Avo-Jaak Kaust: Let's prepare for the song festival's 200th anniversary now

Tallinn Song Festival Grounds has a new director in Laine Randjärv. Opinion writer Avo-Jaak Kaust proposes a solution to the song festival grounds' chronic space shortage, while warning that bureaucracy and disputes could last for decades.

Tallinn Song Festival Grounds has a new manager: Laine Randjärv is now the director of this important cultural venue. Opinion writer Avo-Jaak Kaust wishes her well, but immediately points out that the work will be difficult, not only because of day-to-day operations, but also because of the periodic burden of hosting the general song festival.

The main concern is the lack of space. Singers are cramped, the public cannot move freely, and catering areas must be squeezed through. Kaust believes this problem requires a thorough solution.

Preparing for the anniversary

Kaust proposes an ambitious but, in his view, entirely feasible solution: the song festival grounds should be redesigned for the 200th anniversary of the general song festival. This milestone provides sufficient time to implement all necessary changes.

Bureaucracy consumes years

However, the writer cautions against the administrative practices typical of Estonia. The first ten years will likely be spent in disputes, debating why things cannot be done one way or another. Tree lovers and conservationists will appear, and perhaps the habitat of some rare plant or hedgehog nest will be discovered.

Kaust acknowledges that inevitably many trees will have to be removed, but emphasises that there will be time to plant new ones. After disputes comes planning, coordination, finding funding and other obstacles, so that when construction finally begins, the year 2050 will have already arrived.