Exhibitions

Viljandi Town Gallery, Tallinn Str. 11-1

The exhibition has on display some new and several old bowed instruments from both Estonian Theater and Music Museum and private collections. As a surprise for fiddlers it is possible to see the violin that once belonged to a famous Tori wedding musician Mihkel Toom from Lepiku what he bought in 1888 and what he played on at most of those numerous weddings that the master was invited to. In addition to the old and newly made bowed harps you have an extraordinary chance to see a copy of an original Vormsi talharpa made by a Finnish jouhikko master Rauno Nieminen. Besides all this there are photos and information on the historic and contemporary bowed instrument players.

The exhibition was compiled by Krista Sildoja, Raivo Sildoja and Mare Hunt, and it is open :

At the same time you can also visit the annual exhibition of Estonian Patchwork Society.

Kondase Center, Pikk Str. 8

Institute for Hungarian Studies has mediated an exposition of 40 paintings that were selected from the collections of RomArt Gypsy Fund by János Rékasi.

Hungarian Gypsies are valued first and foremost for their wonderful musical talent, their visual culture and art did not become the objects of interest until in 1980s when systematic research began. A lot of Gypsy artists meet the requirements of the so-called professional art an have gone along with the general trends in Hungarian art. However, there are many naivist painters among Gypsy people who have retained their own traditional folk art way of expression.
The painters can thematically be divided into two groups, the one is expressing themselves by painting dreams and visions. Their works depict spontaneously painted fantasy human and animal figures, movement and unreal landscapes to express the volatile feelings hidden in the depths of a human soul. This is how János Balázs - a Gypsy doing odd jobs - became more widely known in the 1980s, having started painting his dreams at the age of 63. At this exhibition their group is represented by Jolán Oláh and Mara Oláh.

The other group of artists, e.g. Teréz Orsós and Gyöngyi Kalányos Ráczné show mainly their everyday life and work and the highlights. Colorful, immediate and with fairy-tale elements, these pictures are sociographically an interesting and valuable summary of the way of life and thinking of the Gypsy people.

The Exhibition is open:

TICKET 15EEK / 5EEK students, the retired

During the Festival you can learn dances in the garden of Kondase Center and listen to Gypsy fairy-tales.
The permanent exhibition of Estonian naivists is also open.

The Viljandi Museum, Laidoneri Sq. 10

Puhkuse veedame Viljandis (We’ll spend our vacation in Viljandi)
The exhibition compiled from the Museum fund and private collections tries to provide an overview of summer-life in Viljandi during the past century. The timewise focus, however, is on the years 1920-1930 when Viljandi town government made great efforts to make Viljandi – with its wonderful already existing natural qualities – an inland resort.

The photos on display show the joys of summer, and favorite places of both townspeople and visitors in 1900-1980. The exhibition guest can read media articles on the events at that time, and watch a 1939 newsreel of Viljandi in summer.

You will also see other items such as beach equipment and clothes, summerhats, a collection of sunglasses, etc. on display – anything that can be connected to entertainment, recreation and vacation in summer.

The exhibition was put together by Ain Vislapuu and Herki Helves with their helpful colleagues.

The exhibition is open from July 7 to August 14.

TICKET 10EEK Discounts: students 5EEK and Family Ticket 20EEK

The Viljandi Museum, Laidoneri Sq. 10

A traveling exhibition “Koltade võlu ja valu” (The Pleasure and Pain of the Koltas) reflects the experience of Estonian journalists of Kolta-Sami culture.
The Koltas live in the meeting point of Finland, Russia and Norway, near Petsamo at the moment. There are 400-500 of them and they were driven out of Kola Peninsula after the end of World War II. Kolta culture is only viable in Finland

The authors of the photos are Viio Aitsam, Rein Sikk and Ilmar Vananurm.

The exhibition is open from July 27 to August 7.

TICKET 10EEK Discounts: students 5EEK and Family Ticket 20EEK