Culture Capital's Town Scribe Arrives in Estonia
Young German journalist Sarah Jana Portner, who won the five-month scholarship to become the official town scribe of Tallinn during the European Capital of Culture festivities, arrived in Estonia on May 1.
The scholarship which was given out for the third consecutive year by the German Cultural Forum for Eastern Europe, is designed to give one German writer the opportunity to reside in a European Capital of Culture and write an online diary on the festivities taking place in the city.
In Germany, town scribes are very popular and are largely based on the medieval town chronicler traditions. Nevertheless, the modern scribes have more functions as they are expected to actively participate in the city’s cultural life and help build the country’s reputation.
Portner, will start blogging about Tallinn on the Estonian Writers' Union homepage in German. Her posts will also be translated into Estonian.
Ingrid Teesalu
