WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

WHAT TAVA IS?

TAVA is an abbreviation of the words *Tartu Valgus* (Tartu in Light) and refers to the good *tava* (tradition), recurring every two years, of illuminating Tartu with lighting design and light art.

The Tartu Light Biennale, or Tartu in Light, or TAVA, is a comprehensive international and interdisciplinary grand event of contemporary light art and lighting design. It enriches both public spaces and exhibition halls, encourages the reduction of light pollution, promotes the discovery of sustainable solutions to support biodiversity when illuminating architectural forms and landscapes, and transforms Tartu into a radiant and thought-provoking capital of light during dark autumn evenings.

The essence of TAVA is progressive, professional, site-specific, and environmentally friendly.

The nearly month-long TAVA program consists of international lighting design workshops, outdoor installations and indoor exhibitions, awareness campaigns on the topic of light pollution, Artist Talks, the light art residue HÄKK, TAVA Xperimenta, concerts, and a side program created in collaboration with other cultural institutions and businesses in Tartu – workshops for light enthusiasts.

The culmination of TAVA is always the three main days when all program activities are open to the public.

MISSION

TAVA’s mission is the development and promotion of light education, Estonian light art, and lighting design.

TAVA seeks to inspire Estonian municipalities to create excellent and sustainable lighting solutions in public spaces and, through light art, to offer thought-provoking and eye-opening experiences to both local residents and visitors from afar.

Industry professionals bring the latest knowledge on trends in the world of light to our guests, while providing Estonian professionals and students the opportunity to further their education and test their skills by participating as mentors, artists, designers, students, or program attendees.

TAVA’s long-term partners are the Estonian Academy of Arts, Tartu Art School, and Pallas University of Applied Sciences, whose students have the opportunity at every festival to showcase their installations alongside professional artists, thereby gaining the experience and confidence to integrate modern technology into their future creative work.

AMBITION

TAVA’s ambition is to be the premier light-focused event within the contemporary art and architectural landscape of the surrounding region, with the goal of developing public awareness regarding the prevention of light pollution and creating a fertile ground for the development of high-quality, sustainable lighting design and light art that respects both nature and humanity, both in Estonia and globally.