The Estonian Institute of Historical Memory invites young scholars to participate in an international research competition on communism. Submitted papers will be evaluated in two categories and rewards are 1,000 and 3,000 euros respectively. The submission deadline is October 30, 2018. Read more about the competition here: http://mnemosyne.ee/en/competition/

September 29, 2018 the exhibit by the Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom Masters of Our Own Homes: Estonia at 100 was opened in the parking lot of Tartu College in Toronto. The exhibit will be on display from September 28 – October 19, 2018, 24hrs. The travelling exhibit pavilion with light installations is 12 metres wide and 4 metres high, it weighs 4 tonnes and is compiled of 244 panels, each one telling a small part of Estonia’s colourful and exciting history as well as featuring highlights of present-day Estonia. Students, businesses, a number of Estonian photographers including Annika Haasi, Birgit Püve, and Triin Kerge as well as many Estonian museums contributed to the completion of the exhibit. Through five topics – history, culture, what it means to be Estonia, famous citizens of the world, and innovation – the exhibit features solutions and contemporary movements associated with Estonia that are recognized by Estonians abroad and are an inspiration to people all over the world. Simultaneously, the exhibit introduces Estonian design and service industries, encourages people to travel to Estonia and search for collaborative opportunities with local businesses. The location of the exhibit, in the Tartu College parking lot at 9 Madison Ave. in Toronto, is the future home to the Estonian Centre (opening 2021). Read more about the exhibit here View the Estonian Life Newspaper photo gallery here

The exhibit is on display in Toronto at VEMU from September 22, 2018-January 14, 2019. The project gives a visual overview of Estonia’s story told by 100 Estonians and Estonian-spirited people ages 1-100 years, through their portraits, eyes, and emotions. The oldest -100-year-old- was born the same year as the Republic of Estonia, in 1918. The youngest was born on February 24, 2017. There is only one person for each year of the Republic of Estonia! In parallel with the portraits, the project introduces the country of Estonia, as a place where we are from, and where we live. This way, views of the most well-known Estonian places (the Old Town of Tallinn), buildings (farmhouses), emotions (the song festival), accomplishments (e-Estonia), phenomena (bogs) are also portrayed. This gives those who do not know Estonia well, an idea of our country’s culture, nature, technical accomplishments, cuisine, and traditions. The two visuals, the portraits and atmospheres, are tied together by short texts in Estonian and English. Idea and concept: Kaire van der Toorn-Guthan and Toomas Volkmann Exhibition curator: Kaire van der Toorn-Guthan Portraits: Toomas Volkmann Photos of Estonian atmospheres: Tõnu Runnel and Tõnu Tunnel

September 23, 2018 the Baltic communities in Toronto came together to celebrate Baltic 100. The celebration took place at Toronto City Hall and featured performances by Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian choirs, ensembles, and folk dancers. View the full program here View the Estonian Life Newspaper photo gallery here

September 21 and 22, 2018 a Baltic 100 conference was held in Toronto in collaboration with the Baltic Federation in Canada, the Estonian Studies Centre/VEMU, the E. Tampõld Chair of Estonian Studies at the University of Toronto, the Compatriots Program, the Estonian Foundation of Canada, the Estonian Central Council in Canada, the Latvian National Federation in Canada, and the Lithuanian Community in Canada. The conference 100 Years of Baltic Republics: Statehood and National Cultures in the Globalizing World featured speakers from all the Baltic states and included a celebration of Tartu College’s 48th birthday. Estonian National Archivist, Priit Pirsko presented the Dr. Vello Soots Memorial Lecture. On the final day of the conference the opening of the exhibit Estonia Through 100 Pairs of Eyes was opened. Read more about the exhibit here View the full conference program here

Autumn edition of the Baltic Heritage Network quarterly newsletter is now available! In these pages you will find information about our past and future events, new publications, and what is happening across the globe within the diaspora research and archive communities. 

For the third year in a row, an intensive Lithuanian and Estonian language course returned to the University of Indiana Bloomington (USA). This summer, eight students enrolled in the course: three in Estonian class and five in Lithuanian class, offered by the Baltic Studies Summer Institute (BALSSI).

The debate about emigration, the Lithuanian identity crisis and global Lithuania is still ongoing in Lithuania. On August 14, 2018, the National Library of Lithuania hosted a discussion about how to preserve Lithuanian identity in the world organized by the Center of Lithuanian Language and Culture.