CULTURAL PROJECTS IN ESTONIA SUPPORTED BY U.S. GOVERNMENT FUNDING

Projects in 2001 - 2008

During March 17-23, a film festival entitled Art in America was organized by the U.S. Alumni in Estonia organization.  The festival explored various aspects of American art and artists and some of the films were accompanied by expert commentary.

From February 7-10, Dr. Todd D. Harvey from the Library of Congress and Anna Lomax-Wood from the Lomax Archives visited Estonia for a series of blues-related lectures in Tallinn and Tartu in celebration of Black History Month. The Embassy-organized program consisted of a lecture in Tallinn to 20 members of the Music Teachers Association and a multimedia presentation in Tartu to a general audience of 50. The latter program took place in cooperation with the Tartu Literary Museum Folklore Archives and NGO Tartu Blues. The presentations included information about legendary blues culture archive specialist Alan Lomax, who visited Estonia in 1987.

On February 17, U.S. violinist Joanna Frankel gave a concert in Tallinn, performing works by J. Brahms, A. Vivaldi, J.S. Bach and A. Ginastera. She performed in Tallinn in the framework of the famous The Holland Music Sessions program, which is a talent supporting institution selecting young musicians for world tours from all over the world. The concert was co-sponsored by US Embassy in Tallinn.

Peter Eldridge Group in Tallinn
On December 10, 2007, former vocalist of the New York Voices Peter Eldridge performed with his new group as part of the annual Christmas Jazz Festival. Eldridge's heart-warming voice offered a variety of melodies from jazz standards to blues to bossanovas. The audience of 500 offered generous applause and requested encores. Eldridge's participation in the Christmas Jazz Festival was sponsored by Embassy Tallinn PAS.  

  Narva Library Conference "Library and Society"
On November 29, Narva Central Library, in cooperation with Embassy Tallinn PAS and with support from EUR/PPD, hosted a conference entitled “Library and Society.” The nationwide conference, which was attended by 55 librarians, was designed to promote integration and create a better understanding about the relationship between libraries and society. PAO Tallinn joined the Narva Central Library director and the vice mayor of Narva in giving opening remarks.

  11th Annual Black Nights Film Festival - PÖFF - Screens U.S. Movies

This year's 11th annual Black Nights Film Festival – Estonia's largest and most important film festival – will run from November 30 to December 9 in Tallinn and other Estonian cities. The festival includes mainstream movies from around the world along with sub-festivals of animated films, student films, and children/youth films. Embassy Tallinn PAS provided sponsorship for 12 U.S. movies that will be screened as part of the festival.

The Pegasus Publishers Launched Donna Tartt's The Secret History (1993, Penguin).
On November 12, the Pegasus Publishers delivered to the Embassy five copies of their newest publication - The Secret History by Donna Tart - translated and published with the help of a Public Affairs book translation grant. Donna Tart is an outstanding contemporary American author, and the translation rights of her novels and other works have been sold to many countries. The first print run of the Estonian translation will be 1000.

U.S. Librarian Shares Her Life of Reading

From October 22-26, librarian Nancy Pearl visited Estonia to visit with librarians, future librarians, and students to encourage reading and to discuss the role of libraries and librarians in society. Pearl, who is the model for a surprisingly popular librarian action figure (http://www.mcphee.com/laf/), gave lectures in Tallinn, Kuressaare, and Narva focusing on her life in reading. Pearl gave talks at Tallinn University (15 library students and faculty members), the Tallinn National Library (100 librarians), Kuressare American Corner (50 interested readers), a Kuressare high school (two classes of 25 students), and at the Narva American Corner (30 Russian-speaking librarians from eastern Estonia). An interview with Pearl appeared in Saaremaa paper Oma Saar (circ. 2,800), which called her a "librarian rockstar."

U.S. Drummer Lee Patrick Mastelotto performed during the Ultra Jazz Week in Estonia, October 25 – 27, 2007, and gave concerts in Viljandi, Tartu and Tallinn.

IMPACT 5 - Oct 13 - Oct 21, 2007
The Impact 5 conference is an international forum for printmakers, curators, critics, collectors and suppliers of art printing materials and equipment. The conference is held every second year in the autumn. The previous Impact Conferences have been held in Bristol 1999, Helsinki 2001, Cape Town 2003, Berlin and Poznan 2005. The conference program is conducted in English, and includes lectures, panels, technical demonstrations, exhibitions, and portfolio presentations. This year's conference includes U.S. artists/curators Melanie Yazzie,  University of Arizona, Dusty Herbig, Syracuse, NY, Justin Diggle, Utah, Jennifer Yorke, Chicago and Anita E. Jung, Iowa.

Eesti Kontsert NYYD festival Oct 19 and Oct 21, 2007
Eesti Kontsert is arranging over second year international contemporary music festival called NYYD (NOW in English) and the next will take place in October 12-20, 2007. In coming festival, in October 2007, in focus are composers Mark-Anthony Turnage, Salvatore Sciarrino and György Ligeti. Top class interpretation of contemporary music in the world represent in this festibval ensemble Algoritmo (Italy) ja Phoenix (Shwitzerland), 2e2m (France); mixed choir Latvija; soloists Hannah Holgersson ja Annika Hudak (Sweden), Otto Katsameier (Austria), Mika Väyrynen (Finland), John Patitucci (USA), Peter Erskine (USA) and others. Also best Estonian musicians are performing - NYYD Ensemble'i and Olari Eltsi, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Tõnu Kaljuste, Ensemble Voces Musicales and Risto Joost, Reval Ensemble, Ensemble U:, EMTA Electronmusic Studio, string quartet TetrArchi and many others.

On September 27-28, 2007 Kumu Art Museum hosts an art history conference "Different modernisms, different avant-gardes".
U.S. Embassy Tallinn supports the participation of Steven Mansbach (University of Maryland, USA), who speaks on A Hidden History, or How an Exiled Art Found a Home.

On October 5-6, 2007 Kumu Art Museum hosts an international film history conference "Via Transversa. Lost Cinema of the Former Eastern Bloc".
U.S. Embassy Tallinn supports the participation of Katie Trumpener (Yale University, USA), who speaks on "When do we get our cinema?" Stalinist populism and East German media critique, and Katarzyna Marciniak (Ohio University, USA), whose topic is How Does Cinema Become Lost? The spectral power of socialism.

The Estonian Newspaper Association seminar "The Future of Newspapers", key speaker Martha Stone (World Association of Newspapers and American Association of Newspapers) - Sept 11, 2007
Martha Stone is the director of the World Association of Newspapers' Shaping the Future of the Newspaper project. She is a multimedia news author, speaker and consultant for newspapers, magazines, and online publications. She was the co-director of the Online News Association's Digital Journalism Credibility Study, and was a Poynter Ethics Fellow. She has written extensively about online media issues for Editor & Publisher Interactive and is a world-renown speaker on Internet strategies, marketing, content and process. Stone specializes in writing about online news competition, profitability, legal issues, ethics, arching, advertising, newsroom staffing, marketing, privacy, databases, trends and more. She has a Bachelor's degree in mass communications from the University of South Florida.

On October 6-7, 2007 International Break Dance competition Battle of EST took place in Tartu. KILLA4NIA from the U.S. won the battle. Killa4nia is one of United States most victorious dance crews. Winning local, national, and international events from the beginning of the crews creation. Killafornia is an ensemble of Californias best bboys. There credentials are like no other dance crew, performing with such US pop stars as Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Missy Elliot, and Black Eyed Peas just to name a few. Movies, television, or in print, Killafornia can be seen by the masses. There creativeness, style, and individuality has propelled them to the top of the bboy scene. Winning Freestyle Session World Finals Killafornia defeated the best of Japan, France, and Korea. They stand today as one of the most influential crews known to date. Excelling this dance to unheard of levels.

Rainbow Jazz, 'The Four Freshmen' concerts in Tallinn, Jõhvi, Pärnu and Tartu – Oct 11 - Oct 14, 2007
The headliner of the next "Rainbow Jazz" (with the title „Touching Your Soul") taking place in Tartu Vanemuine Concert Hall is a vocal group from the U.S. - 'The Four Freshmen'. The history of the band goes back to as far as the 1950s, and they continue to bring their unique brand of vocal harmony to audiences worldwide. Their show is a mixture of new arrangements of jazz standards and familiar classic favorites, whether self accompanied or with a symphony or big band. Read more about The Four Freshmen (http://www.the4freshmen.com/)

On August 30-31, 2007 Religion Tolerance Speaker Dr. Jeremy Gunn spoke at the Film Festival tARTuFF in Tartu. Read more

On September 23, 2007 NYYD Ensemble (stringquartet and piano) performed music by U.S. composer George Antheil at a U.S. Embassy organized memorial concert for embassy contacts at the Swedish Church of St. Michael's. The concert celebrated the 95th anniversary of Henry Antheil, George Antheil's younger brother and a clerk at the U.S. Legation in Helsinki, who was killed near Keri island in Estonia in 1940.

The 15th Young Dancers Festival and International Summer School took place from July 3-14, 2007 in Viljandi. Read more

Ruth Zaporah, legendary american dancer, actress, mime and improvisation master, the founder of improvisational theatre-method called Action Theater, gave her exclusive workshop in the frame of Young Dancers Festival's International Summer School 2007 in Viljandi, Estonia. Read more about about Ruth Zaporah and Action Theater at www.actiontheater.com.

The NGO Center of Creating Development and Leisure GAGARIN in Narva is organizing a Soap Box Derby on June 9, 2007. Read more

French Connection Movie Festival: "Le Cinéma Francais "The American Way" on May 28 – June 1, 2007
Read more

The tradition to celebrate April as the Jazz Appreciation Month has reached Estonia and within this framework a distinguished and renowned jazz musician, pianist and producer John Edward Hasse visited Estonia. The period of his stay here he gave several lectures in Tallinn and Kuressaare speaking of Miles Davies, history and producing of jazz music as well as the concert organizing. John Hasse's visit to Estonia was supported by the cultural exchange program of the US DoS.

More information about the JAM can be found from the address: http://www.smithsonianjazz.org/jam/jam_start.asp

Archie Shepp, now 70 years old sax legend's concert is supported by US Embassy in Tallinn. He performed on April 27 at 20:00 in the Russian Cultural Centre in Tallinn in the framework of the JazzKaar Festival with singer Mina Agossi.

American Classic Film Festival "Manifest", February 2-15, 2007.

Projects in 2006

The International Pianists Festival "Piano '06" organized by Eesti Kontsert took place October 20-27, 2006

Embassy grant supported the performance of Anthony and Joseph Paratore - "Today`s finest piano duo" (San Francisco Chronicle). More info

Freddy Cole Quartet performed in Tallinn, Pärnu, Tartu and Jõhvi October 18-21, 2006 during RainbowJazz organized by Vanemuine Concert Hall, Eesti Kontsert. Embassy Tallinn has issued a grant to support Freddy Cole's tour in Estonia.

More information about the group

Estonian Film Festival Focuses on Cultural Tolerance: The tARtUFF Film Festival, held in Tartu the week of August 26, focused on films with themes of cultural tolerance and included a conference entitled “Cultural Tolerance in the International Perspective.” The organizers of the festival received a grant from Embassy Tallinn to support the screening of American movies, including 2005 Oscar-winner Crash, at an open-air venue in the town square and in two inside lecture rooms of the University and Estonian National Museum. The festival got all together 9,500 visitors.

Native American Traditions have been introduced in Estonia: Mona Polacca from Hopi Nation had a week long trip around Estonia after her presentation on the Conference on “Cultural Tolerance in an International Perspective”. She traveled to North East Estonia, Lahemaa National Park, Tartu and Tallinn to meet students, specialists in ethnography, NGO members, women leaders, journalists, etc to introduce Native American traditions, story-telling, singing and ceremonies.

JAZZKAAR 2006
Tortued Soul performed live soulful house music at Rock Cafe on April 29 at 10 p.m.
Read more

On Sunday, April 9, 2006 at Kadrioru Palace in Tallinn
Presented as part of the Harpsichord Days
SKIP SEMPÉ - harpsichord (USA)
Read more

Grupo Yanqui Program in Estonia
February 15, 2006 : Tallinn- Jazz Club Von Krahl 9PM
February 17, 2006: Rakvere- Concert at Rakvere Theater Café 9PM
February 18, 2006: Tallinn- KUMU, Estonian Art Museum 6PM
Grupo Yanqui homepage

Projects in 2005

October 4-10, 2005
X International Tartu Early Music Festival "Orient et occident"
Read more

Monday, October 10, 2005 at 7 pm. Tallinn, Estonia Concert Hall
Gala concert "Orient et occident"
John Thompson (USA) on the Guqin Silk String Zither silkqin and
V. Hemapala Perera (Sri Lanka)
La Morra (Switzerland)
FA Schola (Estonia)
ESK (Denmark)

Wednesday, October 19, 2005 at 7 pm. Tallinn, Estonia Concert Hall
NYYD 2005
KRONOS QUARTET (USA)
Soloist PAUL HILLIER - vocals
Read more

Sunday, October 9, 2005 at 7 pm. Tallinn, Estonia Concert Hall
RainbowJazz 2005
MONTY ALEXANDER (vocal, piano) TRIO
Read more

NoTaFe`s International Summer School Viljandi, Estonia

NoTaFe`s international summer school in July 5 - 10, 2005 is meant for everybody who would like to educate themselves in dance and performing arts.

Summer school is bound to ECITE 2005, taking place in Estonia, Viljandi in July 12-20. Dance teachers and professionals over the whole world will participate. U.S. Embassy is partly supporting participation of Nancy Stark Smith, the founder of contact improvisation dance stile.

More information is available on web-pages: http://www.matti.ee/tants/ecite/danceschool.php and http://www.matti.ee/tants/ecite/

A lecture by Ann K. Symons on " Library Advocacy: A Way to Improve your Libraries " on Wednesday, May 11, 2005, at 11:00 at the Dome Hall (Kuppelsaal) of the Estonian National Library, Tõnismägi 2. Read more

April 13, 2005 - The third American Corner in Estonia to be opened at the Saare County Central Library in Kuressaare. The first two American Corners were opened in Narva and Viljandi in March 2004.

The exhibit "American Roadside Architecture", photographs of American vernacular architecture by architectural historian John Margolies, will be opened for a month at the Museum of Architecture at Soolaladu from 11th of February 2005. The photos are from Mr. Margolies extensive series of books on the subject of popular American culture. Also, John Margolies came to open his exhibit and gave a lecture on "Palaces of Dreams: the American Movie Theater" at the museum on Friday, February 11. More information about John Margolies can be found on the web at www.johnmargolies.com. Brochure "American Roadside Architecture" (pdf-format)
Photo of John Margolies' lecture at the Architectural Museum
Press Release
Interview with John Margolies in weekly newspaper "Eesti Ekspress" (in Estonian only)
Article about John Margolies' exhibit in the daily newspaper "Eesti Päevaleht" (in Estonian only)

Poster show When the Spirit Moves: African-American Dance in History and Art Beginning in Africa, where dance is central to community life, this paper show tells the story of how African-American dance has evolved and influenced mainstream American dance into the 21st century. "When the Spirit Moves" examines African-American dance from the time of slavery through Emancipation and its aftermath; the emergence in the early 20th century of social dances, including the shimmy, black bottom, charleston, and lindy hop; and prominent masters of concert dance, including Katherine Dunham, Alvin Ailey, and Arthur Mitchell. The paper show concludes with a presentation of visual artists who draw on dance themes in their works.
The poster show was opened to theatre audience at Tartu's Vanemuine Theater small building from February 5. On February 9 Ambassador Aldona Wos visited the exhibition, and the theatre.
Photos of the exhibition at Tartu's Vanemuine Theater
Poster show "When the Spirit Moves: African-American Dance in History and Art"

Eve Cornelious, jazz vocalist and teacher, and pianist Chip Crawford performed in Tallinn, Tartu  and Pärnu together with Vanemuine Symphony Orchestra in January 20-22, 2005. Embassy issued grant for Vanemuine Concert Hall to support the tour.
Article about the concert in the newspaper "Tartu Postimees" (in Estonian)

Projects in 2004

Broadway Musical RENT: (http://clubhollywood.ee/avalik/rent/) From December 1 to December 28, Tallinn hosted a production of the internationally renown musical "Rent" , produced by Georg Malvius and written by Jonathan Larson. Rent deals with such issues as AIDS, the value of choice and experimentation, death and loss, communal life, and friendship. A U.S. Embassy grant will partially support the production.

The 8th Black Nights Film Festival (Pimedate Ööde Filmifestival) 2004 (http://www.poff.ee) : This film festival, running from November 27 to December 12, included certain American films, which were partly supported by a U.S. Embassy grant.

Annual Christmas Jazz 2004: Jazzkaar (http://www.jazzkaar.ee) welcomed back in Estonia the a capella vocal sextet M-PACT. Through a cultural grant, the U.S. Embassy partially funded M-PACT's concerts in Tallinn and Pärnu in December.

Kurt Korthals, American electronic musician, participated in Media Art Symposium "Pushing the Medium: Sound Investigations", organized by Mooste Külalisstuudio (http://mooste.ee/mogs/medialab/helivisioon.html). October 2004

Native American flute player Mary Youngblood at the Viljandi Folk Festival, July 23-24

July 13-22: Concerts by American musicians Soprano Norma L. Faison Mayer and flutist Richard Mayer

Nine Americans to Perform in the Sun Dance Music Festival - Tallinn, July 16-18

American Brendan Doughery performed in Viinistu 2004 International Live Arts project, July 2004

Voce Viaggio - Traveling Voices. The Children's Chorus of Carroll County from the United States performed in Estonia, July, 2004

American guitarist John Scofield: performance in the 15th annual Jazzkaar Festival, April 2004

Participation of two American tap-dance artists, Miriam Nelson and Max Pollak, in Aleksandr Ivashkevich's "Jazz and Tapdance Show," April 2004, at the Russian Drama Theater

Maria Horne, Theater Professor from the State University of New York at Buffalo: two-week American Cultural Specialist program at the Higher Acting School (Kõrgem Lavakunstikool) and at Tartu University, March 2004.

Jazz vocalist Ericka Ovette and guitarist Paul Pieper: performances in Tallinn and Pärnu on February 1-3, 2004, dedicated to the opening of the Black History Month, and Jazzkaar 2004 spring season; a workshop at the Georg Ots Music School for jazz studio students.

Claudia DeMonte, Professor and Artist from Maryland: for the exhibition of "Women of the World: A Global Collection of Art," a collection of 177 small-scale pieces, and her own exhibit, "Retrospective," at Kunstihoone (Tallinn Art Hall), January 2004.

Financial support to the publishing house “Varrak” for the translation of Jonathan Franzen's novel The Corrections into Estonian.

The play “HIV” by the NGO R.A.A.A.M.: funded in part by the U.S. Embassy. Performed 40 times for 8000 people.

NATO play, also by the NGO R.A.A.A.M.: a grant to organize and prepare a theater performance for an expected audience of 18,000 to increase the public's awareness about NATO as a democratic institution and strengthening the identity of the nation.

Book translation contract with publishing house "Tänapäev" for the translation of Strobe Talbott's book The Russia Hand into Estonian.

Projects in 2003

Steve Reich, world-renowned contemporary American composer: master class, audience talk, performance at a concert of his music on October 18, 2003

David Rothenberg and John Wieczorek from New York: performance with Estonia's Weekend Guitar Trio at the NYYD Festival, October 18, 2003.

Freddy Cole Quartet, invited to Estonia by Tartu Kontserdimaja: performances at the Tartu Rainbow Jazz Festival in Tartu, Pärnu and Tallinn, October 2003.

Professor Dennis Rich from Columbia College in Chicago: lectures on Arts Management at the Estonian Music Academy, October 2003.

The Philip Glass Orchestra: performance at Linnahall in December 2003 as part of PÖFF (Black Nights Film Festival).

“Myth Film” and Helle Karis: grant for the production of a film about American hand-surgery professor Robert Alan Weber; issued September 2003.

John Jasperse Company from New York: performance of their European premiere "Just Two Dancers" at the August Dance Festival in 2003.

American artists Frances Whitehead and Dolores Wilber: participation in the live arts festival MOHNI, coordinated by Jaan Toomik, July 2003.

The Eric Byrd Trio from Maryland: performance at Paide Shanty and Haapsalu Merepäevad, July 2003. Made possible through partner cities cooperation.

“Gamelan Son of Lion:” performance at Klaaspärlimäng festival in Pärnu and Tallinn, presenting a Javanese gamelan percussion orchestra for the first time in Estonia, July 2003.

Jazzkaar – support for American performers Bobby Previte, Hiram Bullock Group, Richard Bona and Brad Meldau, April 2003.

Professors Allen and Madelaine Forte, from Yale University: participation in the Fourth International Conference on Music Theory at the Estonian Academy of Music, April 2003.

A contemporary American Chamber Music project (Tarmo Johannes/Laura Carmichael) which covered music from pop-influences to academic modernism, supported in cooperation with Eesti Kontsert in March 2003.

The Mike del Ferro Jazz Trio: performance for U.S. Academic Program Alumni in Estonia Talveaed (Winter Garden) in March 2003.

Professor Arnold Aronson from Columbia University, leading specialist in avant-garde theater and environmental theater: lectures at Estonian universities and met specialists during a two week period in March 2003

Grant to the NGO “Arena” to cover performance rights for Terrence McNally's "Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune" at Vanalinnastuudio (Old Town Studio), February 2003.

The Tallinn Philharmonic Society's "Diplomatic Notes" Concert Series: Performance of African-American Works by Americans Ira Spaulding and John Ferguson, with the Chamber Choir of the Estonian Choral Society, February 2003.

Projects in 2002

U.S. film professors Christine Choy (New York University) and Bruce Jenkins (Harvard): participation in PÖFF's Sleepwalkers Student Film Festival and American Experimental Film Program, November 2002

U.S. pianist Anthony de Mare: performance at Festival Klaver '02, October 2002

Two U.S. Professors of Art History at Tartu University, one for the fall semester, 2002, and one for the entire academic year 2002-03; both under the auspices of the Fulbright Academic Exchange program.

Nõmme Jazz: grant to support performances by the 10-person "Spirit of Life" jazz ensemble from the U.S., October 2002.

American painter Valentina DuBasky: lectures and meetings with students and artists of the Estonian Art Academy in October 2002.

American Cultural Specialist Professor Dennis Rich from Columbia College in Chicago: lectures on Arts Management at the Estonian Music Academy and in Tartu City Government for two weeks, October 2002.

Participation of American contrabass player Robert Black at the "Klaaspärlimäng" Festival, August 2002.

Pint and Dale, American sea shanty performers – three concerts at the Paide Shanty Festival, July 2002.

The Soho Foundation's Native American celebration in July 2002 on the island of Naissaar – funding a film and advertising Native American activities in Estonia through the internet.

The Battery Dance Company, modern dance group from New York City: free performance on Raekoja Plats (Town Hall Square) in Tallinn, performance in Rakvere for city jubilee events, June 2002.

"Sina ja Mina," the life of German-American composer Kurt Weill as seen through his songs, at the Russian Drama Theater in May 2002.

Master Classes for Percussion Musicians by visiting American percussionists at the Estonian Music Academy, May 2002.

Tap dancer Barbara Duffy's performance with Alexander Ivashkevich at the Russian Drama Theater, May 2002 (also in 2001).

Grants to cover traveling expenses of U.S. artists performing in Jazzkaar Festival, April 2002.

Grant for Estonian flutist Tarmo Johannes to premier a work by the American composer Lowell Lieberman at the Estonia Winter Garden, February 2002.

Projects in 2001

The Black Nights Film Festival – Grant for screening rights of U.S. films, December 2001.

Grant for Estonian violinist Katarina Sarapik to perform with American composer/pianist Robert Rogler, Vanalinna Muusikamaja (Old Town Music House), November 2001.

Master Classes by the U.S. Antaeus Dance Troupe at Viljandi Cultural College, October 2001.

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