With the State Budget Act approved by the Riigikogu at the third reading, the budget for cross-sectoral development of the Ministry of Culture will increase by 1.5 million euro. This is a one-off additional funding, the purpose of which is to support Estonia's recognition in the world and the participation of children and young people in culture.
"This year has been a real year of cultural diplomacy, made possible by our world-class creators and performers, thanks to whom the Estonian language and knowledge of our culture resonated all over the world. It is important for us to take advantage of this positive wave and do everything in our power to ensure that our culture continues beyond the borders of our country is known and noticed," emphasised Minister of Culture Heidy Purga. "It is also important that we support the next generation of children and young people and their contact with a more valuable part of our culture."
One million euros of the additional volume will be directed to the measure "Estonian Culture in the World", the total amount of which is 1.5 million euros in 2026. The aim of the measure is to support the international visibility of Estonian culture, increase the export capacity of cultural institutions, and support the development of international cooperation and cultural diplomacy, which is especially important in the current security situation.
€500,000 will be directed to children and young people's participation in culture, which is a priority for the Minister of Culture. The additional support will help to expand the availability of cultural education activities, support the participation of children and young people in experiencing culture, and thus increase the next generation of audiences in Estonia who appreciate culture.
In the opinion of the Ministry of Culture, the one-off additional funding will contribute to the implementation of the strategic development goals of the cultural sector and strengthen both international competitiveness and domestic cultural education.
Additional information and the exact conditions of the application rounds will be published soon on the website of the Ministry of Culture.