Photo: Anu Ansu

Tickets available for the International Sustainability Conference until 15 Oct

Tuesday, 08. oct 2024

Registrations for in-person participation will close on 15 October

The Estonian National Museum will focus on sustainability in everyday life from October 30 to November 2. 

In Tartu, 80 speakers from over 15 countries in Europe and beyond will be present at the international conference "Sustainability in Practice: DIY, Repair, Reuse, and Innovation". The event's ticket sales are available through October 15.

The conference aims to rethink ecological sustainability through an empirical perspective on sustainable do it yourself (DIY) practices, solutions and lifestyles shaped by culture, heritage and history. Facing the global climate crisis, this conference seeks lessons from the past and present in order to develop more sustainable and resilient ways of life.

Tenno Teidearu, the conference's organiser and ENM researcher, notes that DIY, repair, and reuse have historically been a regular part of consumer culture globally. However, these principles no longer play a key role in today's welfare society. "The conference brings together researchers and specialists from many countries and regions to introduce traditional sustainable practices and new community initiatives based on circular economy principles and cultural heritage."

During the four-day conference, attendees can listen to sessions analysing DIY practices and innovation throughout history, as well as participate in workshops and tours. In addition to cultural academics and museum specialists, craft scientists, designers, and change leaders will share their expertise. Professor Steven J. Jackson (Cornell University) from the United States, along with Professors Tomás Errázuriz (Andrés Bello University) and Ricardo Greene San Sebastián University) from Chile, will provide keynote speeches at the conference.

The academic programme takes place on 31 October and 1 November 2024 at the Estonian National Museum. The full programme involves organised tours of the “Washing Machine Made of Beetroot'' exhibition on 30 October 2024, and visits to public repair workshops, community garden and Foodsharing network in Tartu on 2 November 2024.

Additionally, a themed exhibition will be available in the museum's A-lobby beginning on October 1. Visitors will be able to compare how our methods of newspaper reuse differ from those in Chile, located on the other side of the world. The exhibition "Everyday Use" looks at the countless ways people at home reuse newspapers.

Conference registration is open until October 15. We provide the option to participate online at a discounted cost for individuals who are unable to attend in person. Purchase tickets at https://sustainability2024.publicon.ee/.

The conference is organised by the Estonian National Museum in cooperation with the exhibition project “Washing Machine Made of Beetroot”, which is curated by the Estonian Road Museum, the Estonian Agricultural Museum and the Tartu City Museum. The conference and exhibition are part of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 programme.

More information on the conference webpage: https://enmconferences.ee/sustainability-2024