Estonian Embassy in Prague :: News & Events

Estonia takes part in Book World 2013

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:14:50 GMT

"My name is Dieter. Once I was somebody else, but it is insignificant now. Land where I come from is not the same anymore and people who remembered me are dead. And what are a land and a nation? Drop of water in a kettle and nothing more. But still I have tried. Tried to find home coast. I have looked for it from manuscripts and from maps and from the travelers’ stories. But it’s nowhere. Still I remember its clouds in the sky and the fog over its meadows and the track that was left behind by the snake with a blunt head while gliding through the hay. And I know that I was not dreaming."

This is the opening paragraph from Tiit Aleksejev's novel "Pilgrimage" that is being translated into Czech right now.

We are very honored to announce that Mr. Aleksejev is going to attend the Book World himself!

You will have the chance to listen to him and the passages from the "Pilgrimage" at the Nordic Literature Evening on May 18 starting at 19.00. The evening takes place in Literary Café Řetězová (Řetězová 10, Prague 1) and is organized by the Scandinavian house in co-operation with Royal Embassy of Norway, the Embassy of Sweden and the Estonian Embassy in Prague, the publishing houses Kniha Zlín and Argo and the Literary Café Řetězová.

You are also warmly invited to visit also Estonian-Finnish-Norwegian-Swedish joint stand at the Book World. You will have the chance to acquaint yourself with contemporary Estonian literature and ask for more information from the experts of Estonian Literature Centre. The biggest book fair in the Czech Republic is going to take place form May 16 till 19 in Výstaviště Praha.

Links:

Estonian Literature Centre
Scandinavian House
Book World

Nordic-Baltic poetic celebration of May

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:53:31 GMT

Reading in homage to Karel Hynek Mácha

1 May, 15:00 next to the Mácha statue on Petřín hill in Prague

In homage to spring and the poetry of Karel Hynek Mácha, the Nordic and Baltic Embassies will organize a reading of Macha’s beloved poem May. The reading of May in our eight national languages will take place on 1 May, next to the Mácha statue on Petřín hill.

Welcome to listen to this reading in Danish, Estonian, Finnish, Icelandic, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian and Swedish. There will also be information available about possibilities to study these languages in the Czech Republic.

Embassy of Denmark

Embassy of Estonia

Embassy of Finland

Embassy of Iceland

Embassy of Latvia

Embassy of Lithuania

Embassy of Norway

Embassy of Sweden

Estonian films at Days of European Film!

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:52:50 GMT

Days of European Film (DEF) will be held in Prague (11.-18.4) and in Brno (19.-25.4) already for 20th time this year! The visitors of the festival will have the chance to enjoy two Estonian films and one film with Estonian co-production.

The first film „Mushrooming“ by Toomas Hussar is a fast-paced comedy about a politician Aadu who decides to go to pick the mushrooms. This film, with touches of political satire, aims at the often unscrupulous behaviour of contemporary politians and media stars on their way to power and popularity. „Mushrooming“ will be screened on April 12 in Světozor - velký sál at 20:30, on April 14 in Lucerna at 19:00 and on April 25 in Art Brno at 20:30.

The second film is „The new world“ by Jaan Tootsen. This documentary asks if it is possible to improve our environment and create an ideal urban living space? This film is about good intentions in a city where everyone is fighting against each other. What happens when the activists fighting to build a better world must battle against the people they are trying to help? Is it possible to continue the revolution even when the leaders begin losing their motivation? The film follows the protagonists of this small Estonian revolution over a period of 4 years. „The new world“ was awarded as the film of the year in 2011 by Estonian film journalists and will be shown at DEF on April 15 in Světozor - malý sál at 18:45.

The third film Is Finnish-Estonian co-production „Purge“ by Antti J. Jokinen. The film is based on best-selling novel by Finnish-Estonian writer Sofi Oksanen. „Purge“ is a story about young Zara who is against her will held in a nightclub and forced into prostitution by the Mafia. Luckily, she manages to escape and find refuge in the home of Aliida, an old woman living alone on an isolated farm. Zara's traumatic nightclub experience awakens Aliida's painful memories of the past war and the Russian occupation of Estonia. „Purge“ will be screened on April 12 in Lucerna at 20:45 and on April 19 in Art Brno at 20:30.

We wish you unforgettable time in the company of good Estonian films!

Culture + Creative Industries conference, November 27-28 2012

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 12:13:45 GMT

Culture + is a series of projects, debates and conferences organized by EUNIC Cluster Czech Republic, aiming to explore ways in which culture contributes to wider agendas. Following the first Culture + Public Diplomacy conference organized in April 2012, the Culture + Creative Industries conference focuses on creative industries and their potential to contribute to Europe 2020 goals for sustainable growth, jobs and social cohesion.

By bringing together policymakers and successful creative entrepreneurs from different European countries, the conference aims to discuss current core issues in Europe’s creative industry sector, with special emphasis on Creative Europe 2014-2020, the new EU programme dedicated to the cultural and creative sectors, whose proposal is currently under discussion in the Council of EU Ministers and the European Parliament.

The conference will be divided into two parts – the panel discussions and the workshops. The panel discussions will take place in DOX Centre for Contemporary Art (Poupětova 1, Prague 7) on November 27 starting at 9.30 am. The main focus will be on Creative Europe 2014-2020 programme and sharing the best practices of creative entrepreneurship. Among the top experts and successful creative entrepreneurs, Mr. Jorma Sarv, the Head of the Development Department of the Ministry of Culture of Estonia will participate in the panel discussion.

The second conference day on November 28 will be dedicated to workshops where you have a unique opportunity to follow closely the creative process of some highly renowned artists. French artist Emmanuel Rodrigues, currently a resident of the Meet- Factory artistic programme, will hold a workshop on 3D Printing and the Open Source concept of free sharing of technological information. Cosmin Nasui from Romania will discuss about the soft power of the art market. Dutch artist Ricardo O'Nascimento will introduce wearable technology.

There will be also a workshop/discussion held by Laur Kaunissaare, a dramaturg from Estonian theatre NO99 (www.no99.ee). NO99 is a contemporary theater located in Tallinn, but present in various European cities through intensive touring. The creative productions of NO99 have started various debates in the society as they are often based on very sensitive subjects that others do not have the courage or inner need to talk about. Laur Kaunissaare is one of the dramaturgs of NO99, being responsible for the conceptual development of the creative productions and NO99 in general.

The overarching topic of the workshop/discussion will be “Freedom of operation + (responsibility for) the quality of what you do.”

Laur Kaunissaare describes the content of the workshop/discussion as following: “Creative industries seems to have become a magic word, almost like looking for the Holy Grail or like chrysopoeia in alchemy. Therefore it fairly often brings with it books that nobody really reads or that read like pages full of gibberish. In our work at Theater NO99 we have found the "formula" of creative success to be surprisingly simple. The simplicity of implementing the "formula" is of course quite another matter. Based on this "formula" NO99 has been able to have considerable influence on public debate in Estonia and on how the country is perceived abroad - both issues that are fairly observable phenomenons in adding measurable value.”

The workshop/discussion will take place in Art centre MeetFactory (Ke Sklárně 15, Prague 5) on 28 November 2012 at 13:00 and will last 2 hours and a half.

If you are planning to take part in the workshop/discussion about the freedom of operation guided by Laur Kaunissaare please inform us about your attendance by sending short e-mail to the address: embassy.prague@estemb.cz

You are most welcome to observe what does it take to become a successful creative entrepreneur!

The music of Arvo Pärt and Veljo Tormis at the “Music Visions” concert on 6th of November

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 18:05:10 GMT

Exceptional "Music Visions" concert full of Estonian music will take place in the international centre of contemporary art MeetFactory next Tuesday (06.11) at 20.00.

The 30-piece Ensemble Inégal, under the leadership of Adam Viktora, will perform some of Vivaldi’s compositions preserved in Prague’s music archives in combination with modern music by Estonian composers Arvo Pärt and Veljo Tormis. David Koller will play the shaman drum in Tormis’ Curse Upon Iron in accompaniment to world-renowned tenor soloist Mati Turi from Estonia. Josef Špaček, leader of the Czech Philharmonic orchestra, will play the violin in Pärt’s composition Fratres. David Černý will be responsible for staging and visual effects.

At the same time it is also a benefit concert and auction for MeetFactory. The art auction will take place after the concert at 21.30.

Evening programme
19:00 Guided tour of MeetFactory studios and galleries

20:00 Music Visions Concert
A. Vivaldi – Dixit Dominus, solo Gabriela Eibenová
V. Tormis – Raua Needmine / Curse Upon Iron, choir + shamanic drum, solo Mati Turi
A. Pärt – Fratres, solo Josef Špaček
A. Pärt - Da Pacem Domine
Conductor Adam Viktora

21:30 Art auction

Find out more here.

Composer Erkki-Sven Tüür in the Czech Republic

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:33:41 GMT

The music of Erkki-Sven Tüür who is said to be the composer of monumental sounds will be performed on two concerts that will take place in the beginning of November.

The first concert dedicated to Tüür’s music will happen on November 1 at 8.00 pm in the margins of Hradec Kralove Music Forum 2012 You will have the possibility to hear Architectonics IV “Per Cadenza Ad Metasimp licity“, Passion, Flamma,

Architectonics VI and Oxymoron (Music For Tirol). The music by maestro Tüür will be performed by Brno Contemporary Orchestra, conductor will be Pavel Šnajdr. The concert will take place in the Hradec Králové Philharmonic Hall (Eliščino nábř. 777, Hradec Kralove).

On November 1 at 5.00 pm also a recent film about maestro Tüür and his work will be screened. Documentary film by Marianne Kõrver called “Erkki-Sven Tüür: 7 etuudi piltides” (“Erkki-Sven Tüür: 7 Etudes in Pictures”) will be shown in Petr Eben Concert Hall (Regiocentrum Nový pivovar, Pivovarské náměstí, Hradec Kralove).

On November 2 a concert full of Tüür’s music will take place in Brno in a new theatre called „Divadlo na Orlí” (address Orlí 17-19, Brno). Brno Contemporary Orchestra (conductor Pavel Šnajdr) will perform Architectonics IV “Per Cadenza Ad Metasimp licity“, Architectonics VI and Oxymoron (Music For Tirol). The concert will begin at 7.30 pm. The entrance is free.

The composer himself will be present at both of the concerts! On October 31 maestro Tüür will conduct also a workshop in Leoš Janáček Academy of Music and performing arts in Brno.

We wish you unforgettable musical experiences!

Estonian for the beginners – the programme at the Estonian Embassy on the Day of European Languages

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 15:46:33 GMT

“Estonian is the mother tongue of 922,000 people in Estonia and 160,000 abroad, mostly in Sweden, Finland, Germany, the USA, Canada and Russia. A further 168,000 or so people are able to speak Estonian. This puts Estonian among the top two hundred of the world's thousands of languages, and among the Uralic languages in third place after Hungarian and Finnish. However, in the beauty stakes, Estonian is right up at the top. There are older people who can say that at one time the Estonian language took second place after Italian in a beauty contest, with the sentence Sõida tasa üle silla (Go slowly over the bridge).” (Source: www.estonica.org)

You have the chance to acquaint yourself with this beautiful language during the European Day of languages!

Playful, interactive and educational short course of Estonian will teach You how to greet and introduce Yourself in Estonian. In addition You will have the chance to watch the samples from legendary Estonian films, to practice the famous toungetwisters, to hear the samples from Estonian national epic “Kalevipoeg” and test Your knowledge in a special quiz.

The short courses will take place at the Estonian Embassy in Prague (Na Kampe 1). There will be two groups (maximum 10 persons) and both groups will have a mini-course lasting one hour. The first course will start at 10.00 am and the second at 12.00 pm.

NB! If interested in taking part, please register beforehand by sending an e-mail to the course co-ordinator’s e-mail address: bjorn.piibur@mfa.ee or give a call to Embassy’s telephone: (420) 257 011 180.

Estonian language (brochure by Estonian Institute)

Do not miss the chance to experience the unique beauty of the Estonian language!

Accordion virtuoso Jaak Lutsoja and indie legend Röövel Ööbik at the United Islands festival!

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:06:14 GMT

One of the Czech Republic’s biggest outdoor festivals, United Islands, will take place for the 9^th time this year. What makes the festival unique is that the stages are tied to the islands in the River Vltava, which cuts through Prague. The three-day festival (21-23 June 2012) therefore encompasses the entire downtown area, but points outside the city centre are still included as well. United Islands kicks off on 21 June, when 70 groups will perform in 26 Prague clubs. On 22 and 23 June events will begin on the festival’s 10 outdoor stages. Among others, on 23 June Estonian accordion virtuoso Jaak Lutsoja and indie music legend Röövel Ööbik will be performing.

Jaak Lutsoja will perform in a trio with bassist Taavo Remmel, who has played with many Estonian jazz ensembles, and bass clarinettist and clarinettist Meelis Vind, who feels at home playing many different styles of music. The concert will take place in the Jazz Dock club (http://www.jazzdock.cz/en/) on the evening of 23 June at 20.00.

Röövel Ööbik, who has delighted audiences with his musical treasures for over 20 years, will perform on the festival’s main stage (the Česká spořitelna Exit stage) on 23 June at 13.30.

Read more about the festival here: http://unitedislands.cz/en/

Tartu Art College and Saimaa University of Applied Sciences joint exhibition SELECTED in Brno

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:11:44 GMT

March 28 – April 28 2012
Gallery Aula at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Brno, Czech Republic

A group of Estonian and Finnish artists-lecturers from Tartu Art College and Saimaa University of Applied Sciences take part in the joint exhibition. The long-term relations of cooperation between the two schools have also resulted in strong bonds of friendship between the artists.

The organizers of the exhibition would like to draw the attention to the value and the role of fine arts in society, underlining the importance of fine arts as a medium that functions over language barriers.

The role of art-culture and art-studies in a society needs to be proven constantly. On the other hand, traditional fields of art such as painting, printmaking, sculpture, stained glass and tapestry have become marginal. These fields do not exist in a traditional way in many European higher education establishments of art, because the aims and the content of art studies are not standardized. The aim of the exhibition is also to create new networks of art teachers.

Creative fields based on cultural traditions carry the coherence that enables us to create visual creation able to function in contemporary society.

Artists:

Estonia - Tartu Art College:

Sirje Petersen www.sirje.com
Jaan Luik
Kadri Toom
Aet Ollisaar www.aetollisaar.com
Heli Tuksam
Tuuli Puhvel

Finland - Saimaa University of Applied Sciences

Sofia Wilkman www.sofiawilkman.com
Juhani Järvinen http://juhanijarvinen.net/

Information:
Piret Kaevats
Tartu Kõrgema Kunstikooli arendusjuht / Tartu Art College development manager
Tel / Phone: + 372 733 8999
piret.kaevats@artcol.ee

Confronting Cyber Terrorism: Tackling Political Aspects of Cyber Security

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:42:39 GMT

In cooperation with the Association for International Affairs (AMO - Asociace pro mezinárodní otázky), the U.S. Office of Naval Research Global and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Public Diplomacy Division Estonian Embassy is organizing the conference on the issues of cybersecurity.

The public part of the event takes place on the 6th of December starting at 14.00 in the European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic (Jungmannova 24, Prague 1). The keynote speech will be by Mr. Ilmar Tamm, Director of the Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.

Find out more about the conference on http://www.amo.cz/events/confronting-cyberterrorism-tackling-political-aspects-of-cybersecurity.html?lang=en!

From 16-26 June Prague will be consumed by Quadrennial fever!

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:04:38 GMT

This is the world’s biggest event dedicated to performance design and space, where the field is approached in profound and diverse ways (in additional to the traditional competition programme, one can view exhibits that explore lighting architecture, among other things; there is a performance design theory laboratory; and the exhibit “Extreme Costumes” promises to be quite striking). Last time, in 2007, the Quadrennial was visited by 35 000 people. This year a record number of countries are represented – 62, including Estonia.

Estonia even has two exhibits for guests to admire this year. First of all is the display by Reet Aus entitled “Recreation”, which addresses recycling in theatre and is curated by Ene-Liis Semper. Second are the scenography students of the Estonian Academy of Arts with their works, an exhibit that is enlivened each day by a performance at 15.00. The Estonian exhibits are set up in a branch of the National Gallery known as Veletržní palác'ina www.ngprague.cz - the address is Dukelských hrdinů 47). However, during these days you can see, hear and sense the Quadrennial all around the city.

The most beautiful books of 2009 coming to the Czech Republic!

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 14:29:24 GMT

To introduce the most beautiful Estonian books to the whole world, the Estonian National Library in co-operation with the National Library of the Czech Republic has organised an exhibit for this fall/winter entitled “The 25 Most Beautiful Estonian Books 2009”. The exhibit will be opened in the Czech National Library on 24 November 2010 and remain open until 29 January 2011. The exhibit of Estonian books can be found in the corridor of the 1^st floor of the library and can be viewed from Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 7 pm.

More information on the exhibit is available from the website of the National Library of the Czech Republic and the Estonian National Library’s homepage.

Priit Pärn films in Prague

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 07:02:17 GMT

On 22 and 23 November one can get an overview of animation master Priit Pärn’s films in Prague. The event is the joint project of the Czech Ministry of Culture, the Scandinavian House in Prague, Eesti Joonisfilm, and the Estonian Embassy in Prague. The films will be preceded by presentations about Priit Pärn’s work.

Monday, 22.11.2010

18:00 Priit Pärn in the context of Estonian animated film (Jiří Kubíček, presentation will be in Czech)
18:30 Hotel E; 1992, 28 min
19:00 1985; 1995, 30 min
19:30 Night of the Carrots; 1998, 29 min

Tuesday, 23.11.2010

18:00 Priit Pärn – The beauty of humorous playing with absurdity (Iivi Zájedová, presentation will be in Czech)
18:30 Karl and Marilyn; 2003, 24 min
19:00 Life Without Gabriella Ferri; 2008, 44 min
19:45 Divers in the Rain; 2010, 24 min

The films will be shown in the Hungarian Cultural Centre at the address Rytířská 25-27 (Prague 1 district). There will be an admission fee (90 Czech korunas per adult for both days or 60 Czech korunas for one day). More information can be found here.

Ilon Wikland's exhibition in Prague

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:21:58 GMT

Karlsson on the Roof is up to his tricks in Prague. On Tuesday, 17 August 2010 at 6pm, an exhibition of the works of Astrid Lindgren's illustrator Ilon Wikland willbe opened in the Municipal Library of Prague (Mariánské naměsti 1, Praha 1). The exhibition will run until 16 September 2010. The artist will attend the opening.

Note: Any children interested in drawing are welcome at the Municipal Library's children's section on 18 August at 2pm, where Ilon Wikland will be on hand to give children a drawing lesson. Admission is free of charge to both the exhibition and the drawing lesson.

Click on picture to look it closer

Foreign Ministry Secretary General Opens Estonian Honorary Consulate in Brno

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 06:48:35 GMT

Foreign Ministry Secretary General Marten Kokk opened the Estonian Honorary Consulate in Brno, Czech Republic on Friday, 4 June. The Estonian honorary consul in Brno is Vladimír Bulinský.

Marten Kokk stated that relations between Estonia and the Czech Republic have been good and long-lived. “Already in the 20s during the last century, our young nations established diplomatic ties and we had our first Estonian honorary consul in Brno,” said Kokk. The secretary general added that today the nations still share similar views. “Estonia and the Czech Republic have both integrated with Euro-Atlantic structures and started to support Europe’s eastern neighbours together,” said Kokk.

At the opening of the honorary consulate, the secretary general also noted that it is a joy to see the Czechs’ interest in Estonia growing year after year. “Among other things, it has brought about the translating of Vilde, Tammsaare, Kross, Kaplinski, Tätte and other Estonian authors into Czech and the creation of an Estonian language chair at the University of Brno,” Kokk said. “The Estonian Honorary Consulate in Brno will provide an even better opportunity to intensify ties and diversify relations,” he added.

The consular region of Honorary Consul Vladimír Bulinský includes the regions of South Moravia and Zlin. The honorary consulate is located at the address Tř. Kpt. Jaroše 13, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic. The honorary consul can be reached at +420 542 215 109 and +420 542 219 678 and by email at bulinsky@bumama.cz .

Vladimír Bulinský was born in Brno in 1952. He earned a doctorate degree in law from Masaryk University and has worked as a lawyer since 1979. Since 1990 Bulinský has been a member of the Czech bar. The honorary consul is a partner in the law firm Bulinský & Vávra. He is also a member of the Brno Regional Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Masaryk University research council, and an arbitrator in the court of arbitration. The honorary consul speaks Czech, English, German and Russian.

Additional information about the Estonian honorary consulates: http://www.vm.ee/?q=en/taxonomy/term/155

SPOKESPERSON' S OFFICE
+372 637 7654
pressitalitus@mfa.ee

Estonia to reintroduce border control at its internal borders during the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:28:31 GMT

For security reasons, Estonia will reintroduce border control at its internal borders during the unofficial meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers from 17 – 23 April in Tallinn. To ensure the highest possible level of public policy and internal security, controls at the border will be introduced at Estonia’s border with Latvia and at ports and airports.

Border controls will be carried out in accordance with the Schengen Borders Code and State Borders Act.

Estonian feature film at the international film festival in Brno

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:20:46 GMT

Asko Kase's feature film "December Heat" ("Detsembrikuumus") will be screened at the international film festival Cinema Mundi in Brno. The festival will take place at the multiplex Palace Cinemas, which is located in the Velký Špalíček shopping centre in the heart of Brno. "December Heat" will be shown on 25 February 2010 at 17.45 and 3 March 2010 at 19.45.

More information is available on the festival homepagehttp://www.cinemamundi.info/eng/

Exhibition of photographs: Eestory

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:54:52 GMT

The Scandinavian House and EXIL, o.s. invite you to the Estonian cultural evening on the occasion of the exhibition opening: eestory.cz - one Estonia, six photographic objectives.

Within the exhibition opening there will be a photo presentation, a short lecture on Estonia and a bit of Estonian music.

29. 1., 6pm
Café Nordica, Zlatnická 10, Prague 1

More information:
http://www.skandinavskydum.cz/en/exhibition-photographs-eestory

"Disco and Atomic War" at the Jihlava Film Festival

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:14:14 GMT

"Disco and Atomic War" (Estonia/Finland 2009) will be screened in the cinema "Dukla-Edison" (Jana Masaryka 1421/20).

30 October at 18.00

"Disco and Atomic War" tells the story of a strange kind of information war, where a totalitarian regime stands face to face with the heroes of popular culture. And loses. Western popular culture had an incomparable role in shaping Soviet children's world-views in those days-- in ways that may seem slightly odd today. Finnish television was a window to a world of dreams that the authorities could not block out. Woven into the political thriller are staged scenes based on the memories of people who were children at the time. "Disco and Atomic War" offers its own version of recent history, mixing spy games into a human tragicomedy.

About the festival: http://dokument-festival.cz/new_index.php

A meeting with Arvo Valton

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:31:46 GMT

The Estonian Club of the Czech Republic (U Vodárny restoran-klubi, Korunní 75) is calling those interested in Estonia culture to a literary meeting, where author Arvo Valton will introduce his works and also discuss the literature of the Finno-Ugric peoples, which he has translated a great deal of recently.

On 23 October, the Baltic literature and film festival Baltfest 2009 will be held in the small hall of the Prague City Library (Mariánske nam. 1, Prague 1).

Arvo Valton from Estonia, Liana Langa from Latvia, and Kestutis Navakas from Lithuania will be guests at the festival.

During the morning portion of the festival (10.00-13.00) there will be presentations about Baltic culture and history, and in the afternoon (14.00-18.00) discussions with the writers will take place, the authors will read excerpts from their works, and short films will be shown.