Last application round grant program of the Ministry of Culture for manor schools is open until 11 January 2016. The grant helps to renovate manor schools and develop them as cultural and tourism sights. Budget of the call for proposals is 148,000 euros.
“State grant is meant for the owners and administrators of manor schools, in order to develop the schools functioning in manors and children’s welfare institutions into local education and cultural centres. Development into attractive tourist destinations helps at the same time to preserve and exhibit the manor ensembles and their cultural heritage,” explained Liina Jänes, the adviser on cultural heritage of the Ministry of Culture.
The state has given grants to manor schools in two consecutive programme periods since 2001. In addition to the state aid, biggest restoration works have been made with the support of the European Economic Area and Norwegian Financial Mechanism. Within 15 years, Estonian manor schools have been supported with more than 18 million euros. By the end of 2016, both manor school programmes will close.
“So far, strong efforts have been made to support the maintenance and repair of the manor schools. It has been a good lesson of how to use cultural heritage in a new function. Manor schools have developed into a community with strong identity which sticks together. There has even been an increase in the number of rural schools that want to join the community of manor schools,” said Jänes.
Jänes added that two national and two external aid programmes have fully justified themselves. “Improvement of learning environment has a direct impact on students and motivates teachers. Besides, the existence of a high-level educational institution is one prerequisite for the motivation to move to the rural area or stay there. Well-kept heritage is also a tourism attraction,” she specified.
Grant programmes have covered all Estonian manor schools in different ways. By now, 15 of these schools have been renovated, partial repairs have been made in most schools and in addition, a vast number of actions related to manors have been supported in order to help to shape them into local cultural and community centres.
More information:
Liisa Jänes
Adviser on Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture
Tel: 6282381
E-mail: [email protected]