Rich culture - strong city

by Mr Olov Gibsonby Ms Lindia Lallo

The 444-year old Kures-saare is a city of about 15,000 inhabitants. The cultural life is an important ingredient of developing a high standard living environment. The Development Plan of Kuressaare regards maintaining and enriching the original local cultural environment and the creative spirit as the objective of the culture policy. Culture has an important role to play in fostering the identity of the I local community f and in developing social networks. Both folk and professional culture is of high importance for the city. High quality and diversity of cultural life is sustained in the cooperation of public, private and the third sectors. As Kuressaare is the biggest local government in the County of Saaremaa, culture here plays an essential role in cultural life of the whole county.

It is important to maintain and develop the local folk culture for next generations. Thus, particular attention is paid to children, music school and art schools providing a wide range of possibilities to develop creativity and take first steps towards professional art.

As tourism is the main field of industry, efforts are taken to provide a diverse cultural life in the city round the calendar. Tourism supports culture and vice versa. The key players in the city are the Culture Centre, City Theatre, Saaremaa Museum and Central Library that is celebrating its 100^th anniversary this year. Kuressaare can boast with some traditional large-scale international events, like Opera Days, Chamber Music Festival, Maritime Days, Castle Music, etc. A variety of concerts of different music styles, like folk music, choral singing, jazz, chamber or opera music, are significant. In art galleries pieces of local and foreign artists are exhibited, folk and modern dance performed by local, and visiting groups allow people to enjoy themselves.

Physical culture is an essential part of cultural life. During the recent years the city has invested a lot in developing facilities for active living and sports. The Sports Hall, launched two years ago, hosts concerts, shows and performances next to sports competitions. For open-air activities walking, running and cycling trails have been built. Kuressaare is keen to follow the "Healthy mind in healthy body" policy.