The Estonian National Museum supports Ukraine and Ukrainians

Thursday, 10. mar 2022

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Estonia’s biggest museum is with Ukraine in thought, word and deed. The Estonian National Museum (ENM) is supporting Ukrainian refugees arriving in Estonia and helping to raise donations to guarantee the provision of humanitarian aid in Ukraine.

The museum’s permanent exhibition ‘Encounters’ is now home to a special display entitled Слава Україні! or ‘Glory to Ukraine!’, showcasing Ukrainian items from the collections of the ENM. Many of the items have great personal meaning attached to them, such as the duck-shaped container that belonged to Crimean-born Pauliine Allikas, and a range of beautifully painted and adorned Easter eggs. Everyday items from Ukraine are also displayed.

Visitors to the museum can contribute to the provision of humanitarian aid in Ukraine in a number of ways: every donator gets a Ukrainian honey cake in our restaurant (minimum donation 5 €) and and our store and information desk will be giving everyone who makes a donation to the Estonian Red Cross at the museum a ribbon in Ukrainian colours.

Starting from this week, access to the museum’s exhibitions is free of charge for Ukrainian refugees, for whom museum staff will be happy to organise tours and cultural programmes. The museum building is also being made available for events and gatherings for the Ukrainian community: the ENM will not only provide space, but also technical assistance to organisers of events designed to support Ukraine and Ukrainians either directly or via the money raised from them.

The museum has also contacted the City of Tartu to offer accommodation in Raadi Manor for a couple of refugee families, and announced that it will be happy to take refugees on as workers.

Kertu Saks, the director of the ENM, says the museum wants to help the refugees in every way possible. “We’ll be delighted if among them are future colleagues who can help us out by translating our display texts into Ukrainian or assisting with preparations for exhibitions and events,” she said.

The museum is also setting up computers for the refugees to use should they need to, and will provide catering services for them if required.

For further information please contact:

Illari Lään
Head of Public and International Relations, ENM
Mobile: +372 50 28 538