NART is presenting a new ambitious project in Narva, initiated with the support of the British Council. Our goal is to increase the availability and presence of contemporary art in Narva and Narva-Jõesuu. After announcing an open call for participation in a commissioned art project based on various education practices, the jury selected three artists – Helena Atkin, Daria Titova and Liisbeth Horn.Each artist receive a grant of 1000€ and a budget of 700€ for completing the artwork. “Artists are present” project akes place during the spring of 2025.
The selection was done by an expert jury of four members. Olesja Katšanovskaja-Münd is the curator of cultural and educational programs in Tallinn Art Hall, Liina Siib is the head and professor of graphic art department in EKA, Pille Maffucci is a teacher at Estonian Language House in Narva, and Johanna Rannula is the head of the art residency. The jury was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the applications and the sincere interest of Estonian artists to meet with Narva youth.
Helena Atkin is an British-Estonian composer-performer whose creative practice revolves around music. Helen plans to empower the young community of Narva by exploring notation beyond its musical associations, using it as a tool to encourage critical thinking, creative expression, and a deeper understanding of information.
Daria Titova moved to Estonia three years ago from Ukraine and has learned the language. She plans to support children in Ida-Virumaa in becoming also more comfortable with the Estonian language. Daria will lead a textile-based art project, where creative activities such as cutting, sewing, and embroidery provide opportunities for language learning and self-expression.
Liisbeth Horn is a freelance (performane) artists who plans to lead creative workshops artistic exploration, critical thinking, and dialogue. Her main focus is on actionism (performance art) and she will draw from passion for integration, contemporary art education, and hands-on teaching methods when working with youth in Narva.
The “Artists are Present” project provided selected artists with a unique opportunity to engage in community work in Narva and Narva-Jõesuu. Using various methods and creative techniques, the artists conducted several workshops with local school students focused on art and media literacy. In today’s hyper-information society, media literacy skills are essential, as is the ability to understand how an object, quote, or image can be taken out of context and used in an entirely different way. In other words, the project emphasized the development of critical thinking and the ability to critically interpret information.
The artists’ visits were integrated into regular school lessons, and they organized these meetings as workshops, discussions, games, and craft activities. All activities were conducted in Estonian, which was significant in the context of the ongoing educational reforms. Following the school visits, the artists created artworks or installations reflecting their experiences. These artworks were presented and exhibited as part of the Narva Art Residency program at the conclusion of the project in May.
NART supported the project by organizing meetings between the artists to facilitate the exchange of experiences and by providing educational consultations with specialists to assist in planning the student activities.
The artists were be present in three schools:
– Narva Vanalinna Põhikool
– Kreenholmi Kool
– Narva-Jõesuu Kool
This project draws inspiration from several predecessors. In Latvia, a similar project was successfully completed where 7 interested and motivated Latvian artists stayed in 6 different schools (https://artistispresent.lv/) A project called “Kunstnikud kooli” involved an impressive amount of artists and South-Estonian schools(https://www.moks.ee/events/artists-to-schools) . (https://www.moks.ee/events/artists-to-schools) Another project called “Kunstnikud koolidesse!”, was organized for the centennial of the state.
For one week artists visited schools and students had the unique opportunity to dive into art-based workshops that blended creativity with personal growth, critical thinking, and cultural exploration.
Helena Atkin invited students to experience music in entirely new ways – listening, seeing, and feeling it beyond the traditional. Her workshops encouraged young minds to think deeply, express freely, and explore the boundaries of sound and thought.
Daria Titova led hands-on textile workshops where students stitched stories and practiced Estonian language skills at the same time. Her warm approach empowered students from Ida-Viru County to feel more confident, both creatively and linguistically.
Liisbeth Horn sparked important conversations about society, identity, and integration through actionism and creative exercises. Her sessions invited students to think critically about their surroundings and imagine new possibilities through artistic exploration.
The next stage of the project was the creation of artworks, which the artists presented at an exhibition at NART. It took place from May 7 to 25 under the title Languages of Care. Each artist’s work reflected a unique experience of interacting with students from Narva schools, resulting from a creative dialogue and a joint exploration of the themes of care and media literacy.
