Tallinn has launched a program offering free educational excursions for school classes and kindergarten groups to city cultural institutions. Each group is eligible for one free visit per year. The initiative aims to expand access to cultural life for children and young people in Tallinn and is available to all local kindergartens, general education schools, and vocational schools.

“Our goal is to ensure that all children and students can participate in cultural life. This is an important step in creating opportunities and nurturing future cultural audiences,” said Deputy Mayor Kaarel Oja. He added that the program includes dozens of existing educational activities in cultural institutions, with many new options introduced. “The selection of study visits is diverse and engaging, catering to all age groups.”

Participating schools and kindergartens can visit the educational programs at the Tallinn City Museum branches (City Life Museum, Kiek in de Kök Fortifications Museum, Museum of Photography, Children’s Museum Miiamilla, Kalamaja Museum, House of Peter the Great, The People’s Museum of Tallinn, and Gallery SEEK). Other institutions involved include Tallinn Philharmonic, Tallinn Libraries, Tallinn City Theatre, Tallinn Zoo, Tallinn Botanic Garden, and the Tallinn Literature Center (including A. H. Tammsaare, Mati Unt, and Eduard Vilde museums). These lessons and workshops supplement the curriculum with practical activities and new experiences. Full information is available at tallinn.ee/kultuuripilet and on the websites of the cultural institutions.

“Unfortunately, there is still a growing gap between people’s desire and ability to attend cultural events and visit cultural institutions. Last year, only 41% of Tallinn residents said they could participate in cultural life as much as they wished. A third cited financial reasons as the main barrier, a figure that has grown in recent years. We hope this program will be a significant step forward, alongside initiatives like Museum Sundays and school concerts, to improve cultural accessibility for Tallinn residents,” Oja explained.

The program's budget for this year is €550,000. The cost of each study visit for a class or kindergarten group ranges from €100 to €250, but participation is completely free for children, students, and accompanying adults. Each group can use the support once per calendar year. Schools are required to contact the desired cultural institution directly to organize their visit.

The support is available to all kindergartens, general education schools, and vocational schools (including private and state institutions) in Tallinn. Currently, more than 21,200 children attend kindergartens, over 57,500 students are enrolled in general education schools, and 9,580 are in vocational schools.