Obinitsa 2015

The cultural capital year formalised the special status that Obinitsa held in the Finno-Ugric world even before the cultural capital year – Seto cultural leaders from Obinitsa had actively participated in the Finno-Ugric movement since the 1990s. The title of Finno-Ugric Capital of Culture brought to Obinitsa and Setomaa much visibility in Estonian and international media, partly thanks to professional communications work conducted by Obinitsa’s team – and which raised the bar for next title-holders. The Finno-Ugric Flag Square in the centre of Obinitsa reminds of the cultural capital year to this day.

• The flagship event of the year was the traditional Seto Kingdom Day, which this time was held in Obinitsa, with a strong focus on kindred Finno-Ugric peoples. For the first time, a procession of Finno-Ugric peoples took place in a FiInno-Ugric Capital of Culture.
• The 1^st forum of Finno-Ugric villages aimed to establish a network of FInno-Ugric villages and small towns – including but not limited to capitals of culture – that would jointly work towards sustainable development and developing cultural tourism. The 2^nd forum was also held in Obinitsa in April 2018.
• The closing event of the year was attended by the Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves and foreign minister Marina Kaljurand, and included the handover of the symbol of the cultural capitals programme – the Tsirk-bird – to two title-holders in Hungary: Iszkaszentgyörgy and Veszprem.
• An innovative feature of the cultural capital year was the establishment of the ceremonial institution of Mayor of Obinitsa – a role excellently performed by the Seto cultural leader Evar Riitsaar – which demonstrated the creative and playful approach taken by the Setos towards the year.

• Obinitsa and Setomaa region were highly visible throughout the year in Estonian and wider Finno-Ugric media – after the closing ceremony Estonia’s Maaleht newspaper described the year as a “triumph” for Obinitsa and Setomaa
• The Finno-Ugric Flag Square erected during the cultural capital became a physical landmark reminding of the cultural capital year to this day.
• Obinitsa’s cultural leaders have continued to actively participate in the Finno-Ugric Capitals of Culture programme, including by visiting next capitals of culture and in Hungary, Estonia and Finno-Ugric regions of Russia, and by motivating its partner villages to apply for the title.
• According to organizers, Obinitsa’s cultural capital year included 60 events which were attended by more than 25 000 people.

Contact: Aare Hõrn (aare@setomaa.ee)