Graphic design by Ingmar Järve

RUA 2023: Viljandi municipality

From the 12nd until the 17th of June RUA street art festival took place in Viljandi town and six surrounding villages: Kolga-Jaani, Tänassilma, Puiatu, Päri, Viiratsi and Ramsi. 

The epic 6th edition of RUA festival was somewhat different from the previous ones, because the emphasis was on foreign artists. If previously the amount of local artists dominated with only a few international artists in the lineup then in 2023 it was the other way around. Artists from 8 countries created 13 incredibly awesome wallpaintings, including a wall with local and Ukrainian youths during the street art youth camp. The Estonian creative scene was represented by two local artists who took up the role of a street artist for the very first time. 

There was something else very special about the 6th edition as for the first time, RUA festival was blessed by the sponsorship of Montana Colors!

Artists and locations of the artworks:
Ulla Saar (Estonia) · Kolga-Jaani nursing home, Põltsamaa mnt 2C, Kolga-Jaani village
Maris Siimer (Estonia) · Kolga-Jaani substation
Luogo (Italy) · Kaunismäe 1, Tänassilma
Peter Skensved (Denmark) · Väike-Kaare 15, Viljandi
Maikki Rantala (Finland) · Puiatu Community Hall, Kooli tee 17, Puiatu
Andrii Kovtun (Ukraine) · Päri garages, Kannikmäe tee 11 and 15, Päri
Pidžin (Lithuania) · Youth camp with supervisor, Tiigi 10, Viiratsi
Annabelle Tattu (France) · Ramsi COOP, Keskus tee 1, Ramsi village
Maxime Ivañez (France) · Viiratsi Elementary School, Tiigi 4, Viiratsi
Uneg (Mexico) · Ramsi COOP, Keskus tee 1, Ramsi village
Karolis Dezuteje (Lithuania) · Viljandi food sharing closet, Turu 5a, Viljandi

Sponsors: Akzo Nobel Baltics AS / Sadolin paints and Montana Colors, Viljandi municipality, Viljandi city, Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Institut français d'Estonie / French Institute in Estonia, Finnish Institute, Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the Republic of Estonia, NGO Mondo, Viljandi Vaadimees.

Partners: Color Expert, Fere OÜ, Ramirent, Coop Viljandi, Karu Kombucha, Mahenäksi factory Süü ää, Mahe Eeriksaare OÜ, Paulina Käsitööjäätis - TOTSU TALUKÖOK OÜ, Tactical Solution OÜ, Männimäe guest house.

Photos by Karen Akopjan

Video by Taavi Bergmann

Before photos of the walls

Sponsors / Partners of 2023