Ministry of Culture Budget Reduction: In 2025, the Ministry of Culture’s budget decreased from €362 million to €337.3 million.
Funding for the Art Sector: In budgetary terms, funding for the art sector increased from €5.9 million to €11.3 million. However, this growth is primarily due to a €5 million allocation for the renovation of the Tallinn Art Hall and a reallocation of support for creative individuals within the budget. Overall, the sector is operating with roughly the same level of funding as in 2024.
Contribution of the Estonian Cultural Endowment (Kulka)
The largest share of the art sector’s budget continues to come from the Estonian Cultural Endowment’s (Kulka) Visual and Applied Arts Endowment (KuRa), which in 2025 stands at €3.85 million—an increase of €144,100 compared to the previous year. However, this is not a sector-specific increase, as the funding for all cultural endowments has risen proportionally. At the same time, the number of applicants for operational support has increased, indicating a need for a more stable funding system.
Operational Support from the Ministry of Culture’s Budget
Several art institutions saw reductions in their operational support:
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Tallinn Art Hall Foundation: -4% (€-29,012)
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Konrad Mägi Foundation: -50% (€-25,000)
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Center for Contemporary Art Estonia: -5% (€-9,565)
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Estonian Contemporary Art Development Center: -€7,550
Operational support remained unchanged for half of the recipients, including:
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Estonian Artists’ Association Galleries
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Narva Art Residency
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EKKM (Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia)
There have been no major changes in the Ministry of Culture’s operational support system beyond the budget cuts.
Operational Support from KuRa’s Budget
In 2025, KuRa supported 22 institutions:
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11 institutions saw an increase in support compared to the previous year
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4 institutions retained the same level of funding
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2 institutions had reduced funding (but had also requested less)
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5 institutions received support for the first time
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About 10 applicants were denied support
Overreliance on Kulka for Institutional Funding
According to the article’s authors, Kulka bears too much of the financial burden for art institutions due to the lack of sufficient support from the Ministry of Culture. Kulka’s director, Margus Allikmaa, has also noted that instead of funding institutional maintenance costs, Kulka should be able to focus more on supporting individual artists.
Wages in the Art Sector
A survey conducted among members of the Estonian Art Institutions Association revealed that in 2023, the average gross monthly salary was €1,474, which is lower than both:
- The national average salary (€1,832)
- The minimum wage for a highly educated cultural worker (€1,600)
Freelance artists contributing to institutional programs continue to face low and inconsistent remuneration. One potential solution would be a reform of operational support mechanisms and the creation of a system for supporting artist fees.
Social Security for Freelance Artists
The article highlights the need to improve social security for freelance artists, including health insurance and pension systems. Potential solutions include:
- Shifting social tax calculations to an annual basis
- Introducing universal health insurance
Read the full article in Estonian here:
https://www.sirp.ee/kunstivaldkonna-rahastamine-renoveerimine-on-alanud-aga-remonti-alles-ootame/
