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    • R & DResearchProjectsOngoing Research Projects

    Ongoing Research Projects

    The keywords that link the research directions and grants related to the Estonian Academy of Arts are practice, technology, theory, society and culture. In addition to the high-ranking research projects in traditional humanities – in art history, visual culture and Soviet Studies – the Academy has set its priority to be artistic (practice-based) research. At the Academy artistic research can connote different means of knowledge production, depending on the specific field of study: artistic research in contemporary art, design research, design practice research in architecture and urban design, practice-based research in conservation and cultural heritage. Artistic research is experimental, cross-disciplinary and process-oriented. Its criteria are applicability, innovativeness, level to which the creative activity communicates with and/or engages the public. Among other things, artistic research deals with research into the relationships between art and contemporary society, including the possibilities of contemporary art to participate in societal processes or to support the processes using creation of specific knowledge.

    Screenshot 2025-03-13 192652

    Enhancing Intergenerational Mental Wellbeing: Embodied Play for Children and Their Remote Grandparents

    This project explores how to support intergenerational mental well-being through sensory play between children and their geographically distant grandparents. Both ...
    Faculty of DesignOngoing Research Projects
    STC

    Sustainable Textile Counselor

    The project aims to develop and implement strategies, tools, and training modules that advance sustainability in the textiles and fashion industry. The project focuses on reducing environmental impact, enhancing social responsibility, and ...
    Faculty of DesignFashion StylingOngoing Research Projects
    GCCle

    GreenCcircle

    GreenCCircle empowers the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) to embrace sustainability and innovation, fostering a transformative journey towards environmentally responsible practices and green skills. The project drives sustainable ...
    Faculty of DesignFashion StylingOngoing Research Projects
    upmade

    Journey towards the Circular Economy: Implementing the UPMADE digital solution for the textile circularity

    The research project “Journey towards the Circular Economy: Implementing the UPMADE digital solution for the textile circularity” focuses on industrial textile waste, with a commitment to resource upcycling.
    Faculty of DesignFashion StylingOngoing Research Projects
    Britta Benno. Jäämägi. 2022

    Climate Truth Crisis: Empowering young designers for future democracies

    The project brings together students and staff from seven art and design academies in The Hague, Reykjavík, Barcelona, London, Vilnius, Tallinn, and Sarajevo to explore the impact of climate change denial and disinformation on democratic ...
    Faculty of DesignFashion StylingOngoing Research Projects
    Screenshot 2025-01-31 132342

    Regenerated Cotton for Electronic Textiles-RETEX

    The main objective of the RETEX MSCA SE project is to establish a world-class interdisciplinary network focused on a joint research program in the field of new sustainable electronic textile materials. This will be achieved by ...
    Faculty of DesignFashion StylingOngoing Research Projects
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    Co-creating design(s) to support intimacy between remote families (EKA 2025-2027)

    “Co-creating design(s) to support intimacy between remote families: A Collaborative approach to interaction, social, and sensorial design” aims to bridge the emotional distance between families, inspired by the phenomenology of intimacy. By ...
    Faculty of DesignOngoing Research Projects
    pilt kodulehele_kotidisaini projekt 2

    Application of Participatory Methods for Exploring Meaning-Making Process in Bag Design

    The artistic research research project investigates which meaning-making methods and principles can be intentionally applied within the design process to extend a product’s useful lifespan. The owner’s emotional attachment to a personal item has ...
    Faculty of DesignOngoing Research Projects
    acute

    Mixed Reality and Audience Participation: Technological Practices of Performative Space (EKA 2025-2026)

    The aim of the project would be to investigate in depth the application of new technologies in the performative environment of theater and exhibition spaces. Changes in the technical environment affect all areas of life, as well as theater ...
    Faculty of Fine ArtsOngoing Research Projects
    3_Wheelchair race in central Tallinn. Still from a clip in Prillitoos 1987

    Built environments of care from the late Socialist to post-Socialist Estonia (PSG 2025–2029)

    The project rethinks the developments in the Estonian built environment of the last forty years from the perspective of care. Based on the intersectional feminist viewpoint, the project asks how has architecture contributed to taking care of ...
    Uncategorized
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    Urbanites in the country. Spatio-cultural analysis of a summer house (KUM-TA64, 2025-2026)

    The increase in leisure time has been one of the most critical factors shaping living environments and lifestyles in contemporary era. The movement between urban and rural areas reflects the need for city dwellers to maintain connections with ...
    Uncategorized
    EKM15818_G10491_Liiva_S_Siber_Taiga_kitsas

    Expedition: Estonians and Indigeneity

    This project will examine Estonia’s relationships with Indigenous peoples and the influence of these relationships on Estonian self-identity, focusing on visual culture, artworks and museum collections. The transdisciplinary project is ...
    Faculty of Art and CultureInstitute of Art History and Visual CultureOngoing Research Projects
    Screenshot 2024-04-05 153711

    Liveability – Designing public services for resilient neighbourhoods

    The aim of the Liveability Partnership is to equip local authorities with design principles and tools that help address the complex and interconnected problems of the 21st century. The goal is to initiate dialogues with ...
    Faculty of DesignFashion StylingOngoing Research Projects
    L6op6llu Viies 2018-10-09 Keidi Saks (26) muinsuskaitseamet (1)

    How to Reframe Monuments (Estonian Ministry of Culture grant, 2024–2026)

    Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has triggered debates about the Russian and Soviet heritage both globally and in Estonia. This has been accompanied by the toppling of monuments, as well as social conflicts and polarisation. The aim of ...
    Cultural Heritage and ConservationInstitute of Art History and Visual CultureOngoing Research Projects
    Transferring Upmade know-how to Kenya - option 3

    Transferring Upmade know-how to Kenya

    Addressing the Challenge In Kenya, the textile industry faces a significant environmental challenge. The prevalent linear production model in textile manufacturing is a major contributor to climate change, marked by excessive ...
    Faculty of DesignFashion DesignOngoing Research Projects
    Study and analysis of textile recycling technologies

    Study and analysis of textile recycling technologies

    The EU's Waste Framework Directive requires all Member States to introduce separate collection of textile waste from 1 January 2025. Separate collection will be the responsibility of local authorities, which will be able to choose the ...
    Faculty of DesignOngoing Research Projects
    Picture1

    MUUSA: Material research modelling and synthesis

    MUUSA: Material research modelling and synthesis  The project aims to develop a new artistic research methodology using material-based co-creation methods. Various models will be synthesised ...
    Faculty of DesignOngoing Research Projects
    Woodtype - Photo Mana Kaasik

    New Found Type Project. New Type from Old. An Estonian Perspective

    The Newfound Type project will explore relief type and print form making from an Estonian perspective, by identifying the techniques and characteristics specific to its historical context and applying these in an ...
    Faculty of Fine ArtsGraphic ArtOngoing Research Projects
    Screenshot 2024-02-16 152748

    Fashion TEX

    In the Fashion TEX project, 13 partners from 11 European countries are participating with the aim of creating a new, shared level of expertise to teach digital fashion art in higher education institutions. The project enhances curricula with ...
    Faculty of DesignFashion StylingOngoing Research Projects
    Arife_Dila_Demir

    Multi-Sensory Design for Somatic WellBeing

    Multi-Sensory Design for Somatic WellBeing based on the idea of delving into the realm of bodily sensations can unlock fresh perspectives on our own bodies, nurturing heightened ...
    Doctoral SchoolOngoing Research Projects
    H2sti rest m2lestis Garnisoni 10 Kuressaare_2017 (1)

    LIFE heritageHOME

    The LIFE heritageHOME project focuses on the energy performance improvement of residential (single or multi-family buildings) listed buildings and of residential buildings located within ...
    Cultural Heritage and ConservationOngoing Research Projects
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    From Sowing Confusion to Gathering Knowledge

    Marta Konovalov, Jane Remm Tallinn Botanic Garden, Garden of Senses, Kloostrimetsa tee 52, Tallinn From October 2023 to March 2024 the boxes in the centre of Tallinn Botanic Garden’s Garden of Senses will be ...
    Doctoral School
    Jaana Päeva

    Experience-driven practice-based research on handbag design principles

    The project focused on exploring experience-driven design principles that extend the product lifespan by using emotional attachment. perceptions and product descriptions to understand how products are perceived and experienced, which ...
    Faculty of DesignInternational OfficeOngoing Research Projects
    T4EU Students Kaunas

    Transform 4 European Research and Innovation — T4ERI

    Ongoing Research Projects
    Ars-Electronica-07-09-2022-0002

    ACuTe – Cultural testbeds for performing arts and new technology

    ACuTe, a pioneering digital theatre project across Europe, has EKA as one of its partner organizations. Project aims to transform the way theatre and performing arts are created and presented using emerging ...
    Faculty of Fine ArtsOngoing Research Projects
    IMG_5921

    Developing self and relational awareness through multi-sensorial textile artifacts that invite movement

    Moving Aware-ables looks for methods for designing multi-sensory textile objects that would invite for contemplative movement. Contemplative movement for developing self and relational awareness has great potential for caring for one’s ...
    Previous Research Projects
    T6ramaa_j6e_puisniit_Soomaal_Toomas_Kalda

    Project WOODMEADOWLIFE

    The Estonian-Latvian joint LIFE project (LIFE20 NAT/EE/000074) “Restoring and promoting a long-term sustainable management of Fennoscandian wooded meadows in Estonia and Latvia” focuses on the restoration of wooded meadows in ...
    Cultural Heritage and ConservationOngoing Research Projects
    Life IP Buildest

    LIFE IP BuildEST

    In view of Estonia's climate goals, the Estonian Academy of Arts participates in the international project Life IP BUILDEST (2021 - 2028), the task of which is to show direction and give impetus to the complete renovation of private houses built ...
    Cultural Heritage and ConservationOngoing Research Projects
    NIT EUROPEA DE LA INVESTIGACIO

    Transform4Europe – T4EU

    Transform4Europe (The European University for Knowledge Entrepreneurs) is an ...
    Ongoing Research Projects
    Screenshot 2024-01-26 at 14.36.31

    Forecast and Fantasy in Late Soviet Architecture (PSG, 2020–2024)

    The research project proposes to write a history of fantasy in Late-Soviet architecture, focusing on its mediating role in the transformative effects of postwar modernisation. From the 1960s onwards several architects realigned their work ...
    Institute of Art History and Visual CultureOngoing Research Projects
    hotellecrop2

    Patterns of Development in Estonian Culture of the Transition Period (1986–1998) (PRG, 2020–2024)

    The research project sets out to investigate the cultural processes at work in Estonia between 1986 and 1998, a time-frame known as the transition period, corresponding to the disintegration of socialist systems in Eastern Europe and subsequent ...
    Institute of Art History and Visual CultureOngoing Research Projects
    eesti-kunsti-ajalugu-6_II-kaas-RGB-461x600

    Publishing the ‘History of Estonian Art’ (1999–2025)

    Publishing the multi-volume History of Estonian Art was initiated in 1999. It is the longest-running research project of the Institute of Art History and Visual Culture. The Estonian-language volumes are accompanied by lengthy English ...
    Institute of Art History and Visual CultureOngoing Research Projects
    IMG_20200204_145522

    Fashion SEEDS – Fashion Societal, Economic & Environmental Design-led Sustainability

    Fashion SEEDS is a project led by world leading institutions in Fashion Education spanning over the course of three years. It seeks to develop a Design-led Framework for ...
    Fashion DesignFashion SeedsOngoing Research Projects
    Notke

    Bernt Notke: The Research and Conservation of the Retable of the Church of the Holy Spirit

    The late medieval retable of the High Altar of the Church of the Holy Spirit, Tallinn, is an outstanding masterpiece of woodcarving and painting of international renown, completed in 1483 in the workshop of Bernt Notke, a prominent master of ...
    Cultural Heritage and ConservationOngoing Research Projects
    Muutmoodulmaja

    MASS ADJUSTABLE MODULAR HOUSES

    Architecture and Urban DesignFaculty of ArchitectureOngoing Research Projects