In 2026, the Estonian National Museum (ENM) marks ten years since opening its new home in Tartu, Estonia. The anniversary will be celebrated through ERMX, a programme that brings together exhibitions, international collaborations, and new initiatives for youth and families — centered on a major exhibition by British artist Monster Chetwynd, “A Feather in Your Hat“, opening on 24 July.
Opened on 1 October 2016, the museum’s home in Raadi has become one of the most distinctive museum buildings in the Baltics. Designed by Tsuyoshi Tane, Dan Dorell and Lina Ghotmeh, the building grew out of the competition-winning concept Memory Field. Its architecture and geographical setting have become inseparable from Estonia’s national memory, symbolising a nation taking off into freedom.
“Over the past ten years, our new home has become a meaningful place for many people,” said Laura Kipper, Director of the Estonian National Museum. “With ERMX, we want to celebrate that journey but also look ahead – building on what has taken shape here and creating space for new ideas, new collaborations, and new ways to take part.”
The flagship event is Monster Chetwynd’s playful and imaginative exhibition “A Feather in Your Hat”, arriving in Tartu after a successful season at Copenhagen Contemporary. A Turner Prize nominee and one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary British art, Chetwynd is known for large-scale installations, theatrical environments and collaborative energy. The exhibition at ENM will transform the exhibition hall into an immersive environment that invites visitors to experience and co-create.
ERMX also encompasses an international residency programme, a digital creation competition focused on the idea of home, and a new youth council. New activities for families and children include an escape room and a children’s audio guide for the permanent exhibition “Encounters”.
ERMX will culminate on 3 October with ÖÖ26, a major evening event marking ten years since the opening of the museum’s new home in Raadi. Combining night-time museum experiences with music, art and unexpected site-specific programming, the event will serve as a public high point of the anniversary year.
