New Ainola Centre opened in Tartu

The founding members of the Ainola Centre are the Finnish Institute, the Finnish St. Peter’s Parish of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Tartu Finnish School, the Tartu Finnish Society, the Tartu Ingrian Society, and the Tampere-Tartu Society. The twin cities of Tampere, Turku, and Hämeenlinna, the Turku University Foundation, student organisations, and friendship societies have also been invited to join. The Fenno-Ugria Foundation has also join the centre.

On Tuesday, 11 November 2025, the Tartu City Government approved a co-operation agreement with the new Ainola Centre. The centre itself was established in October. The NGO Ainola Centre brings together Finnish cultural actors in Estonia into a joint cultural and co-operation network at Tampere House (Jaani 4). The network is also open to Estonian organisations.

Tampere House

Tampere House was renovated in 1996 with the support of the City of Tampere. Since then, Tampere and Tartu have supported its activities through a joint foundation. In May 2025, the City of Tampere ended its annual funding of the house. In September 2025, the existing foundation was liquidated. The Finnish Institute and the Tartu Finnish Society began looking for a new solution so that the house could continue to operate as a cultural space open to the public.

“It all started with concerns about the future of Tampere House, but in the end we killed two birds with one stone – for the people of Tartu, the house is still a cultural centre and venue for events, and the first organised Finnish network in Estonia was also created,” said Hannele Valkeeniemi, director of the Finnish Institute.

A broader co-operation network for maintaining and developing cultural ties between Finland and Estonia will be created through the newly established NGO. The Tartu City Government wishes to maintain cultural ties in the same building even after the Tampere House Foundation ceased its activities. The basic funding for activities will continue to come from the Tampere House accommodation business.

The Tartu branch of the Finnish Institute has moved to Tampere House in January 2026. Most of the books in the institute’s library will be transferred to the shelves of Tartu City Library. The institute’s active literary activities will continue in co-operation with the city library. Tampere House will remain the home of other cultural events, and exhibitions will continue in its gallery. The rooms on the lower floor can be used for cultural clubs, discussion groups and sauna evenings, among other things.

Ainola Centre

“There are several reasons for choosing the name Ainola,” said Sakari Neuvonen, chairman of the Ainola Centre NGO. “Aino Kallas was a Finnish-Estonian writer who worked in Tartu, but Aino also represents the shared Finnic roots of Finns and Estonians more broadly. Aino refers to literature, visual arts, and music. Moreover, Ainola Keskus is exactly the same in both Finnish and Estonian.”

Ainola Centre was opened on 6 February 6 pm with a concert by the cello duo Cellomania at the Jaani Church, Tartu. The opening ceremony also commemmorated the 35th anniversary of the Finnish Institute.