2013 is the year of cultural heritage in Estonia. The goal of this year’s theme is to promote cultural issues to the general public – to recognise that culture concerns us (in one way or another), and that it is worthy of appreciation and preservation. Throughout the year of cultural heritage, many events will take place to explain what cultural heritage is, introduce its importance and, broaden its understanding. You can read more about the year of cultural heritage at: www.parandiaasta.ee.
In honour of the year of cultural heritage, VEMU/The Estonian Studies Centre is organizing the archival contest “Preserving our history.” In keeping with the motto “No heritage without heir,” we are looking for contributions from Canadian Estonians, but in particular from children and young people, as they inherit Estonian culture from the previous generation. The contest aims to consider the daily lives of Canadian Estonians over the decades, like food and daily chores, Estonian grocery stores in Canada. Estonian culture is not only preserved in fighting for Estonian freedom, singing and dancing, reading Estonian literature, and teaching children the Estonian language. Culture grows while eating sauerkraut and blood sausage, baking kringel and pirukad, and decorating your home with Estonian handicrafts. It grows while following and understanding the culinary traditions and consumer culture of our homeland.
Collected materials will be preserved at VEMU and will be used in an upcoming exhibit.
The deadline is November 1, 2013. Please send entries to: VEMU/Estonian Studies Centre, 310 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1W4. To keep all entries anonymous we ask that you choose a keyword by which to name your entry, for example “Home.” Do not put your name on your entry, but rather your keyword. Include a separate envelope labelled with your keyword and inside please include the following information: name, age, address, telephone number, and email.
Winning entries will be announced November 17, 2013. Cash and book prizes will be awarded to the best entries!
Info: piret.noorhani@vemu.ca, t. 416 925 9405, http://vemu.ca