Culture, Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Mergers and take-overs

Estonian Culture Ministry plans either merging or liquidating museums.

"Should society subsidize 200 museums? This is something we have to decide. We can’t turn into one giant museum and have every Estonian work in a museum. We must generate value that turns museums sustainable," noted Estonian Culture Minister. According to Lang, he is probing the willingness of local municipalities to contribute.

Ants Leemets, the Chairman of the Board at Viru County Museums, said that museums compete for people's free time with television, computers and even major sporting events, and therefore have no alternative but to offer exciting activities and more interaction while trying to teach history.

Lang said that museums have turned into a force to be reckoned with.

As reported, the nature-friendly Estonian Natural History Museum has been opened in Estonia this year (in September) after a year-long renovation.

Last year, the number of people attending cultural establishments started growing In Estonia.

During the crisis years, museums became the most popular cultural establishments, visited by 59% of residents aged 20-64; in 2011 the performance arts (theatre, opera, dance performances and concerts) regained their place as the most popular form of culture.

Thirty-seven% of Estonian residents went to see sports events in 2011, 52% visited the cinema, 59% went to a museum or an arts exhibition, and 64% saw a theatre performance, an opera, a dance performance or a concert.

In 2011, Tallinn was the European Capital of Culture, which was also one of the reasons why cultural establishments and events gained more attention and more visitors.