Ministers from Latvia, Lithuania, Finland to attend opening ceremony of Capital of Culture

TALLINN - The launch of the program of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 will bring Minister of Culture Agnese Logina from Latvia, Minister of Culture Simonas Kairys from Lithuania, Minister of Science and Culture Sari Multala from Finland and a delegation from the Ministry of Culture of Poland to Tartu on Friday, at the invitation of Estonia's Minister of Culture Heidy Purga.

Rostislav Karandeyev, acting minister of culture of Ukraine, will participate via video bridge.

"Tartu becoming the European Capital of Culture is the top event for Estonia in 2024, but very important also for our neighbors and close allies. Together with our colleagues, on the opening day of the Capital of Culture, we will discuss matters that are of international importance in culture -- how to be more sustainable, foster quality culture, and safeguard our invaluable cultural heritage. The grand celebration in Southern Estonia, attracting people from all over the world, offers an ideal platform for such discussions," the Estonian minister said in a press release.

During Friday, meetings will take place with Toomas Asser, the rector of the University of Tartu, Urmas Klaas, the mayor of Tartu, and Kuldar Leis, the director of Tartu 2024.

The ministers will have several official discussions. The first discussion will focus on cultural policy plans for the coming year and best practices in developing the creative economy and implementing the green transition in the cultural sector.

The second discussion will focus on the protection of Ukraine's cultural heritage in the war, and ways to strengthen cooperation between the Baltic countries, Finland, and Ukraine.

The third discussion will involve members of the European Commission's representation in Estonia and will explore topics such as Ukraine's journey to becoming a member of the European Union and how the Baltic countries and Finland can assist Ukraine's cultural sector in this process.