Introduction

The objective of the Visual and Applied Art Endowment is to promote, preserve and popularize Estonian professional art. For that purpose, creative people, search and experiment-oriented creation, and undertakings that are focused on the promotion of art and art culture, international communication, preservation of artistic heritage, and restoration are supported and recognized, including:

  • participation of Estonian artists and art researchers in important professional events outside of Estonia;
  • important international art projects and festivals in Estonia;
  • self-improvement abroad (including study travel, working at artist-in-residence places, residency, research work at archives or museums etc.);
  • the activity of artists and art researchers with creative grants;
  • inviting internationally acknowledged specialists to Estonia;
  • compilation and publication of art publications that have a lasting value (in general);
  • continued building of the collections of the Art Museum of Estonia, the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design and Tartu Art Museum based on the suggestions of the museums` purchase committees;
  • preservation and restoration of art heritage;
  • partly master`s and doctoral studies in higher schools abroad.

The Visual and Applied Art Endowment supports promotion of Estonian art culture, creative people and professional art events.

For that purpose, benefits and grants are awarded. The project benefit is used to support primarily art events for which applications can be submitted four times a year. A condition of award of this benefit is cost-sharing and/or co-financing of at least 10% of the total amount of the project`s costs (except for acquisitions for the museums` collections). In addition, the Endowment awards the activity benefit with which associations and institutions that focus on promotion of art culture are supported.

The Visual and Applied Art Endowment awards also creative work benefits to creative people of the area. The creative work benefit can be applied for four times a year and its highest limit is 2,000 euros.

The life`s work benefit awarded to meritorious persons of the area may be one-time or regular.  

The Visual and Applied Art Endowment supports the activity and self-improvement of creative people of the area by awarding grants.

The Endowment awards following creative grants:

·         one-year creative grants 6,000 euros which deadline of submission of applications is 20 February;

·         6-month creative grants 4,200 euros which deadline of submission of applications is 20 February;

·         3-month creative grants 2,000 euros which deadline of submissions of applications is 20 February.

The Endowment supports master`s and doctoral studies in higher schools abroad with the one-year study grant, which is up to 3,000 euros. The deadline of submission of applications is 20 August.

In addition, the Endowment awards the centre of creative industry grant 1,600 euros, which objective is to enable active creative people to use international creative centres, and the visiting critic grant 1,300 euros, which objective is to introduce Estonian cultural life in international media and thereby achieve international exposure of Estonian culture. Applications can be submitted four times a year.

The Visual and Applied Art Endowment acknowledges the activity of creative people by giving awards. Every year the Endowment gives one grand award of 7,000 euros, a life`s work award 12,000 euros and the Visual and Applied Art Endowment`s annual awards 4,000 euros each.