Category Archives: Coming soon

TIME OUT

On 2 October, painter Peeter Must will open his solo exhibition titled TIME OUT at the Rapla County. Centre for Contemporary Art. 

With the exhibition, the artist symbolically takes time off and offers the viewer an overview of his several painting periods. At the centre of Must’s colourful work is the human being, to whom the artist has given the ability to open up the viewer’s inner world in a delicate way. According to the artist, a timeout taken at the right moment allows a motivating impetus for creativity and to see more clearly what is important.

The exhibition is open 3 – 25 Oct 2026, Tue – Fri 15.00 – 18.00, Sat – Sun 12.00 – 15.00 At the Rapla County Contemporary Art Center at Tallinna mnt 3b. In Rapla

Existences within Art

You are invited to the opening of the exhibition “Being in Art” on Saturday, 3 May at 15:00. As part of the exhibition, the new lighting solution of the ICDS will be opened and introduced to the art community of Rapla County.

In 2025, it will be 30 years since the establishment of the Rapla Art Society, which is a significant event in the cultural life of Rapla. These years include several revolutionary stages in both social life and the development of the county’s art life. This anniversary gives us a reason to look back with gratitude to the various inspiring art projects led by Krista and Jaan Urvet. Today, these initiatives have grown into new collaborations and several artists. To celebrate the jubilee year, an exhibition “Being in Art” will be held in the spring and a conference on the topic will be held in the autumn.

The Urvets’ activities in the field of art began in the 1980s, when Jaan Urvet organised exhibitions of renowned Estonian artists at the Rapla KEK with the help of the Art Foundation. In 1981, the Urvets founded the children’s film studio MINI-ANIMA, with Krista Urvet as its artistic director. The studio created animated films that achieved success at festivals all over the Soviet Union, bringing several important awards to Rapla. The studio operated for 10 years. At the beginning of the nineties, musician and businessman Toivo Kurmet appeared in Rapla from exile. In January 1992, he led the establishment of the charitable foundation MAGHIRA FOND (MF)

In the same year, the foundation founded the MF MAGHIRA ART SCHOOL. The school project was led by Krista Urvet, who was also an art teacher at the Rapla Vesiroosi School. By 1993, MF had become insolvent and there was no support from the local government either. After Estonia regained its independence, a social movement emerged and an umbrella organisation was established to support the hobby and continuing education of adults, the Estonian Association of Non-Formal Education, of which the Maghira Art School also became a member. Grants were received for adult handicraft course students through various projects. The art school ceased its activities in 1995 In the same year, 1995, the RAPLA ART SOCIETY was founded on the initiative of the Urvets. Some former members of the Rapla Art Club, artists and amateur artists from all over Rapla County joined the society. The number of members reached 30 people.

The art trainings for adults took place in the premises of the Rapla Art Society Workshop, which was located in the rectory belonging to the Rapla congregation. The training programmes were approved by the Ministry of Education and Research. The trainers were artists and masters recognised in their fields. The society regularly organised art camps and exhibitions. Exhibitions of Estonia’s renowned professional artists and amateurs were exhibited in the Rapla Central Library, Rütman Gallery and throughout Rapla County.

In 2013, the Rapla Art Society was renamed the Rapla Handicraft and Art Society, the organiser of which was Ivi Sark. The society has continued to organise conferences, study trips and adult trainings. In 2010, former teachers of the Rapla Art Society, Kairi Orgusaar and Riin Pallon, founded the Rapla County Contemporary Art Center (ICDS), which organises exhibitions, trainings and various art events in the ICDS Gallery. This year, the ICDS celebrates its 15th year of operation.

The exhibition “Being in Art”, dedicated to the jubilee, features amateur artists and professionals who have been connected to Rapla County for three generations. All participants have studied or taught at Mini-Anima, Maghira Art School, Rapla Art Society or Rapla County Contemporary Art Center.
ParticipantsMaiu Albo, Mikk Allas, Moyo Eivas, Mauri Gross, Ain Jürisalu, Jaak Kadarik, Erki Kannus, Katrin Kirsipuu, Mai Klemmer, Eha Koit, Sirkka Lasner, Mathura, Maiu Mooses, Kairi Orgusaar, Riin Pallon, Urmas Puhkan, Erki Põld, Avo Päädam, Editha Salm, Ülla Sirendi, Eda Taevas, Ave Tislar, Eteri Tõlgo, Krista Urvet, Märt Vaidla, Siret Varimõis.
Exhibition Design: Eteri Tõlgo
Graphic Design: Kati Kerstna

The exhibition is open: 3 – 23 May 2025, Tue – Fri 15.00 – 18.00, Sat – Sun 12.00 -15.00 Rapla Contemporary Art Center, Tallinna mnt.3b, III floor.

Major exhibitions and recognitions:
2003 – Exhibition in Helsinki
2004 – Exhibition in Axevalla (Sweden)
2005 – “Deed of the Year” for organising the events of the Year of Arts
2006 – joint exhibition in Madona (Latvia) with works by 23 artists from Rapla and three art schools (Märjamaa, Kehtna, Kohila)
2007 – Krista Urvet was awarded the annual award of the Rapla County expert group of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia
2008 – Krista Urvet was awarded the cultural award “Rapla Locomotive”

Aivar Tõnso – artist talk

On Saturday, 18 December at 16:00, you are welcome to meet the well-known sound artist Aivar Tõnso at his first solo exhibition. The author opens up the world of spatial sound to the audience – what is spatial sound and how a three-dimensional sound work is born. The artist introduces her work and talks about what is important to him in the creative process and in his work in general.

Aivar Tõnso is a musician, sound artist and curator of cross-disciplinary cultural events. As a musician, he is best known for his electronic music projects Hypnosaurus, Kulgurid and Kismabande. As a curator, his most important projects so far are the Good New Sound Festival and the record label Ulmeplaadid. At the moment, Aivar Tõnso has focused on curating the Üle Heli festival, and on a creative level, he has been The creation of site-specific spatial sound installations has become more and more interesting during the 1990s. He has studied the topic of surround sound through the Üle Heli festival, self-created projects, as well as master’s studies focused on sound art at the Estonian Academy of Arts

Come to the event only if you feel that you are completely healthy. Be prepared to present a vaccination passport or a certificate of recovery. Keep a reasonable distance from other visitors in the exhibition hall. Wear a mask! Hand sanitiser is available as soon as you step through the door.

Due to road works in front of the house, we ask you to park your car in the parking lot of Rapla Selver. The house can be accessed from the pedestrian crossing. Rapla County Contemporary Art Center, Tallinna mnt. 3b, Rapla (Espak House)