Viljandi Heritage Festival merges folklore with modern solutions

Text Mark Taylor
Photo Andrei Chertkov

This year’s Viljandi Heritage Festival will showcase how folklore and traditional knowledge can address today’s economic and environmental challenges. Taking place from October 1 to 5, the festival includes numerous art exhibitions, musical performances, workshops and a conference.

The festival will open with an international conference titled “Heritage in the Service of Resilient Communities,” where experts will discuss how cultural heritage can enrich modern living and generate sustainable solutions for the future. Following this, international masterclasses will offer professionals and students alike in crafts and traditional music the chance to exchange knowledge and form new collaborations.

Art plays a significant role in the festival, with the Viljandi Art School and various heritage institutions set to merge traditional and contemporary practices through street art and performance. The festival will feature thematic exhibitions at different venues around the city, including the Kondas Centre and Viljandi Museum.

The festival will culminate in a vibrant Heritage Party on October 4 to 5, at the Viljandi Sports School. This event will include workshops where you can learn traditional skills, alongside musical performances.

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