Estonian Academy of Arts
Encyclopedia
The Estonian Academy of Arts (Estonian
: Eesti Kunstiakadeemia, EKA) is the only public university
in Estonia
providing higher education
in art
, design
, architecture
, media
, art history
and conservation-restoration. It is based in Tallinn
.
According to the Statutes of the EAA, the main objective of activity at the Estonian Academy of Arts is to promote creativity and research, enabling the acquirement of a contemporary higher education based on integrated study, meeting the standard of higher education in the field of fine arts, design
, media
, architecture
, art history
, conservation-restoration and teacher education
.
With the Estonian Minister of Education and Research' Act no.145 from February 10, 2007, the EAA was accredited by an international expert committee as an institution.
The Estonian Academy of Arts has signed around 80 bilateral agreements with universities which participate in ERASMUS programme
, but has also partner institutions outside the ERASMUS higher education space – in Switzerland
, USA, Russia
, Australia
and also with some private universities within the European Union
.
in St. Petersburg
. This system proiritised technical and practical skills.
s. Educational reformation was completed by 1922, crossing over to a European multi-stage school type. As a result it became possible to apply for a specialist diploma or applied artist (from 1934). During the 1920s new workshops and departments were opened (study of printery, sculpture, graphics, ceramics, metal, glass grinding and engraving, fabric weaving), which essentially made studies more versatile. Among the teaching staff there were many who had studied in Europe. In 1938 the State School of Industrial Arts was reformed into two separate institutions: the State School of Industrial and Pictorial Arts and the Higher State Art School.
the school was often closed and teaching was highly episodic.
In 1944 the school was renamed Tallinn State Applied Art Institute of the ESSR. In 1951 Pallas Art School in Tartu was closed and the specialities of fine arts were transferred to Tallinn. This meant the whole of art education in Estonia was now based in Tallinn. The school was once again renamed to State Art Institute of the Estonian SSR (SAIE/Estonian abbreviation for ERKI). The educational system acquired new features and subject divisions characteristic of a Soviet university, including three main cycles – social sciences
, general and theoretical art subjects and practical art subjects. In 1949 the department of architecture
was transferred from Tallinn Polytechnical Institute (now Tallinn University of Technology)to ERKI, forming a new field together with interior architecture
. In 1966, the industrial art division was renamed the departnment of design. With this ERKI became the only school in Estonia providing higher education in all fields of art and architecture. From 1959–1989 the rector of ERKI was Jaan Vares, under whose leadership the school became, in spite of the pressure of Soviet ideology, a popular educational institution with liberal attitudes and European standards, where students of up to 20 nationalities studied throughout several decades and where several generations of Estonian artists have acquired their education. The reputation of ERKI expanded also to former socialist countries in Eastern Europe
, student groups were exchanged, students and teaching staff participated in international competitions and exhibitions, receiving much publicity and awards. In 1978 a foundation was laid to the unique tradition of Finno-Ugric
expeditions of ERKI under the leadership of Professor Kaljo Põllu
. The original building became too small for a rapidly developing school and the main building of the institute was reconstructed according to the plans of architect P. Tarvas (I stage 1965–1967, II stage 1974), also the study building of interior architecture was acquired on Suur-Kloostri street in Tallinn Old Town.
, Prof. Jaak Kangilaski, was elected rector. Reformation of the educational system was begun according to policy changes taking place in higher education of the state. The period of study was first reduced to 4,5 years. The course system was preserved, but a new system of credit points was introduced. In the course of these changes new levels of education were introduced: diploma
, Bachelor's
, Master's
and Doctorate
. In the middle of the 1990s economic crisis general recession increased in the school. In 1995 The Tallinn Art University was renamed The Estonian Academy of Arts (EAA). The name was certified in 1996. International contacts of the school increased greatly: student and teaching staff exchanges, participation in SOCRATES
, Leonardo da Vinci
, Tempus Phare
etc. programmes, organisation of conferences, workshops, festivals etc. Formerly non-existent publication activities were started. Development of the academy was supported by the new economic and financial system, which brought along some bad decisions, but which eventually started to pull the school out of the recession. One of the main turning points was the provision of a new concept of teaching, which was based on a Western model – lifelong learning or continuous education. For this purpose the advanced training of art educators began in 1996. The Open Academy of the EAA started its work in 1997. The Tallinn School of Conservation was opened as part of the academy. Other sub-institutions of the academy include the College of Applied Art, providing an art education for Russian-speaking students, and Academia Non Grata in Pärnu
, which extended the teaching area beyond Tallinn. New centres were opened for modernisation of studies in 1994: the e-media centre and photography department, as well as new chairs – media art, interdisciplinary
arts and protection of cultural heritage
. An inter-speciality integrated curriculum was created (Faculty of Design, Faculty of Fine Arts). From 1997–2000 a new and contemporary library
was constructed in the school. In 1999 The Estonian Academy of Arts joined the SOCRATES
/ERASMUS
programme. In 2002 the curriculum of the EAA was updated according to principles of the Bologna Declaration
, bringing them into compliance with the standard system of levels of higher education implemented in the European Union. The first students having studied on the basis of the updated curriculum graduated in 2006. In 2005 textile artist Prof. Signe Kivi was elected rector of The Estonian Academy of Arts (Minister of Culture
of the Republic of Estonia 1999–2001; member of Parliament 2002–2005). Development of new programmes and strategies started, as a result of which the development programme of The Estonian Academy of Arts for 2006–2010 was certified in the Council of the EAA on January 31, 2006. In the 2006 spring semester (March 31), the Council of the EAA approved the decision to start construction of the new building of the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2008, at the historical location of Tartu Maantee 1.
Estonian language
Estonian is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various émigré communities...
: Eesti Kunstiakadeemia, EKA) is the only public university
Public university
A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
providing higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
in art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
, architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, media
Media (communication)
In communications, media are the storage and transmission channels or tools used to store and deliver information or data...
, art history
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
and conservation-restoration. It is based in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
.
According to the Statutes of the EAA, the main objective of activity at the Estonian Academy of Arts is to promote creativity and research, enabling the acquirement of a contemporary higher education based on integrated study, meeting the standard of higher education in the field of fine arts, design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
, media
Media (communication)
In communications, media are the storage and transmission channels or tools used to store and deliver information or data...
, architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, art history
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
, conservation-restoration and teacher education
Teacher education
Teacher education refers to the policies and procedures designed to equip prospective teachers with the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and skills they require to perform their tasks effectively in the classroom, school and wider community....
.
With the Estonian Minister of Education and Research' Act no.145 from February 10, 2007, the EAA was accredited by an international expert committee as an institution.
The Estonian Academy of Arts has signed around 80 bilateral agreements with universities which participate in ERASMUS programme
Erasmus programme
The Erasmus Programme , a.k.a. Erasmus Project is a European Union student exchange programme established in 1987...
, but has also partner institutions outside the ERASMUS higher education space – in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, USA, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and also with some private universities within the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
Foundation
The origin of EKA dates back to 1914 when the Estonian Art Society founded the Tallinn Industrial Art School. It was the first and for a while the only art school in Estonia. The founders based the original curriculum on that of the art school founded by Baron Alexander von StieglitzAlexander von Stieglitz
Baron Alexander von Stieglitz was a Russian philanthropist and financier. He was the first governor of the State Bank of the Russian Empire, the predecessor organization to today's Central Bank of the Russian Federation.-Early life and education:...
in St. Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
. This system proiritised technical and practical skills.
Interwar independence period
Following the Estonian War of Independence, the Tallinn Industrial Art School became the State Industrial Art School in 1920 providing education in all specialities of applied artApplied art
Applied art is the application of design and aesthetics to objects of function and everyday use. Whereas fine arts serve as intellectual stimulation to the viewer or academic sensibilities, the applied arts incorporate design and creative ideals to objects of utility, such as a cup, magazine or...
s. Educational reformation was completed by 1922, crossing over to a European multi-stage school type. As a result it became possible to apply for a specialist diploma or applied artist (from 1934). During the 1920s new workshops and departments were opened (study of printery, sculpture, graphics, ceramics, metal, glass grinding and engraving, fabric weaving), which essentially made studies more versatile. Among the teaching staff there were many who had studied in Europe. In 1938 the State School of Industrial Arts was reformed into two separate institutions: the State School of Industrial and Pictorial Arts and the Higher State Art School.
Soviet period
The 1940 Soviet occupation of Estonia, severed the country's art contacts with the rest of the world. State art schools were liquidated, the school was renamed State Applied Art School named after Jaan Koort. During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the school was often closed and teaching was highly episodic.
In 1944 the school was renamed Tallinn State Applied Art Institute of the ESSR. In 1951 Pallas Art School in Tartu was closed and the specialities of fine arts were transferred to Tallinn. This meant the whole of art education in Estonia was now based in Tallinn. The school was once again renamed to State Art Institute of the Estonian SSR (SAIE/Estonian abbreviation for ERKI). The educational system acquired new features and subject divisions characteristic of a Soviet university, including three main cycles – social sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
, general and theoretical art subjects and practical art subjects. In 1949 the department of architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
was transferred from Tallinn Polytechnical Institute (now Tallinn University of Technology)to ERKI, forming a new field together with interior architecture
Interior architecture
Interior Architecture is truly a marriage of three distinct design disciplines: interior design, architecture, and industrial design...
. In 1966, the industrial art division was renamed the departnment of design. With this ERKI became the only school in Estonia providing higher education in all fields of art and architecture. From 1959–1989 the rector of ERKI was Jaan Vares, under whose leadership the school became, in spite of the pressure of Soviet ideology, a popular educational institution with liberal attitudes and European standards, where students of up to 20 nationalities studied throughout several decades and where several generations of Estonian artists have acquired their education. The reputation of ERKI expanded also to former socialist countries in Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
, student groups were exchanged, students and teaching staff participated in international competitions and exhibitions, receiving much publicity and awards. In 1978 a foundation was laid to the unique tradition of Finno-Ugric
Finno-Ugric peoples
The Finno-Ugric peoples are any of several peoples of Europe who speak languages of the proposed Finno-Ugric language family, such as the Finns, Estonians, Mordvins, and Hungarians...
expeditions of ERKI under the leadership of Professor Kaljo Põllu
Kaljo Põllu
Kaljo Põllu was an Estonian artist. In 1962 he received a diploma in glass art, and became director of art cabinet of Tartu State University; he founded the contemporary artist's group Visarid in 1966 in Tartu...
. The original building became too small for a rapidly developing school and the main building of the institute was reconstructed according to the plans of architect P. Tarvas (I stage 1965–1967, II stage 1974), also the study building of interior architecture was acquired on Suur-Kloostri street in Tallinn Old Town.
Since 1989
In 1989 ERKI was renamed Tallinn Art University, marking the start of a new period in the history of the school. One of the most prominent Estonian art historiansHistory of art
The History of art refers to visual art which may be defined as any activity or product made by humans in a visual form for aesthetical or communicative purposes, expressing ideas, emotions or, in general, a worldview...
, Prof. Jaak Kangilaski, was elected rector. Reformation of the educational system was begun according to policy changes taking place in higher education of the state. The period of study was first reduced to 4,5 years. The course system was preserved, but a new system of credit points was introduced. In the course of these changes new levels of education were introduced: diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
, Bachelor's
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, Master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
and Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
. In the middle of the 1990s economic crisis general recession increased in the school. In 1995 The Tallinn Art University was renamed The Estonian Academy of Arts (EAA). The name was certified in 1996. International contacts of the school increased greatly: student and teaching staff exchanges, participation in SOCRATES
Socrates programme
The SOCRATES programme was an educational initiative of the European Commission; 31 countries took part. The initial Socrates programme ran from 1994 until 31 December 1999 when it was replaced by the Socrates II programme on 24 January 2000, which ran until 2006...
, Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci (European Union programme)
In the European Union, the Leonardo da Vinci programme is a programme to encourage learners and trainees in vocational education and training to move between European countries in the course of their studies.-Examples:...
, Tempus Phare
TEMPUS
The TEMPUS programme encourages institutions in the EU Member States and partner countries to engage in structured cooperation through the establishment of "consortia". The "consortia" implement Joint European Projects with a clear set of objectives. Such projects may receive financial aid for...
etc. programmes, organisation of conferences, workshops, festivals etc. Formerly non-existent publication activities were started. Development of the academy was supported by the new economic and financial system, which brought along some bad decisions, but which eventually started to pull the school out of the recession. One of the main turning points was the provision of a new concept of teaching, which was based on a Western model – lifelong learning or continuous education. For this purpose the advanced training of art educators began in 1996. The Open Academy of the EAA started its work in 1997. The Tallinn School of Conservation was opened as part of the academy. Other sub-institutions of the academy include the College of Applied Art, providing an art education for Russian-speaking students, and Academia Non Grata in Pärnu
Pärnu
Pärnu is a city in southwestern Estonia on the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. It is a popular summer vacation resort with many hotels, restaurants, and large beaches. The Pärnu River flows through the city and drains into the Gulf of Riga...
, which extended the teaching area beyond Tallinn. New centres were opened for modernisation of studies in 1994: the e-media centre and photography department, as well as new chairs – media art, interdisciplinary
Interdisciplinarity
Interdisciplinarity involves the combining of two or more academic fields into one single discipline. An interdisciplinary field crosses traditional boundaries between academic disciplines or schools of thought, as new needs and professions have emerged....
arts and protection of cultural heritage
Cultural heritage
Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations...
. An inter-speciality integrated curriculum was created (Faculty of Design, Faculty of Fine Arts). From 1997–2000 a new and contemporary library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
was constructed in the school. In 1999 The Estonian Academy of Arts joined the SOCRATES
Socrates programme
The SOCRATES programme was an educational initiative of the European Commission; 31 countries took part. The initial Socrates programme ran from 1994 until 31 December 1999 when it was replaced by the Socrates II programme on 24 January 2000, which ran until 2006...
/ERASMUS
Erasmus programme
The Erasmus Programme , a.k.a. Erasmus Project is a European Union student exchange programme established in 1987...
programme. In 2002 the curriculum of the EAA was updated according to principles of the Bologna Declaration
Bologna declaration
The Bologna declaration is the main guiding document of the Bologna process...
, bringing them into compliance with the standard system of levels of higher education implemented in the European Union. The first students having studied on the basis of the updated curriculum graduated in 2006. In 2005 textile artist Prof. Signe Kivi was elected rector of The Estonian Academy of Arts (Minister of Culture
Minister of culture
A culture minister is a Cabinet position in some governments responsible for protecting the national heritage of a country and promoting cultural expression....
of the Republic of Estonia 1999–2001; member of Parliament 2002–2005). Development of new programmes and strategies started, as a result of which the development programme of The Estonian Academy of Arts for 2006–2010 was certified in the Council of the EAA on January 31, 2006. In the 2006 spring semester (March 31), the Council of the EAA approved the decision to start construction of the new building of the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2008, at the historical location of Tartu Maantee 1.