TALLINN — The Estonian Artists’ Association wants to push out mass-produced souvenir sellers from Tallinn’s Old Town by restricting sales to only artworks made by the association members.

Taking a stroll around Toompea and All-Lin, souvenir stands selling matrioshki (Russian dolls), amber and posters can be seen all over, especially along the Long Leg. Apart from the Christmas market or Tallinn Old Town days festival, the real Estonian art and crafts are in minority in the medieval streets.

So, the Estonian Artists’ Association is pushing to [private_supervisor]reserve the Pikk Jalg territory for association members, so they could display their creations for the tourists with discount fares. The union members consider the current fees they have to pay to the municipal government too high to compete with the mass souvenir sellers.

The association’s president Jaan Elken gives the riverbanks of the Seine in Paris as an example where local artists and book sellers sell their goods.

“The municipal government of Paris regulates the selection of merchandise, opening hours and exhibition principles,” Elken told Baltic Reports. “That is because the location as a business card is culturally important and has long-term traditions.”

The Parisian restrictions — aimed at preserving the tradition of booksellers on the Left Bank quays — were introduced in February.

The association says that at the Long Leg, through which over a million tourists pass every year, association members should be able to operate at a lower rate or for free, as their monthly pay depends on the amount of sold artworks.

“Shortly the municipal government should turn their face towards the professional artists in need,” said Elken.

On March 29 the association sent a letter concerning this issue to several city officials, but have not received an answer from any yet.

Ivo Parbus, a press spokesman of Tallinn city government said that the letter will get an answer, but that the matter needed further deliberation.

“The specialists are working on this subject but it will take some time,” Parbus told Baltic Reports.

Tallinn’s government is dominated by the pro-ethnic Russian integration Center Party, and already some municipal officials like Maimu Berg, chairman of the board of Tallinn’s administrative council are saying that all artists should be able to show their works there, not only association members.

The association has support from the ruling coalition, as Minister of Culture Laine Jänes announced her support for their proposed changes.

“Many tourists go there, and they would get more information about Estonian art. It would shape Estonia’s reputation,” Jänes told Baltic Reports.

However, Jüri Kuuskemaa, an adviser to the mayor of Tallinn told Postimees Wednesday that Estonia’s top artists Enn Põldroos, Andres Tolts, Jüri Arrak and others would not go to the streets to sell their works even with the changes.

“Third-and fifth-echelon players would go there in my opinion,” said Kuuskemaa.

Kuuskemaa said it was too bad more Estonian artists aren’t featured, but noted that the rental arrangements were set up on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“In the short run they probably won’t succeed as according to the Enterprise Board, the city made a lot of harmful rent contracts in the 1990s and Russian doll and amber sellers got many spaces in their hands,” said Kuuskemaa. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]reserve the Pikk Jalg territory for association members, so they could display their creations for the tourists with discount fares. The union members consider the current fees they have to pay to the municipal government too high to compete with the mass souvenir sellers.

The association’s president Jaan Elken gives the riverbanks of the Seine in Paris as an example where local artists and book sellers sell their goods.

“The municipal government of Paris regulates the selection of merchandise, opening hours and exhibition principles,” Elken told Baltic Reports. “That is because the location as a business card is culturally important and has long-term traditions.”

The Parisian restrictions — aimed at preserving the tradition of booksellers on the Left Bank quays — were introduced in February.

The association says that at the Long Leg, through which over a million tourists pass every year, association members should be able to operate at a lower rate or for free, as their monthly pay depends on the amount of sold artworks.

“Shortly the municipal government should turn their face towards the professional artists in need,” said Elken.

On March 29 the association sent a letter concerning this issue to several city officials, but have not received an answer from any yet.

Ivo Parbus, a press spokesman of Tallinn city government said that the letter will get an answer, but that the matter needed further deliberation.

“The specialists are working on this subject but it will take some time,” Parbus told Baltic Reports.

Tallinn’s government is dominated by the pro-ethnic Russian integration Center Party, and already some municipal officials like Maimu Berg, chairman of the board of Tallinn’s administrative council are saying that all artists should be able to show their works there, not only association members.

The association has support from the ruling coalition, as Minister of Culture Laine Jänes announced her support for their proposed changes.

“Many tourists go there, and they would get more information about Estonian art. It would shape Estonia’s reputation,” Jänes told Baltic Reports.

However, Jüri Kuuskemaa, an adviser to the mayor of Tallinn told Postimees Wednesday that Estonia’s top artists Enn Põldroos, Andres Tolts, Jüri Arrak and others would not go to the streets to sell their works even with the changes.

“Third-and fifth-echelon players would go there in my opinion,” said Kuuskemaa.

Kuuskemaa said it was too bad more Estonian artists aren’t featured, but noted that the rental arrangements were set up on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“In the short run they probably won’t succeed as according to the Enterprise Board, the city made a lot of harmful rent contracts in the 1990s and Russian doll and amber sellers got many spaces in their hands,” said Kuuskemaa. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]reserve the Pikk Jalg territory for association members, so they could display their creations for the tourists with discount fares. The union members consider the current fees they have to pay to the municipal government too high to compete with the mass souvenir sellers.

The association’s president Jaan Elken gives the riverbanks of the Seine in Paris as an example where local artists and book sellers sell their goods.

“The municipal government of Paris regulates the selection of merchandise, opening hours and exhibition principles,” Elken told Baltic Reports. “That is because the location as a business card is culturally important and has long-term traditions.”

The Parisian restrictions — aimed at preserving the tradition of booksellers on the Left Bank quays — were introduced in February.

The association says that at the Long Leg, through which over a million tourists pass every year, association members should be able to operate at a lower rate or for free, as their monthly pay depends on the amount of sold artworks.

“Shortly the municipal government should turn their face towards the professional artists in need,” said Elken.

On March 29 the association sent a letter concerning this issue to several city officials, but have not received an answer from any yet.

Ivo Parbus, a press spokesman of Tallinn city government said that the letter will get an answer, but that the matter needed further deliberation.

“The specialists are working on this subject but it will take some time,” Parbus told Baltic Reports.

Tallinn’s government is dominated by the pro-ethnic Russian integration Center Party, and already some municipal officials like Maimu Berg, chairman of the board of Tallinn’s administrative council are saying that all artists should be able to show their works there, not only association members.

The association has support from the ruling coalition, as Minister of Culture Laine Jänes announced her support for their proposed changes.

“Many tourists go there, and they would get more information about Estonian art. It would shape Estonia’s reputation,” Jänes told Baltic Reports.

However, Jüri Kuuskemaa, an adviser to the mayor of Tallinn told Postimees Wednesday that Estonia’s top artists Enn Põldroos, Andres Tolts, Jüri Arrak and others would not go to the streets to sell their works even with the changes.

“Third-and fifth-echelon players would go there in my opinion,” said Kuuskemaa.

Kuuskemaa said it was too bad more Estonian artists aren’t featured, but noted that the rental arrangements were set up on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“In the short run they probably won’t succeed as according to the Enterprise Board, the city made a lot of harmful rent contracts in the 1990s and Russian doll and amber sellers got many spaces in their hands,” said Kuuskemaa. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]reserve the Pikk Jalg territory for association members, so they could display their creations for the tourists with discount fares. The union members consider the current fees they have to pay to the municipal government too high to compete with the mass souvenir sellers.

The association’s president Jaan Elken gives the riverbanks of the Seine in Paris as an example where local artists and book sellers sell their goods.

“The municipal government of Paris regulates the selection of merchandise, opening hours and exhibition principles,” Elken told Baltic Reports. “That is because the location as a business card is culturally important and has long-term traditions.”

The Parisian restrictions — aimed at preserving the tradition of booksellers on the Left Bank quays — were introduced in February.

The association says that at the Long Leg, through which over a million tourists pass every year, association members should be able to operate at a lower rate or for free, as their monthly pay depends on the amount of sold artworks.

“Shortly the municipal government should turn their face towards the professional artists in need,” said Elken.

On March 29 the association sent a letter concerning this issue to several city officials, but have not received an answer from any yet.

Ivo Parbus, a press spokesman of Tallinn city government said that the letter will get an answer, but that the matter needed further deliberation.

“The specialists are working on this subject but it will take some time,” Parbus told Baltic Reports.

Tallinn’s government is dominated by the pro-ethnic Russian integration Center Party, and already some municipal officials like Maimu Berg, chairman of the board of Tallinn’s administrative council are saying that all artists should be able to show their works there, not only association members.

The association has support from the ruling coalition, as Minister of Culture Laine Jänes announced her support for their proposed changes.

“Many tourists go there, and they would get more information about Estonian art. It would shape Estonia’s reputation,” Jänes told Baltic Reports.

However, Jüri Kuuskemaa, an adviser to the mayor of Tallinn told Postimees Wednesday that Estonia’s top artists Enn Põldroos, Andres Tolts, Jüri Arrak and others would not go to the streets to sell their works even with the changes.

“Third-and fifth-echelon players would go there in my opinion,” said Kuuskemaa.

Kuuskemaa said it was too bad more Estonian artists aren’t featured, but noted that the rental arrangements were set up on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“In the short run they probably won’t succeed as according to the Enterprise Board, the city made a lot of harmful rent contracts in the 1990s and Russian doll and amber sellers got many spaces in their hands,” said Kuuskemaa. [/private_subscription 1 year]

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