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President presents Jaan Tootsen with 2010 Young Cultural Figure Award

17.06.2010

At Kadriorg today President Toomas Hendrik Ilves presented Ööülikool /Night University/ series editor Jaan Tootsen with the 2010 Young Cultural Figure Award of the Cultural Fund of the President of the Republic. At Kadriorg today President Toomas Hendrik Ilves presented Ööülikool /Night University/ series editor Jaan Tootsen with the 2010 Young Cultural Figure Award of the Cultural Fund of the President of the Republic.

The head of state commended Tootsen on his development of the series of radio programmes broadcast on Vikerraadio and Klassikaraadio and in so doing on his contribution to Estonian culture and promotion of the ideas of bright thinkers.

President Ilves said that Tootsen’s thirst for knowledge had carried over to a large number of people. “The ‘Night University’ series holds an important place in our cultural history,” he stated. “It is a remarkable collection of knowledge.”

The president remarked that the ‘Night University’ series developed and nurtured by Tootsen has brought together a large number of foremost thinkers and presented them to a wider audience.

Tootsen thanked the president and the Cultural Fund and said that the award was recognition for the hard work of the entire Night University team.

“It came as a shock, albeit a very positive one!” he said. “It’s really gratifying. Night University just turned 10, too – the first programme was aired back in May or June of 2000.”

Tootsen was nominated for the award by Marius Peterson who, along with Doris Kareva, Tõnu Õnnepalu, Marek Tamm and Jaak Johanson, underscored the contribution the ‘Night University’ series has made to the Estonian cultural scene in the last decade. Peterson, the recipient of the 2009 Young Cultural Figure Award, says that as an institution of learning there is also an international aspect to the Night University.

“Quite a few Estonians who have been living in ‘exile’ for some time have mentioned that with the series available to listen to on the Internet, it’s been an important link to home for them,” Peterson wrote in his nomination of Tootsen. “And I know just as many foreigners who are learning more about our language and culture by tuning in to the lectures.”

The Young Cultural Figure Award includes a cash prize of 75,000 kroons. It is presented to cultural figures up to the age of 35 who have Estonian roots and whose artistic achievements have earned broad recognition or whose work and artistic activities have significantly contributed to the promotion of Estonia and Estonian culture around the world. The award is sponsored by Toomas Luman, a member of the supervisory board of the Cultural Fund.

The award has been presented for the last nine years. Prior to Jaan Tootsen, the recipients were Marius Peterson (2009), poet Kristiina Ehin (2008), ballerina Luana Georg (2007), composer Helena Tulve (2006), director Jaanus Rohumaa (2005), conductor Anu Tali (2004), literary critic Jan Kaus (2003) and composer Tõnu Kõrvits and folk musician Krista Sildoja (2002).


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