Cultural Stories and Encounters in Rapla County Offered New Ideas to the Võru Cultural Sector

Cultural workers from Võru County visited Rapla on the 9th-10th of September for their traditional autumn study trip to meet colleagues from another county, gain new experiences, and exchange ideas. This year, they explored Rapla. The diverse program included visits to both large and small community centers and cultural sector organizations. 

On the first day, the cultural workers from Võru County visited the Kohila and Märjamaa municipalities. In Kohila, they began by visiting the Tohisoo Manor and the Kohila Arts School located there. The school encompasses both music and art. Director Inga Heamägi gave a tour of the school, talking about the school and the history of the building. She mentioned that many children from around the area attend the Kohila Arts School. They also met with the newly appointed cultural specialist of Kohila municipality, Andra Aavik, who explained the culture and recreational activities in the municipality, as well as the support mechanisms. According to Kristi Vals, the cultural specialist of Võru County Development Center, the study trip is a great opportunity to see first-hand how other cultural organizers work and to gather fresh ideas to implement in their own region.

Kohila village celebrated the 80th anniversary of receiving town status last weekend. The celebration took place at the Kohila Paper Mill and its surroundings, which the cultural workers from Võru County also visited during their study trip. Since Kohila lacked a cultural and community center, efforts were made with the help of community organizations such as the Kohila Paper Mill and the NGO Vabakond led by Marika Jahilo to renovate and preserve the building as a pleasant meeting place. Jahilo described it as a place that holds importance for many.

In Hageri, the community center houses the municipal institutions together: the library and the open youth center. Additionally, the nostalgic Hageri Museum and the Country Pharmacy operate nearby. Hageri community center may be small, but it has excellent acoustics for opera performances, as stated by Mihkel Juhkami, the center's director. "Hageri community center is an ideal place for acoustic concerts," said the center's director. Additionally, the cultural workers explored the outdoor stage in the park and the attractive courtyard area. "Both in Kohila municipality and elsewhere in Rapla County, it was noted that many initiatives and community gathering places have been successfully maintained thanks to local Leader support. However, this requires always writing projects and finding matching contributions," noted Kristi Vals, a cultural specialist at the Võru County Development Center.

The first day ended in Märjamaa municipality at the Märjamaa Community Center and the Wäega Värk Heritage Center. In the cozy Märjamaa Community Center, they were warmly welcomed by Kristina Oss, the director of Märjamaa Community Center, and cultural event organizer Ene Klaus. The municipality's cultural specialist Heli Lints talked about cultural activities in Märjamaa. "In Märjamaa, we don't have a fancy cinema complex," said Anneli Lõhmus, the cultural event organizer from Vastseliina community center, praising the small cinema hall and its diverse film lineup.

At the Heritage Center, visitors could taste traditional local food, enjoy folk music, and explore and purchase handicrafts created by local NGOs. Thanks to Eve Burmeister's initiative, the Heritage Center emerged from the need to relocate from the cultural center, resulting in a delightful place for art activities and content creation. 

The second day of the study trip largely took place in the Rapla Culture Center, which impressed many. Rapla is well known for being the birthplace of many Estonian celebrities, some of whom have dedicated rooms named after them in the Culture Center: Riho Sibul, Tõnu Susi, Raimond Valgre, Jaan Rüütman, Linda Raus, and Rudolf Weinberg. Visitors explored the works of local celebrities who have passed away and met current well-known figures. According to the cultural workers from Võru County, the Culture Center was a great example of how value can be added to every corner. 

Youth musicians from Rapla return to contribute to their hometown. "The director of the Culture Center, Age Rebel, enthusiastically welcomes their ideas, and new thoughts and projects are born,” praised Kristi Vals the attitude towards young people. Local musician Sten-Olle Moldau, whom the Võru group also met, aptly put it: "If you've been taught and cherished so well in your childhood, you want to come back and pass it on." People in the cultural sector in Võru County dream of similar developments, but they also understand the influence of Rapla's proximity to Tallinn. For instance, several teachers commute from Tallinn to teach in Rapla.

In Rapla, the group also visited the central library and the digital Memory Center. The Rapla Central Library is unique in having its cultural organizer who coordinates events and writes projects. The Memory Center showed the importance of preserving heritage. "In Võru County, we miss a unified place to preserve cultural and community history; too often, it disappears with the individual," said cultural specialist Kristi Vals.

The Võru group had the opportunity to learn about the activities of the BAAS Cultural Club. The club was preparing for the cultural festival "Särin." A volunteer team of friends has organized the festival for almost a decade and plans to continue as long as the passion remains. According to Vals, it was an important experience to witness creative spaces coming to life, new stories and initiatives being born. "Year by year, more young people get involved in the festival organization and gain valuable experience, moving on to larger productions. This is all fueled by passion, supported by local authorities, projects, and private entrepreneurs - without the support of private entrepreneurs, such initiatives would not be possible," added Kristi Vals.

The BAAS Cultural Club premises also house the Rapla Folk Costume Advice Office, and in the same building, the TaevaniMaani ceramics workshop, which concluded the study trip. The confident leader of the ceramics workshop served as a good example and inspiration for many participants on the study trip. 

During the trip, meetings and extensive discussions were held with cultural specialists from the municipalities of Rapla County, the culture and education specialist of the Rapla Municipalities' Association, Age Tekku, and the guide for the trip, Anne Ummalas, the folk culture specialist of the Estonian Traditional Culture Center in Rapla County. Sufficient time was allotted in each location for discussions to not only listen but also to analyze culturally significant topics and share experiences. The main themes discussed were the challenges and rewards of managing community centers and cultural institutions, the sustainability of groups, and support opportunities, as well as organizing joint events.

The study trip also provided several practical tips. For instance, the sound and lighting technician at the Rapla Culture Center, Kalju Visnu, showed the participants how to select lighting for an exhibition.

These days were marked by a true sense of solidarity among cultural organizers. Similar to the cultural workers in Võru County, those in Rapla County are very supportive and actively involved in everything. The trip was truly eye-opening for the participants. It was good to see support for those who want to make a difference. These two days passed sparkling with high-quality arts and sunny weather. And, of course, the Võru County folk culture specialist at the Estonian Traditional Culture Center, Aigi Palli, had many cultural surprises in store for the cultural workers. The study trip was supported by the Estonian Cultural Endowment Võru County expert group and the Võru County Development Center.