through programmes to purchase works of art for museums and public buildings from Estonian artists. Since 2012, artworks commissioned in accordance with the 1% tax law contribute to the purchase of artworks, in which the Ministry of Culture holds an advisory role. A visiting artist programme has been launched for a rotating composer-in-residence, with one of the most active interdisciplinary artist-in-residence programme MOKS operating in Mooste, South Estonia, since 2002. The University of Tartu has founded a rotating professorship in the arts.

Your Comments on this Chapter?