Introduction

Generally speaking, the Ministry of Culture has two main aims – to advance Estonian culture abroad and introduce other cultures to Estonia. Culture is an essential part of Estonia’s international image, and cultural diplomacy is becoming increasingly important both in Europe and in the world at large.

The aim of transnational cultural relations is to help to establish direct contacts and further collaboration between Estonian and foreign cultural operators.

The means for facilitating transnational cultural collaboration are the bi- and multilateral cooperation agreements. These agreements are, in general, developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but often also with the Ministry of Education and Research, and respective partner organisations abroad. Estonia has cultural agreements with more than 40 countries. In addition to framework agreements, the Ministry has also concluded more explicit cooperation programmes and protocols with some countries.

Within the European Union, the Ministry’s task is to coordinate participation in the decision-making process in questions that are under the remit of the Ministry of Culture, and to ensure that Estonian interests in such areas as pan-European cultural cooperation, audiovisual policy, cultural heritage, copyright and sports are presented and protected. Since 2001, Estonia has been participating in the European Community Culture programme.

The Republic of Estonia is also a member of foremost international organisations in the field of culture and sports (UNESCO, Council of Europe, WIPO, ICCROM, WADA etc.), and participates actively in their work.

There are also many multilateral forums, programmes, joint ventures and regional cooperation networks the Ministry is participating in, such as the Conference of the Ministers for Culture of the Baltic Sea Region, Nordic-Baltic Mobility and Residency Programme, European Forum for Architectural Policies, Kremerata Baltica Orchestra, Northern Dimension Cultural Partnership etc.

In promoting Estonian culture abroad the Ministry works closely together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Estonian embassies all over the world and has cultural counsellors working in Berlin, London, Paris, Helsinki, Moscow and at the Permanent Representation of Estonia to the EU in Brussels. The Estonian Institute, a state financed non-governmental organisation whose aim is to introduce Estonian language and culture abroad, has its branch offices in Helsinki, Budapest and Stockholm.

The fundamentals of the Estonian cultural policy

International agreements

The Ministry of Culture and the European Union

Estonian culture abroad