governance

Institute of Cultural Research

The Institute of Cultural Research belongs to the field of humanities of the University of Tartu and consists of three departments: the Department of Estonian and Comparative Folklore, the Department of Ethnology and the Department of Literature and Theater Studies. Since 2011, the Institute of Cultural Research also includes the Center for Oriental Studies and since 2021 the Center for Arctic Cultures. The institute also has a professorship in the liberal arts and the UNESCO Chair on Applied Research of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Following professors work at the institute:

  • Anastasiya Astapova (Estonian and Comparative Folklore),
  • Anneli Saro (Theater Studies),
  • Arne Merilai (Estonian literature),
  • Art Leete (Ethnology),
  • Elo-Hanna Seljamaa (Cultural Heritage),
  • Ene Kõresaar (Oral history and memory research),
  • Jüri Talvet (World literature, professor emeritus),
  • Liina Lukas (Comparative literature),
  • Marina Grishakova (Literary theory)
  • Ülo Valk (Estonian and comparative folklore).

Composition of the Council of the Institute of Cultural Research (since 2025)

Chairman:

Hedi-Liis Toome, head of the institute, Associate professor

Members:

Art Leete, professor

Anneli Saro, professor

Arne Merilai, Professor

Marina Grišakova, professor

Ülo Valk, professor

Ene Kõresaar, professor

Liina Lukas, professor

Jaak Tomberg, associate professor

Elo-Hanna Seljamaa, professor

Madis Arukask, associate professor

Jana Reidla, lecturer, researcher

Kirsti Jõesalu, lecturer, researcher

Riina Oruaas, junior lecturer

Astrid Traagel, academic affairs specialist

Marin Laak, Estonian Literary Museum

Pille Runnel, Estonian National Museum

Piret Voolaid, Estonian Literary Museum

Kärt Lapa, Student Representative

Kirke Rumvolt, student representative

Gerli Raag, student representative

Elisabeth Pae, student representative

Secretary:

Sille Vadi, Institute Coordinator

Dates of the meetings of the Council of the Institute of Cultural Research in the academic year 2026/27:

Autumn semester:

September 16

October 14

November 11

December 9

January 13

Spring semester:

February 17

March 17

April 14

May 12

June 9


Start at 15.00, venue: Ülikooli 16-103, unless started otherwise.

Department of Estonian and Comparative Folklore

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Department of Ethnology

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Department of Literature and Theatre studies

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