As a UNESCO City of Music, Tallinn pays special attention to music events that that add vibrancy to the city's cultural lineup. For the first round of music project grants in 2024, the city will allocate a total of €154,070 to support 32 initiatives. A record number of 90 projects were submitted for this funding round.

Deputy Mayor Kaarel Oja remarked on the significant volume of applications as evidence of Tallinn's vibrant and diverse cultural scene. "It's encouraging to see a wide array of new initiatives alongside traditional events. The list of grants approved reflects the full spectrum of musical genres, ensuring high-quality events for all music lovers in Tallinn, all organized to an exceptionally high standard," Oja added.

Music event subsidies are distributed based on Tallinn's non-profit support system, where submitted applications are evaluated by a specialized expert commission based on both the artistic and organizational quality of the projects. The broader impact of the projects on Tallinn's cultural life and their accessibility to the city's residents, the communication strategy of the projects, and the environmental friendliness of the events are also assessed.

Among others, the following events received funding from the music project application round:
 

• Lootsi Koda Foundation's project "Pärdi päevad 2024 Tallinnas (Pärt Days 2024 in Tallinn)". The traditional Nargenfestival's Pärt Days will take place in Tallinn from September 2-11, 2024. The concerts, curated by Tõnu Kaljuste in honor of Arvo Pärt and to enrich the cultural life of Tallinn, are promised by the project proposers to be very diverse and special, worthy of a UNESCO City of Music.
• NGO Oma Kontsert's project "Ülemaailmse Klaveripäeva tähistamine 8-tunnise kontserdiga (Celebrating World Piano Day with an 8-Hour concert)". On March 28, International Piano Day, about 20 of Estonia's best pianists will give a continuous 8-hour free concert in the atrium of the Solaris Shopping Centre, alternately performing one calm piano piece. The project, according to the organizers, is necessary to draw public attention to classical music, the piano as an instrument, and our best pianists. Additionally, it is important for Tallinn to be marked on the world map among cities where Piano Day events are held.
• Association of Estonian Professional Musicians project " Eesti Interpreetide Festival Eesti Muusika Nädal 2024 (Festival Estonian Music Week 2024)". This year marks the fourth annual Estonian Professional Musicians Festival Estonian Music Week, created to enrich the cultural lineup of Tallinn as a UNESCO City of Music with a high-quality event, focusing on the work of Estonian composers throughout the centuries and the diverse Estonian classical interpretation art of today. Estonian Music Week takes place from November 11-17, 2024, in the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. The festival will feature solo and chamber music works by Estonian composers, reflecting their different development stages, alongside beloved works by interpreters and listeners, the program includes lesser-known or historically forgotten musical works.
• Creative Intervention OÜ's project "Dark Side of the Moon 2024". This project marks the sixth annual international 72-hour electronic music festival. Each year, about 20 performers (14 from abroad and six from Estonia) have performed on three stages. The 2024 program curator is HALL and Berlin’s Bassiani resident Artur Lääts, who has compiled a diverse international program, emphasizing more new Estonian artists' music. The festival creates a broad bridge between Estonia and Europe.
• NGO Funkigurmaanid's project "FinEst Funk Festival". The festival aims to diversify the city's music life, enhance its reputation as a City of Music, and provide Tallinn's residents and visitors with the opportunity to enjoy concerts by internationally recognized funk and rhythm music artists in their hometown. The festival also gives Tallinn musicians a chance to perform and network with the world's funk music elites.

The deadline for applications for the second music events funding round of this year is August 19. Information on all open application rounds in Tallinn's cultural sector can be found on the city's website.