Culture Kilometer kicks off summer events

TALLINN - The Eco-Island in the Old Fishing Harbor in Tallinn was set to open to the public on June 5, said the cultural fund Tallinn 2011, reports news agency LETA. The project is described by organizers as a giant raft that acts as an eclectic piece of stimuli to generate different ideas, whilst simultaneously being a place to meet friends, dine and spend time, as there is also a pool table and piano.

Dining is possible on the second floor of the double-decker bus or outdoors on the raft.
The Eco-Island has been built in cooperation with NPO Eesti Pakendiringlus, Hansabuss, PlastRexi and Vakaru Refonda. A range of installations were also to be opened that will remain on the seashore for the entirety of summer.
In cooperation with the LIFT11 urban installations festival held on June 5, three installations will also be opened in the area: ‘Kai’ (Quay) at the Old Fishing Harbor, ‘0’ that moves around town and ‘Helin’ at Tallinn Linnahall.

The latter, created by Juhan Rohtla, Joel Kopli and Koit Ojaliiv, claims to be the world’s largest wind chime: 10,000 charity bells will be attached to the ceiling of a tunnel under Linnahall offering a mesmerising sound experience within this retired building. The sounding and glimmering installation is also the notional starting point of the Culture Kilometer. Altogether ten installations will be opened around town during the month.

A concert and performance program were to celebrate the newly opened Culture Kilometer – a pedestrian walkway and cycle path that leads from the harbor to Kopli, and to open the city to the sea.
The Kilometer and all the seashore establishments - among them seaside cafes - will be open, including the Fish market, Eco-Island, CAME, Estonian Design House, Patarei Prison and Katlaaed community garden.

“The Cultural Summer that starts Sunday on the Culture Kilometer will offer many surprises, unexpected encounters, happy moments and a rediscovery of the old for many months ahead - this is what will leave a memory in the hearts of Tallinners and our guests and the kind of feeling that will remain when looking back at this year in the future,” said Jaanus Mutli, a member of the board of Tallinn 2011 foundation. “The day will start with a bicycle parade from the Freedom Square to the seashore. Everyone is invited to join in.”

The Bicycle Parade and the seashore event were supported by the city government of Tallinn, CIVITAS MIMOSA, Rattarikkaks initiative, Institute for Sustainable Estonia, Tallinn 2011 partners, Tallinn Bicycle Week and Ecotakso.