Sorainen has advised the Estonian Artists Association on restoring legal and historical continuity with the Estonian Center of Visual Artists and changing the founding date of the union from 1943 to 1922.
According to Sorainen, “the Association of Estonian Visual Artists was founded in Tallinn as a central organization uniting Estonian professional artists. The first steps to unite Estonian artists who studied art in St. Petersburg were made by the Noor-Eesti (Young Estonia) group in Tartu and the Art Society in Tallinn. In the years that followed, the Central Association became the largest artists’ organization uniting Estonian artists and was recognized as a partner by the state. Until the Second World War began.”
According to the firm, “the central association was liquidated after the coup of 1940. On January 4, 1943, by order of the Soviet government, the Union of Estonian Soviet Artists was founded in Yaroslavl (by artists gathered in the rear). This was the name of the union until 1957, when it was renamed the ENSV Artists’ Union. It continued to operate as the Estonian Artists Association from 1990, but the legal connection with the original central association was not restored for the time being.”
Sorainen describes the Estonian Artists Association as one of the “largest creative unions in Estonia with 998 members (as of 14.03.2023) and 18 sub-unions. The purpose of the association is to develop the art field, protect the interests of artists, curators, art researchers, and art workers, and support creative activities. The Union participates in shaping cultural policy and in sectoral development activities and is the owner and developer of the largest art infrastructure aimed at professional artists in Estonia and a provider of production and presentation environments for active artists.”
Sorainen’s team included Partner Karin Madisson, Counsel Piret Lappert, and Assistant Lawyer Katariina Kuum.
