Influential entrepreneurs join forces to support Estonian contemporary art

Seven successful philanthropists and entrepreneurs have joined forces with ECADC to launch Outset Estonia, a philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting contemporary art. First of its kind in Estonia, the initiative relies on private investments that go towards the production of new artwork and large-scale projects as well as placement of Estonian artists’ work into public art collections. In collaboration with ECADC, the founding members of Outset Estonia are Hannes Tamjärv, Rain Lõhmus, Maarja Oviir-Neivelt, Jaan Pillesaar, Hede Kerstin Luik, Merit and Aivar Berzin.

Outset Estonia is an autonomous organization that belongs to the highly regarded and influential Outset network. Founded in 2003, in London, the philanthropic organization is active in 8 countries, having already had considerable influence on their respective art scenes. On 28th April, Candida Gertler, one of the co-founders of Outset, and Karin Laansoo, Director of ECADC, signed an agreement with which Estonia was accepted as a member of the newly established Outset Estonia. Besides the UK, Outset has divisions in the Netherlands, Germany, Israel, India, Scotland, Greece, and the United States. Since its inception in 2003, Outset has raised €4.3 million in membership fees, and supported altogether 160 artists and 80 institutional projects.

Proposals for funding can be submitted by Outset Estonia institutional partners – art centres, museums, and galleries – directly involved in the organization of the projects. In 2015, the supported projects include Jaanus Samma’s A Chairman’s Tale for the Estonian Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale, and Kris Lemsalu’s participation at Glasstress 2015 Gotika exhibition, also aligned with the Venice Biennale. A group of 45 members of the philanthropic organization will be visiting the above-mentioned projects funded by Outset Estonia on 13th May. At the organization’s annual meeting held only a few days before, Estonia will officially become a member of the Outset network.