Culture, Education and Science, Estonia

“He is not the first creative person in the Academy, but he is the first musician,” said the Secretary General of the Academy of Sciences Leo Mõtus. In addition to Arvo Pärt, composer Erkki-Sven Tüür was also nominated for the title of member of the Academy of Sciences and according to Mõtus, two rounds had to be carried out in order to make the decision. “If you were to look at the results that Arvo Pärt and Erkki-Sven Tüür have achieved on the global level, Mr Pärt is slightly in a more advantaged position,” he explained.

Since the year 1938, creative persons have been included as members of the Academy, mostly literary authors such as Friedebert Tuglas and Gustav Suits.

Researchers with Estonian citizenship who have outstanding achievements in their scope of research and development and who have significantly developed science in their fields are elected as members of the Academy of Sciences. Other remarkable Estonian creative persons who have contributed significantly into the intellectual culture in Estonia can also be elected as members.