Nine artists will visit schools in Narva this spring to introduce contemporary art and offer an oppurtinity to practice the Estonian language
Narva Art Residency selected the participating artists who will take part of the project “Artists Are Present,” taking place from this March to May. Each artist will spend two weeks in residency in the border city and meet with a student group over five days to conduct creative and hands-on-activities, experimentation, and discussions.
This time, nine artists get the oppurtinity to participate in the creative residency: Erki Kasemets, Vaim Sarv, Jevgeni Zolotko, Tea Lemberpuu, Kairi Getman, Trevor Kinna, Kerttu Siplane, Mari Männa, and Mia Tamme. The winners were chosen by a four-member jury that included Anneli Porri from the Estonian Academy of Arts, initiator of the “Art Creates Closeness” platform Hanna-Liis Kont, artist Flo Kasearu, and director of the Narva Art Residency Johanna Rannula. According to the jury, the number of applications was a pleasant surprise – there were around 30 application. Several intriguing Estonian artists applied whose studies or careers have developed abroad.
The goal of the “Artists Are Present” program is to increase the accessibility and presence of contemporary art while offering young people the chance to practice Estonian, which is particularly important in light of the ongoing education reform. The newly selected artists will work at Narva-Jõesuu School, Narva Pähklimäe School, and Narva School No. 6.
Artists will receive a stipend of €1,000, and both the artists and participating school teachers will be supported through training sessions and mentoring meetings led by Eva Liisa Kubinyi, Hanna-Liis Kont, Christina Lään, Anneli Porri, and Anna Golubeva.
Get to know the artists:
Tea Lemberpuu focuses her residency on the idea that making mistakes is not a failure but a natural part of learning and the creative process. She will offer students in Narva opportunities for improvisation, drawing, and camera-less photography.
Mari Männa highlights sculptural thinking and the possibilities of spatial art, which she has also taught at the Estonian Academy of Arts’ pre-academy. With students, she will create one-minute sculptures, model clay, and use found objects.
Trevor Kinna is an interdisciplinary young artist studying animation at the Estonian Academy of Arts. In Narva, he approaches animation as a tool for self-expression, creating moving images together with students.
Vaim Sarv is an Estonian artist born in Canada who will lead workshops in regilaul (traditional runic song), developing language skills, public speaking, and self-expression. He will also share vocal exercises and movement practices.
Kerttu Siplane works with recycled materials to create sculptural objects. She will invite Narva’s youth to use books as raw material while exploring the book as a carrier of memory, information, language, and values.
Erki Kasemets is an installation, painting, performance, and theater artist, locally known primarily for his trash art. In Narva, he plans to use tools and ideas from existing artistic toolboxes.
Jevgeni Zolotko, a freelance artist from Tartu, creates works that delve into the deeper layers of consciousness and culture. During his sessions, students will use old books for drawing and to create an installational display.
Mia Tamme focuses on textiles as a form of collective self-expression and emphasizes the role of craft and traditional techniques in contemporary art. Over the course of the week, students will create personal flags that will ultimately form one large collaborative flag.
Kairi Getman’s work is rooted in nature, heritage, and reuse. In Narva, she plans to introduce leaf printing, simple plant dyeing, and eco-printing on paper and cotton.
NART has been organising this project and taking contemporary artists to Narva schools since spring 2025. With the support from the Smart Future Fund, the project will continue, and this selection represents the first third of the 27 artists who will visit a total of nine schools over the next year and a half.
More information:
Johanna Rannula director of the Narva Art Residency johanna.rannula@artun.ee
59177795