The Tallinn City Government decided that the Vene and Salme cultural centers will be merged with Kultuurikatel. The Vene center will now be called the Mere Cultural Center.
One organization will be formed under Kultuurikatel. Deputy Mayor Kaarel Oja said that the good aspects of Kultuurikatel will also remain in the Salme and Vene centers. Each center has its own uniqueness. For example, the Vene center focuses on minority cultures, and the Salme center plays a major role in North Tallinn.
Oja said that the new system will help manage better and utilize the centers more. The activities of both centers will remain, but some jobs will be lost. Two positions will be cut from Salme and four from Vene. Competitions will be held to select new leaders.
After the merger, the Vene Cultural Center will get a new name — the Mere Cultural Center. The center's leaders are not yet discussing the change because a final decision is pending.
Kultuurikatel's director Liina Oja said that the changes will not happen quickly. Major decisions will be made next year. Initially, everything will remain as it is because contracts and services must continue to function.
The building of the Vene Cultural Center is under heritage protection. In April, the Soviet-era coat of arms was removed from the building. Other decisions related to symbolism will be made in the future.