Karis and Purga to Promote Estonian Culture in New York

TALLINN - President Alar Karis and Minister of Culture Heidy Purga are visiting New York City until Saturday to promote Estonian culture, celebrate the life and work of composer Arvo Pärt, and strengthen international cooperation in the creative sector, accompanied by a creative industries delegation.

"In this 90th anniversary year of Arvo Pärt, Estonian music and creativity have reached every corner of the globe. This week's concerts at one of the world's most renowned venues, New York's Carnegie Hall, featuring our top conductors and a new generation of soloists, clearly demonstrate the high level and international acclaim of our music scene," said Minister of Culture Heidy Purga.

"As a prime example of cultural diplomacy, we have built a comprehensive joint visit for President Alar Karis and our creative industries delegation around this event. This will help introduce Estonia through a wide variety of art forms and creative expressions."

At the Carnegie Hall concerts dedicated to composer Arvo Pärt's 90th birthday, the Estonian Festival Orchestra, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, and soloists Hans Christian Aavik and Maria Listra will perform. The concerts will be conducted by Paavo Järvi and Tõnu Kaljuste.

The visit will also mark the 10th anniversary of the residency collaboration between the Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art and the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP), where Estonian artist Kris Lemsalu is currently in residence until November 30. On Thursday, Purga will attend a fundraising evening for the Arvo Pärt Centre Foundation, and on Friday, she will attend President Alar Karis's reception at Carnegie Hall.

The creative industries delegation will visit several important cultural and creative institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, where they will be joined by Sirje Karis, and companies such as National Sawdust, Showroom Seven, Jolibe Atelier, and Anthony Luciano Studio. Additionally, a visit to the New York Public Library will include several meetings with the heads of various departments, and the delegation will also visit Scandinavia House.

The visit will also feature a creative industries roundtable led by Simone Tarantino, CEO of Mind the Bridge USA, a reception for U.S.-Estonian creative cooperation at Canvas Soho, and a presentation for the Medina Triennial 2026.