In cooperation with Valga Central Library, an immersive illustration exhibition CITY OF STORIES was opened at Valga Museum on October 21, 2026. The exhibition will remain open until November 29.
The exhibition was completed by spring 2025 and was showcased at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy, where Estonia participated as the guest of honour. The Bologna Children’s Book Fair is the world’s oldest and largest international event dedicated to children’s literature and illustration art, bringing together thousands of authors, illustrators, and publishers every spring.
More than 30 interested guests attended the opening of the exhibition at Valga Museum, where they were welcomed by the museum director, Neeme Punder. The event began with two guitar pieces by Vaido Petser, performed by Emil Ovtšinnikov, student from Valga Music School, who attended the opening together with his teacher Mati Mölder and other close ones. Afterwards, the activity leader-librarian of Valga Central Library Ines Kulasalu-Hiller gave an overview of how the exhibition arrived in Valga.
The exhibition curator, Bianka Soe, also gave an engaging talk about the background and overall concept of the exhibition. She spoke interestingly about each exhibit and highlighted their remarkable details.
Before coming to Valga, the exhibition CITY OF STORIES was displayed at the Estonian National Museum. After Valga, it will move on to Viljandi.
Valga Central Library invites kindergarten and school groups to library lessons at Valga Museum to discover the CITY OF STORIES together. During the guided session, participants will get to know the exhibition’s characters and illustrations, explore, discuss, play, and put their attention and imagination to the test. The library lessons offer opportunities to connect literature and art through playful learning, fostering children’s creativity and visual literacy.
Guided exhibition tours are also organised for adults and interest groups, introducing the diversity of Estonian illustration art, discovering the works of the artists represented in the exhibition, and observing how book characters and their visual worlds are created.
Participation is free, but pre-registration is required. Pre-registration for children’s groups is available via email at laste@valgark.ee or by phone at 7669984, and for adults at laenutus@valgark.ee or by phone at 58569618. The same contacts also provide additional information.
