Professor Art Leete elected head of the Institute of Cultural Research

The Council of the Institute of Cultural Research at University of Tartu elected Professor Art Leete new head of the institute on December 5, 2018, in succession to Professor Ülo Valk whose term will conclude this year. Professor Leete will take up post on January 1st, 2019.

According to Professor Leete, the main mission of the Institute of Cultural Research is to serve as a platform for creativity. The lecturers, researchers and students of the institute are the vanguard of Estonian culture: ‘The Institute of Cultural Research must continue finding new ways of applying our skills and knowledge to practice, since culture is the cure for society’s ills.’

One of the main challenge for the Institute is integrating both local and international ambitions and developments, which need to be managed regardless of the current level of funding by the state. Another important goal is the closer collaboration between the academic staff and the students: ’We have to support both the students’ creative potential as well as the development of their practical skills. We need to offer real-world outlets for their numerous talents.’

Art Leete graduated from University of Tartu in 1994 with a degree in history, specialising in ethnology. He completed his MA, as well as PhD on the changing descriptions of Ob-Ugrians and Nenets at the University of Tartu in 2000. He has worked at the Department of Ethnology since 2001, was Fulbright Scholar at the Georgetown University, USA in 2002-2003 and was elected Professor of Ethnology at the University of Tartu in 2004. His research focuses mainly on the social and religious change among the Finno-Ugric peoples in Russia. Professor Leete is the author of the concept idea and co-curator of the permanent exhibition ‘Echo of the Urals’, focusing on the Finno-Ugric peoples, at Estonian National Museum. He has supervised five PhD and 15 MA students to completion and is currently supervising six PhD students.

Heads of the Institutes at University of Tartu are elected for a term of three years. Art Leete’s appointment as the head of the institute will conclude on 31 December 2021.

More information: Ülo Valk, Professor of Comparative and Estonian Folklore, Head of the Institute of Cultural Research, 737 5310, ulo.valk@ut.ee

Teate edastas: Made Laas, TÜ pressiesindaja, 737 5681, 5305 8044, made.laas@ut.ee