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The Tallinn University URSA building will get a unique and colourful facade instead of the current faded one, which will be officially opened on Monday, 28 April at 2 p.m.

One of the designs soon to be painted on Ursa walls

The Ursa building differs from the rest of the buildings of the campus by its architecture, style as well as material, looking derelict and shabby among the new fancy architectural giants. In addition, the outside of the building does not reflect on what goes on on the inside: the art education and choreography departments residing there and the art exhibitions and workshops that take place. Tallinn University’s theatre hall „Stella“ will be opened there on 2 May, alongside many other interesting things that happen within Ursa walls.

The project manager, art education master student Marilyn Jeester talks about how she overheard art education department having tried to get the permit to cover the building with paintings from the management twice already. „I thought I should try again, it seemed like a really cool thing to do.“

Everyone liked the idea of covering Ursa with graffiti: the University Rectorate, student body, the construction firm sponsoring it, as well as the media.

Marilyn started the prep-work in February: applied for funds to buy paint, organised a design contest on Facebook, picked out the best ones and met with the authors to discuss the technicalities, ordered the materials. This week she put up the scaffolding with the help of the course mates (and Paela Ehitus – thank you!), and flat coated the walls. „It is difficult, doing all this while working and studying. But we will see the result next week!“ Marilyn says.

14 designs were sent to the contest, and the ones by the following artists were chosen:Ott Pilipenko, Elis Teterin, Lilli-Krõõt Repnau, Lucija Mrzljak, Kevin Poll, Retsa, Original Skillz (Sänk and Toze) and 4 artists who wish to only be known by their first names: Bert, Silver, Silver and Margus.

The development specialist of the Institute of Fine Arts, Olesja Rotar states that a bold initiative like this is an important step in developing the identity and image of the Institute of Fine Arts.

„The Institute has been dispersed between Narva Road and Lai Street for years, now the departments have been divided between Narva Road, Tondi and Räägu Streets. The situation at hand does not let the Institute develop a common identity within the university. We try to overcome the physical disunity with shared events – the creative works festival KIMP Fest; as well as clear symbols – the renewed Ursa facade will become the corner stone of the Institute’s visual identity.“

We thank everyone who helped bring the project to life! Paela Ehitus, Kolgi Katused OÃœ, TU Student Body and the Chair, Enelin Paas, TU Institute of Fine Arts Council ARLI, TU Property Management Office, TU Marketing and Communication Office and the TU Institute of Fine Arts.