UNESCO activities in Estonia

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UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that aims to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting international cooperation in the fields of education, culture, science, ICT and the media. Many of UNESCO's themes are cross-cutting and cross-sectoral. Estonia became a member of UNESCO on 14 October, 1991.

The Estonian National Commission for UNESCO is an autonomous structure within the Ministry of Culture, consisting of a Secretariat, a Board of Experts and an Executive Board. Estonian National Commission for UNESCO serves as a coordinative unit between UNESCO and Estonian organizations, institutions as well as private persons related to the work of UNESCO.

UNESCO has several lists and networks where Estonia is well represented. A map at http://www.kaart.unesco.ee shows all the places, cities and educational institutions in Estonia that are involved in this cooperation.

World Heritage List

Main article: World Heritage Site

The World Heritage List includes natural and cultural sites of outstanding universal value that form part of the common heritage of humankind. As of January 2024, the List includes 1199 sites from 168 countries. Estonia has two entries in the World Heritage List.

Old Town of Tallinn

The Old Town of Tallinn has outstanding universal value because its medieval trading city characteristics have been preserved throughout the centuries and it continues to function as a living environment with a variety of residential houses, public buildings and churches. Its original street network, largely intact town wall and many of its buildings date back to medieval times. The Old Town is also known for its historic earthworks that have been turned into green areas and its rich layers of archaeological finds. The unique silhouette of Tallinn can be seen from land as well as from the sea.

Struve Geodetic Arc

The Struve Geodetic Arc linking ten countries was named after the well-known astronomer and geodesist Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve, who worked at the University of Tartu. Between 1816-1855, he and his colleagues calculated the first accurate measurements of a meridian to establish the size and shape of the Earth. The 2820 km long segment stretches from northern Norway to the Black Sea. Three of the listed original station points are found in Estonia – Tartu  Observatory and the points in Võivere and Simuna.

Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists encompass living cultural expressions – knowledge, skills, customs and traditions – that give people a sense of belonging and have been passed on through generations. As of January 2024, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists include 693 entries from 140 countries. Five of them represent Estonia.

Song and Dance Celebrations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

The Song and Dance Celebrations bring together tens of thousands of singers, dancers and musicians who enjoy practicing also between big celebrations. The repertoire, ranging from most ancient folk songs and dances to contemporary compositions and new dances, reflects the living tradition that this large community sustains and passes on. The participants wearing national costumes help to maintain the cherished tradition of wearing and making national costumes. Throughout the long history of these celebrations, they have served as a vital tool in nation-building and provided cultural identity.

Kihnu Cultural Space

Lying off Estonia’s western coast, the small islands of Kihnu and Manija are home to a community of 600 people with established livelihood practices and rich cultural traditions. The local dialect, Kihnu wedding parties, calendar festivities, songs, games, dances and traditional crafts continue to define the community.

Seto leelo – the Seto polyphonic singing tradition

Seto leelo is a traditional way of singing where music (a specific composite polyphonic-heterophonic melody and timbre of voice) is combined with texts that follow particular poetic rules and structures, defined by particular occasions and singing situations. For the Seto community in south-eastern Estonia, the leelo is a cornerstone of contemporary identity, transmitting lifestyle, language, and traditions. Leelo-singers wearing traditional costumes and the various traditional festivities have a symbolic significance for the local community as well as in Estonia at large.  

Smoke sauna tradition in Võromaa

The smoke sauna tradition is primarily a family custom among the Võro community in southern Estonia. It comprises a rich set of traditions including actual bathing customs to relax the mind and body, the skills of making bath whisks, building and repairing saunas, and smoking meat in the sauna.

Building and use of expanded dugout boat in Soomaa region

Expanded dugout boat in Soomaa is a canoe-like boat, hollowed out from a single tree (usually, aspen), with expanded sides and a shallow base.  Building of a dugout boat is an integrated and complex process, beginning with the identification of a suitable tree and culminating with the boat’s launching. The central and visually most distinctive stage of dugout boatbuilding is expanding of the sides. From the interaction of heat and moisture, including fire and water, the dugout boat board is significantly expanded, thus increasing the boat’s volume, maneuverability and carrying capacity. Dugout boatbuilding has traditionally been a communal activity, where, in addition to masters, apprentices and other community members participate. Dugout boatbuilding is accompanied by story-telling about legendary masters and their boats. Dugout boats continue to form an essential part of Soomaa residents’ identity.

Memory of the World Register

The Memory of the World Register lists documentary heritage that corresponds to the selection criteria of world significance and outstanding universal value. As of January 2024, there are 494 entries in the Register. Estonia is part of two multinational entries.

Documentary Heritage of the Baltic Way

The Baltic Way was a unique, peaceful mass demonstration that took place on 23 August 1989. The demonstration was timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. More than a million people joined hands to form a human chain that was over 600 km long and reached across the three Baltic States, linking Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in their drive for freedom.  

 

The most representative documents of the Baltic Way, which are preserved in the National Archives of Estonia, the Museum of the Popular Front of Latvia and the Lithuanian Central State Archive, are included in the register.

Documents on the history of the Hanse

A representative selection of documents on the history of the Hanseatic League that united trading cities around the Baltic Sea from the 13th to the 17th century were included in the Memory of the World Register as a joint nomination of Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Poland, and Latvia. The documents from Estonia include letters addressed to the merchant Hildebrand Veckinchusen and his account books from the 15^th century that are kept in the Tallinn City Archives.

UNESCO biosphere reserves network

UNESCO biosphere reserves network comprises areas of terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems, which are internationally recognized under UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme. As of January 2024, there are 748 biosphere reserves in 134 countries. Estonia is represented by one biosphere reserve.

West Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve

The West Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve has a total area of 1 560 078 ha which is situated in three counties – Saare, Hiiu and Lääne counties. The UNESCO biosphere reserve aims to protect biological diversity, ensure sustainable management and human development and support education for sustainable development, research and monitoring.

UNESCO Associated Schools Network

UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet) is a global network of more than 12 000 educational institutions from 182 countries. Members of the network work in support of international understanding, peace, intercultural dialogue and sustainable development. Participation in the UNESCO ASPnet supports schools in providing quality education and offers opportunities for national and international cooperation.

UNESCO ASPnet has 58 members in Estonia. The work of the network is coordinated by NGO Mondo in cooperation with Tartu Nature House. Tartu Nature House coordinates the largest and oldest project of the network in Estonia – the Baltic Sea Project.

UNESCO Chairs Network

The aim of UNESCO Chairs is to enhance higher education and scientific research in key priority areas related to UNESCO’s fields of competence. They promote international inter-university cooperation and networking.  

The network of UNESCO chairs includes about 950 chairs from 120 countries, two of them are from Estonia.

UNESCO Chair on Applied Studies of Intangible Cultural Heritage at the University of Tartu

The Chair operates at the Institute of Cultural Research in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. The aim of the UNESCO Chair is to enhance learning, teaching and scientific research at the University of Tartu. It also takes a wider approach and aims to contribute both theoretically and practically to the field of heritage – via international cooperation as well as in the Estonian society. In Estonia, the Chair functions as the Centre of Excellence in the matters related to the UNESCO Intangible Heritage Convention.  

UNESCO Chair on Heritage Studies at the Estonian Academy of Arts

The Chair aims to enrich the existing studies and research at the level of academy and support the field of heritage conservation in Estonia. The Estonian Academy of Arts has taught cultural heritage and conservation for more than 25 years and has become the Centre of Excellence in the matters related to UNESCO World Heritage. The Chair analyses, inter alia, the impact of tourism on cultural heritage and contributes to finding better ways to promote Tallinn Old Town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

UNESCO Creative Cities Network

UNESCO Creative Cities Network was created to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. It has seven creative fields: Crafts & Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Music and Media Arts. As of January 2024, there are 350 cities in the network, three of them from Estonia.

Tartu – City of Literature

Since receiving the designation in 2015, the literary scene in  Tartu has become notably more international: among other things Tartu has launched an international residency programme for writers and translators, the local authors participate in various joint anthologies and exhibition projects of the cities of literature, and Tartu also collaborates with its sister cities to celebrate World Poetry Day. Greater emphasis is placed on increasing the literary interests of children and young people: a literary festival for children and youth is organised annually, the city also awards a prize for children’s literature, supports the organisation of literary events in schools and organises regular training events for kindergarten teachers. Tartu has appointed a City Writer and is training guides for the City of Literature, there are stickers with poems in the city buses and quotes by writers can be read on lightboxes on the windows of several institutions.

Viljandi – City of Crafts and Folk Art

Viljandi has been a UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art since 2019. Viljandi strives for a sustainable, accessible and well-known cultural heritage that provides inspiration for individuals and communities and wants to see children, the young and socially vulnerable groups to be involved in creative activities integrated with cultural heritage. The city also aims to be a centre for professional creators, researchers, and entrepreneurs of folk culture as an internationally recognised cooperation partner and a destination for heritage tourism.

Tallinn - City of Music

Since 2021, Estonia’s capital city Tallinn belongs to the network as a City of Music.  The aim of Tallinn is the holistic development of the entire music field; engagement of young creators, performers and audience; improving access to music; innovation in music industry and modern services in cultural tourism. Tallinn Music Strategy 2022–2025 was designed in cooperation with all relevant stakeholders in the field of music and will be also implemented jointly.

References

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