Since the beginning of 2025, 18 Estonian artists have visited schools in Narva as part of an initiative led by the Narva Art Residency. The following artists have now been selected through an open competition to participate in the “Artists Are Present” project from October to November: Riina Õun, Paulina Belik, Kaili-Angela Konno, Oliver Issak, Katrin Tani, Caroliina Ladva, Marta Konovalov, Triinu Jürves and Kristina Norman.
This time, the jury consisted of Anneli Porri (Estonian Academy of Arts), Hanna-Liis Kont (“„Kunst loob lähedust“ / Creative Connections), Taavi Suisalu (artist), and Erki Kasemets (participant in the previous season).
According to jury member Anneli Porri, it was encouraging to see such a diverse range of artists applying for the Narva school residencies, from experienced educators to recent university graduates eager to challenge themselves. “The participating artists will introduce students to new artistic techniques, creative approaches, and ways of thinking, while their presence as inspiring personalities have the potential to make a lasting, even transformative, impact on young people.”
The aim of the “Artists Are Present” project is to increase the accessibility and presence of contemporary art, while also giving young people an opportunity to practise Estonian, which is particularly important in light of the ongoing education reform. The newly selected artists will visit Narva Kreenholm School, Narva Language Lyceum, and Narva Orthodox Gymnasium.
The artists will spend two weeks in the border city, meeting with student groups on five or six days. The sessions will combine creative activities, experimentation with different techniques, and discussions on art, creativity, and the world around us.
Both the artists and the teachers from the participating schools will receive support through training sessions and mentoring meetings led by Anneli Porri, Hanna-Liis Kont, Christina Lään (language-aware learning trainer), and Anna Golubeva, Head of the Department of Multilingual Education at the University of Tartu Narva College.
Each artist will receive a €1,000 grant. The project is supported by the Targa Tuleviku Fond.
Meet the artists:
Riina Õun
Riina Õun is a materials researcher and designer whose focus includes biomaterials and circular design. She works internationally as both a lecturer and an artist. In 2024, she was a finalist for the England Maker of the Year award.
In her workshops, students will create new materials from food waste, which can then be shaped into sculptures. The works will be exhibited outdoors, where they will gradually decompose and enrich the surrounding environment.
Paulina Belik
Paulina Belik is a multidisciplinary artist and animator from Narva. She has studied at Tartu Art School and the Estonian Academy of Arts and has participated in events such as the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
Together with Belik, students will create dolls from recycled materials, using them to express their thoughts, feelings, interests, and dreams. Through the process, they will learn in Estonian about different materials, possibilities for reuse and national patterns.
Kaili-Angela Konno
Kaili-Angela Konno (Angela Soop) is a painter and art teacher whose work explores the connections between personal memories, war and peace, nature, and the human inner world. She graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts with a degree in painting and holds a master’s degree in art education. In 2026, she was nominated for the Kristjan Raud Annual Art Award.
In Konno’s classes, students will observe, listen, discuss, gather inspiration, plan, and develop their own artworks. Throughout the process, they will explore and experiment with words, sounds, images, and materials. The completed works will be presented in a joint exhibition.
Oliver Issak
Oliver Issak works across contemporary and performing arts as a dramaturg and cultural organiser. He studied semiotics and cultural theory at the University of Tartu and social design at the Estonian Academy of Arts. His practice explores the relationship between theatre and society, as well as the dynamics between individuals, communities, and institutions. In 2022, he received the Estonian Theatre Union Board Award for his projects 33 Conversations and Shadow Council.
In the workshop “Performative Journeys into the Future,” students will explore ideas of utopia, the future, and imagination through art. They will develop their own visions of what the future might look like and transform them into performative journeys through imagined worlds. The stories and ideas developed during the workshop will be brought together in a collective Utopia Collection 2026.
Katrin Tani
Katrin Tani is a contemporary dancer and choreographer who graduated from the bachelor’s programme at London Contemporary Dance School in 2025. She has extensive experience in performance, choreography, and teaching, and is eager to further develop her artistic practice.
In the workshop series “Our Roots,” Tani explores language and dance as carriers of culture and self-expression. Through dance, movement, playful exercises, discussions, and collage-making, participants will explore the shared and diverse roots, identities, and cultural heritage of Narva and Estonia. The workshop aims to foster a safe and supportive space for self-expression, discovery, and collaboration, while encouraging young people to engage in contemporary art with openness, confidence, and curiosity.
Caroliina Ladva
Caroliina Ladva is a textile artist whose work combines introspection, nature, and identity with a material-based and experimental approach. She blends traditional craft techniques with contemporary ideas, exploring the connections between memories and the environment. Ladva graduated in textile design from Pallas University of Applied Sciences and is studying cultural management at the University of Tartu. She has furthered her studies in Finland and Italy and has participated in numerous exhibitions in Estonia.
Ladva’s workshop introduces participants to tapestry art through intuitive and experimental weaving. Students will experiment with different yarns, densities, and empty space, resulting in unique and tactile tapestries.
Marta Konovalov
Marta Konovalov is a designer, creative researcher, and lecturer whose work focuses on repair, regenerative textile design, and environmental sustainability. She explores ways to extend the lifespan of objects and place greater value on existing materials. Konovalov is a doctoral student and lecturer at the Estonian Academy of Arts.
Young people will explore how stains and damaged clothing can be creatively transformed into new patterns. They will learn patching, mending, weaving, and interlacing techniques. The aim is to rethink their relationship with clothing and move from passive consumption towards caring use.
Triinu Jürves
Triinu Jürves is an interdisciplinary artist and art teacher whose work combines collage, objects, and installations and addresses personal and social themes. She has been active in the Noolegrupp, teaches art at the Kumu Education Centre, and coordinates the Metropol 6m² and Metropol Kapp galleries.
Jürves introduces students to the principles of contemporary art through practical activities. The aim is to move beyond traditional representation towards art as a means of self-expression, communication, and engagement with space. Students work individually and in groups, using a variety of materials, objects, spaces, and phones. The exercises combine numerous forms and tools of contemporary art, including the body, drawing, sound, video, objects, installation, photography, and text.
Kristina Norman
Kristina Norman is an interdisciplinary artist whose work deals with collective memory, history, public space, and social issues. She has represented Estonia at the Venice Biennale twice. Her most recent work is the documentary performance “Dew Point,” which premiered in 2025 and addresses the legacy of Soviet militarism and questions of security and a sense of safety. Norman studied at the Estonian Academy of Arts and has been pursuing doctoral studies since 2026.
“Collage as Memory” is a creative workshop in which students explore how personal and family memories can be represented through images and fragments of text. Using random materials from newspapers and magazines, they will create collages on the theme “My Family Story.” The workshop introduces a documentary approach and creative ways of working with found materials.