Kaupo Meiel: Every Estonian settlement deserves an equestrian statue

Journalist Kaupo Meiel proposed on Vikerraadio that an equestrian statue should be erected in every Estonian town, village, and settlement over the next 10–20 years. According to him, this would ensure that worthy people receive worthy monuments and artists could earn income from the artistic community, which has been undermined by fraudsters.

Journalist and opinion leader Kaupo Meiel presented an audacious cultural policy proposal on Vikerraadio: over the coming decade or two, an equestrian statue could be erected in every Estonian village, town, and settlement.

According to Meiel, this represents an opportunity to correct a monumental oversight – Estonia has many worthy individuals who have earned public recognition but lack an appropriate memorial. In his view, the equestrian statue would be precisely the form to give such persons the honour their services deserve.

However, the proposal also has a practical dimension: sculptors and other artists could gain significant income through such a wide-ranging programme. Meiel pointed to the problem that the artistic community has suffered greatly due to fraud, and artists need opportunities to earn payment for their work.

The idea is admittedly rather provocative in nature, but it raises a serious question: how and according to what criteria should Estonia establish monuments in public spaces, and how should the country support domestic artistic life at the state level.