WHEN: 11.11. - 31.03.2025

 WHERE: Neeruti küla, Otepää, Valga maakond, Estonia

 FOCUS: farm for art and technology

Summary of the programme 

Maajaam is a rural art and technology center in Southern Estonia exploring how contemporary art and technology can support rural regeneration. As a Host in the Ambassadors of Good Practice Programme, they will share their experience in sustainable artistic production, sharing insights from projects like Wild Bits—an outdoor exhibition activating the natural landscape and operating models. The programme includes guided visits, discussions on our projects like SPACE (Creative Europe), and the new rural residency platform, COORDINATES. Visitors will engage in co-creation with local artists and residents, visit nearby regeneration sites, and experience traditional practices like the UNESCO-listed smoke sauna, if possible. Through exchange, collaboration, and reflection, we aim to build meaningful networks and promote creative, sustainable approaches in rural contexts.

Activities will include: 

• Presentation of Maajaam’s studios, workshops and the Wild Bits exhibition
• Presentations on the Bee Art Lab, collaborative research with scientists and artists, and introduction to the COORDINATES web platform
• Co-creation sessions with the hosts and local residents: participatory art-making, storytelling, or creative cooking
• Visit to the Ponimaa horse farm, showcasing local partnerships
• Traditional smoke sauna experience (UNESCO World Heritage)

Exchange period: 

The peer exchange with Maajaam will take place between 11 November – 31 March 2025. The selected Visitor will agree directly with the Host on the exact dates.

Description of the Host organization

Maajaam is a farm for art and technology based in Southern Estonia dedicated to exploring the intersection of contemporary art, media, and landscape. Situated in a repurposed farmstead, it has become a dynamic hub for experimentation, artistic residencies, and public programmes rooted in rural and ecological contexts. Maajaam serves as a living laboratory for sustainable ideas and cultural regeneration. A key initiative is Wild Bits, a large-scale outdoor hiking trail / technoligical art exhibition featuring interactive and media artworks embedded in the natural landscape. Wild Bits invites audiences to reflect on the relationship between technology and the environment.

Maajaam

maajaam.ee

What makes Maajaam an Ambassador of Good Practice? 

Maajaam revitalises its region through art, technology, and community collaboration. Its programmes, such as residencies, exhibitions like Wild Bits, and educational workshops, engage local communities in co-creation, strengthen social ties, and promote cultural tourism. Their Bee Art Lab explores human-nature relationships through art, ecology, and technology. Recognised with national awards, including Best Estonian Culture Organization 2024, Maajaam offers a practical model for low-cost, participatory cultural development in rural Europe.

What does Maajaam hope to gain from the P2P exchange?

“We hope to establish meaningful contacts and find potential partners for future collaborations within the European cultural field. The exchange offers a valuable opportunity to build connections with peers interested in working in similar rural or context-specific environments, exchange practical knowledge, and explore ideas for joint projects. These new relationships can lead to new partnerships, shared initiatives, and greater visibility for creative practices rooted in sustainability and local engagement.”

Facilities for the Visitor

• Fully functional art studios and workshop spaces equipped for various media, including digital art, installation, and craft-based practices
• On-site accommodation in a new residency house
• Shared kitchen, communal dining areas, and the traditional smoke sauna (UNESCO World Heritage) 

Apply here