30.11.21 CULTURE ... The third Eesti Laul quarter final heat takes place this Saturday and will be broadcast live by ETV. This time, all entries will have their lyrics in foreign languages – in practice entirely in English. Eesti Laul is Estonia's annual competition to pick its entry into the Eurovision Song Contest.

29.11.21 CULTURE ... British electronic music band Jungle is set to perform at the Noblessner Foundry in May next year as part of its tour for the "Loving in Stereo" album.

29.11.21 CULTURE ... The Grand Prix of the Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) was won by "Dear Thomas", a film by German director Andreas Kleinert, which tells the story of Thomas Brasch, a writer and filmmaker, who was persecuted in East Germany.

28.11.21 NEWS ... The closing ceremony of the Finno-Ugric cultural year was held in Abja-Paluoja as the historical center of Mulgimaa on Saturday. The title of Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture now goes to the Udmurt village of Baiterek. Ly Laanemets was handed the Pride of Mulgimaa 2021 award at the ceremony.

28.11.21 NEWS ... Viewers and judges of the Eesti Laul song contest to find Estonia's next Eurovision song picked the second set of semi-finalists on Saturday.

25.11.21 CULTURE ... Saturday, November 27 saw a Global Forum of Estonians Abroad, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and conducted virtually, via live-link. It brought together Estonians worldwide, and was introduced by President Alar Karis.

26.11.21 NEWS ... The supervisory board of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia elected Director of the Russian Theater Margus Allikmaa is new head.

26.11.21 POLITICS ... The cabinet endorsed a Ministry of Foreign Affairs-sponsored action plan on climate diplomacy Thursday, which aims at compliance with European Union climate goals.

26.11.21 NEWS ... UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and Rector of the Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA) Mart Kalm signed a cooperation agreement with the Department of Heritage Protection and Conservation at EKA, to establish a Chair of UNESCO Heritage Studies.

25.11.21 NEWS ... On Wednesday, the Performing Arts Institutions Act passed its first reading at the Riigikogu. The new law will rearrange the funding system of performing arts institutions and makes the legislation of performing arts institutions clearer and more flexible.

24.11.21 CULTURE ... A film development and production company has launched the first private film investment fund in Estonia, announced to coincide with this year's Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival's (PÖFF) film festival.

24.11.21 CULTURE ... Repairs to a church in the western city of Haapsalu are nearly finished. The work, on the Jaani kirik (St. John's Church), started in spring as a matter of urgency, mainly concerned its 19th century bell-tower, and was mostly funded by the state.

24.11.21 CULTURE ... An album by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Kaspars Putnins called "Schnittke: Choir Concerto; Three Sacred Hymns; Pärt: Seven Magnificat-Antiphons" has been nominated for the Best Choral Performance Grammy.

24.11.21 NEWS ... A round-up of Estonian news and events taking place around the world between November 24 – December 1.

24.11.21 NEWS ... More than 100 red umbrellas have been installed across the city of Jõgeva in south Estonia to remember Estonian poet and writer Betti Alver.

22.11.21 NEWS ... At Saturday's award ceremony at the Kopli tram depot, the international short film and animation festival PÖFF Shorts announced its winning films.

21.11.21 NEWS ... The first quarter-final of the Eesti Laul song contest was held on Saturday.

19.11.21 NEWS ... Argentinian opera tenor José Cura is performing in Tallinn on Friday night, and will take the stage with the Estonian National Opera (Rahvusooper), mezzo-soprano Monika-Evelin Liiv and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (ERSO).

19.11.21 CULTURE ... A piece by Estonian artist Konrad Mägi called "Roma" ("Rome") was sold for more than €300,000 in the Bukowski auction house in Sweden on Thursday, breaking an Estonian record.

18.11.21 CULTURE ... On Wednesday evening, a sculpture called "Vanad head ajad" ("Good Old Times") by Edith Karlson was unveiled on Noblessner square in Tallinn.

17.11.21 NEWS ... Estonian cinematographer Alar Kivilo has shot films in Hollywood for 25 years. In his recently published autobiography, he compares his life with a staircase where you need to keep taking one step after another.

16.11.21 CULTURE ... The 10 artists to be taking part in the first quarter finals heat of Eesti Laul, the annual song contest to decide on Estonia's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, have been named, ahead of the heat itself, this Saturday evening. The quarter finals will be shown as a part of the 'Ringvaade' current affairs show.

15.11.21 NEWS ... The children's animation program of the Black Nights Film Festival Short Films and Animation Festival is full of adventures this year.

14.11.21 NEWS ... The title of Father of the Year 2021 was given to father of two and grandfather of five Ahto Vili at a Father's Day concert held at the Estonia Concert Hall on Sunday.

14.11.21 NEWS ... A historical festival saw the enactment of the opening engagement of the Great Northern War in Narva where the army of Swedish King Charles II defeats the besieging forces of Peter the Great. The Russian army will get their revenge in summer when it is their turn to win.

13.11.21 NEWS ... On Friday, the first ever overview exhibition on 2000s Estonian art, "Art in the Comfort Zone? The 2000s in Estonian Art", was opened at the Kumu Art Museum in Kadriorg. The curators of the exhibition are Eha Komissaarov and Triin Tulgiste.

12.11.21 NEWS ... The laureate of the Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) Lifetime Achievement Award is actress Elle Kull. The actress will receive the award on Friday at 6 p.m. at the opening ceremony of the festival.

11.11.21 CULTURE ... ERR News is live-linking a two-day Integration Foundation (Integratsiooni Sihtasutus) conference marking thirty years of integration in Estonia.

11.11.21 NEWS ... On Friday evening, the walls of the Patarei sea fortress in Tallinn will be lit up for a lighting performance.

09.11.21 NEWS ... An art competition jury made a decision from a selection of 28 works, with the winner emerging as a design called 'Helix, symbolizing the movement of music and dance. The authors of the work are Liis Uustal, Egon Metusala, Mariliis Kundla, Mihkel Pajuste and Mari Ronimois.

09.11.21 NEWS ... Tallinn will be awarded the UNESCO City of Music title from 2022, it was announced on Monday.

09.11.21 NEWS ... Cultural institutions, experiencing difficulties due to the sharp rise in electricity and heating prices should be able to survive the year with their current budget, but if the high prices remain, they will require more support, new Minister of Culture Tiit Terik (Center) says.

06.11.21 CULTURE ... The government has exempted an annual international Tallinn film festival, starting next Friday, from any additional restrictions which may arise this month, citing the event's overriding societal and national interest.

04.11.21 NEWS ... Creative entrepreneur and chief executive of Ltd Shiftworks Helen Sildna writes that the field of culture has suffered a lot over the past year and a half and in this light, the sector is ready for intelligent and respectful cooperation with the new Minister of Culture Tiit Terik.

04.11.21 NEWS ... Head of the Estonian Association of Performing Arts Institutions (Eesti Etendusasutuste Liit) Margus Allikmaa says that the new Minister of Culture, Tiit Terik, is expected to delve into issues that need to be solved as soon as possible. Terik took office Wednesday evening, replacing Anneli Ott, who resigned on Tuesday.

04.11.21 POLITICS ... President Alar Karis has appointed Tiit Terik (Center) as new Minister of Culture, replacing Anneli Ott (Center), who resigned on Tuesday.

03.11.21 POLITICS ... The Center Party has put forward Tallinn city government chair Tiit Terik as new culture minister, following Anneli Ott's resignation Tuesday. Terik would need to be approved by the president before entering office.

02.11.21 CORONAVIRUS ... Anneli Ott (Center) has resigned as Minister of Culture, saying the decision had been her own. Ott said she was unable in her role to put into place in the cultural sector policies drawn up by Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reform).

02.11.21 NEWS ... An Estonian director's debut film "Firebird" gathered 1,517 visitors in the opening days. The film stars British actor Tom Prior and Russian actress Diana Pozharskaya and was shot in Estonia.

31.10.21 NEWS ... The "Hommik Anuga" morning show hosted Kristi Paatsi, manager of the Kalamaja Museum, and Liis Järv, chief treasurer of the Tartu Toy Museum, who talked to host Anu Välba about ghosts.

31.10.21 NEWS ... The Estonian National Library closed its Tõnismäe reading rooms for renovation on October 30. The building's lobby will remain open until December. The library closed to the tune of a concert by Jarek Kasar, Jaan Pehk and Vaiko Eplik.

29.10.21 CULTURE ... On Thursday, the government made a decision to require coronavirus certificates for children over the age of 12 at public events. Mikk Granström, program manager of the Just Film youth film festival, told ERR that the restrictions will likely cut the festival's viewer numbers down by half.

28.10.21 CULTURE ... On October 31 and November 1, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, also known as the Met, will host the premiere of "O Holy Father Nicholas", a piece from Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.

27.10.21 CULTURE ... James Bond is back for his 25th official film, 'No Time to Die', already open in Estonian cinemas from early on this month. The franchise is not only one of the longest-running in cinema history, it is also a testament to the reach of British soft power, and the influence of the UK's film industry, writes academic and Bond expert Martin D. Brown, even as links to Estonia are tentative, rather than obvious.

27.10.21 NEWS ... Oscar-nominated Estonian filmmaker Tanel Toom's ("Truth and Justice") "Sentinel" has finished shooting in Tallinn. Due to the schedule shifts, the main cast saw some changes, with US actress Kate Bosworth and Northern Irish actor Martin McCann stepping up to play the main roles.

26.10.21 NEWS ... The record number of European brown bears now living in Estonia has caused some friction at the interface of ursine and human activity, ETV people show 'Siin me oleme' reported Monday night, with a surge in beehive raids, damaged property and even face-to-face encounters reported.

22.10.21 NEWS ... Tallinn has been officially confirmed as one of the ports of call at the 2024 Tall Ships race, both race organizers and Tallinn City Government say. The news makes up for the postponement of the 2021 event, when the race was also due to call in at Tallinn.

21.10.21 NEWS ... Wednesday was the deadline for submitting songs to Eesti Laul Estonia's competition to pick its next song for Europe. All in all, 202 songs were submitted, 40 of which will make it to the quarter-finals.

20.10.21 CULTURE ... Minister of Culture Anneli Ott (Center) said the culture sector's recent criticism toward her is simply tension caused by the coronavirus crisis and that she considers such discussions important.

20.10.21 CULTURE ... Chief organizer of Tallinn Music Week Helen Sildna said the coronavirus-stricken culture sector has been very good in implementing restrictions to limit the spread of coronavirus, but their voices are not heard in the government.