Culture, Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Funds, Real Estate

Responsibility for heritage conservation areas in Estonia lies with the Ministry of Culture, which has allocated 3.3 million euros for the purpose as part of its program titled "Local development and reduction of poverty". The funds will be distributed between two activities -- a call for applications for nine cities and a cooperation project between the National Heritage Board and the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage as the donor partner.

The call for applications regards the restoration of buildings located in heritage conservation areas in Haapsalu, Kuressaare, Lihula, Paide, Parnu, Rakvere, Viljandi, Valga and Voru and giving them a public purpose in line with the needs of the local community. The grant cannot be used for construction of accommodation spaces, however.

As the grant aims to revive heritage conservation areas, unused buildings with great impact on the surrounding space will take precedence. A function attracting a large number of new users is also a requirement.

The call for applications is set to open this year and financing will be made available for the restoration of 14 buildings. The budget of the round totals over 2.8 mln euros. Grants per project range from 200,000 euros to 500,000 euros with the share of support capped at 50%. 

Eligible applicants are all public and private sector institutions registered as legal persons and nongovernmental organisations in Estonia who own or manage a building located in a heritage conservation area.