OPEN AIR MUSEUM

CODE: EST 05

Project

The Estonian Open Air Museum (Eesti Vabaõhumuuseum) is a life-sized reconstruction of an 18th-19th century rural/ fishing village, which includes church, tavern, schoolhouse, several mills, a fire station, twelve farmyards and net sheds. Furthermore, it includes a recently opened 20th century Soviet kolkhoz apartment building. The site spans 72 hectares of land and along with the farmyards, old public buildings are arranged singularly and in groups in a way that represents an overview of Estonian vernacular architecture of the past two centuries from across Estonia. Besides the mission of preservation and presenting the history of Estonian country side, the museum keeps historical cultural traditions running various activities all year around, offering tours and educational programs for families, school children and guests from abroad. This is a very popular place to visit not only for tourist but very much for local people. Obviously, the museum has thousands of exhibits related to rural life as it was centuries ago. This year they have an ambitious plan of revision and cleaning of those kept in the storage, and volunteers are invited to help out this important task. More about the Museum can be found here https://evm.ee/exhibition

Work

The work involves cleaning the items on display at the museum with a vacuum cleaner and brushes. These items will be moved from a storage room to outdoor tents so that the floor there can be repaired and new storage shelves can be put up. The volunteers' work is to clean these ethnographic items, which are quite dusty and black as they have not been accessed. They include, for example, carts, wooden utensils, children's beds, large wooden sieves, threshing machines and other larger items typical of Estonian rural life. The work takes place outdoors under tents on the territory of the Open Air Museum. Working hours will be from 10 to 16 with a lunch break from 13 to 14. Saturday will be free. All necessary tools, gloves, protective masks and glasses will be provided. Volunteers will be working along side with local workers of the museum.

Accomodation:

Volunteers will have have a simple accommodation in the rooms of administrative building. Beds are provided, but you are asked to bring your sleeping bag. Toilets and showers are available. Volunteers will have lunches in the museum tavern, while breakfast and dinner have to be prepared by the participants themselves. Ingredients will be provided and volunteers can use kitchen at their accommodation place.

Location

The museum is located 8 km to the west of Tallinn city center at Rocca al Mare district. It lies in the forest at the seashore. There is a regular public bus connection with the city centre. Tallinn is the capital of Estonia, the largest city of the country with a population of 450 000 inhabitants. Tallinn is know for its well preserved medieval Old Town https://www.visittallinn.ee/eng/visitor/see-do/neighbourhoods/old-town which makes it poupar destination for tourists, especially in summer time.

Terminal

Airport, harbor, bus & train stations in Tallinn; public bus to the Open Air Museum in Rocca al Mare.

Special requirements

Please bring working clothes and suitable shoes. Tools, gloves, masks will be provided by the museum. You have to bring your sleeping bag and pillow. Your interest towards to theme of the museum will be appreciated. English is the camp language.

Leisure time

Besides guided and free exploration of the museum and joining activities they offer in this period you can enjoy summer in the Old Town of Tallinn or at the seaside. Volunteers will be given travel card to be used in public transport around Tallinn unlimited after their working hours. In summer Tallinn has especially vibrant life with hundreds of activities and attractions for all tastes.

Participation fee

Due to the lack of financial support for the project the participation fee of 175 Euro is requested from volunteers to cover the costs of board and lodging, transport and administration. This fee has to be paid by bank transfer before the beginning of the camp.