Today, on Valentine’s Day, the Ministry of Culture presented the Culture Friend of the Year awards for 2019. The main prizes, i.e. the Culture Friend of the Year titles, went to Feliks Mägus and the fuel company Olerex. In total, Minister of Culture Tõnis Lukas recognised 23 companies or private supporters for their contributions to culture.
The Nordic Hotel Forum, and its director Feliks Mägus, has been repeatedly recognised in the course of the Culture Friend of the Year awards over the years. This time, Mägus earned the title of Culture Friend of the Year for activities related to both the Black Nights Film Festival and the Nordic Symphony Orchestra. Since last year, Olerex AS has been a gold sponsor of ERSO, the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, while continuing to be one of the largest supporters of Estonian culture. For example, the company was a major sponsor of last year’s Song and Dance Celebration called My Fatherland is My Love, as well as the main sponsor of the Saaremaa Opera Festival.
‘The government thanks and recognises all the businesspeople and patrons with the heart and the opportunity to continue their contributions to culture,’ said Tõnis Lukas, Minister of Culture. ‘Culture is what unites us, and thus, supporting culture is our common opportunity and duty. Businesspeople and patrons, as well as cultural organisers ask, with reason, whether donating to culture has been made sufficiently motivating. Therefore, the issue of making donations tax-free has been added to the government’s agenda and we hope that this will increase support for culture,’ Lukas added.
At the 2019 Friends of Culture competition, a total of 23 companies and patrons were recognised, whose monetary contribution to culture organisers last year was both noteworthy and impactful. Two companies were recognised as laureates, and 21 companies or supporters of culture that have made significant and outstanding contributions were awarded letters of gratitude.
2019 Friends of Culture of the Year:
Olerex AS
Feliks Mägus
Friends of Culture 2019:
Rimonne Baltic OÜ and Tiina Karjahärm
Valev Väljaots
Spacecom AS
Andre Aavastik and Madis Millistvere
Katrin Förster and ABB AS
Elisa Eesti AS
Toyota Baltic AS
Paavo Lampinen
Kristjan Rahu and MTÜ Vöimalus
Kinema OÜ
Peeter Kangur
Eero Nõgene
Arvi Mägin and Floorin AS
AS G4S Eesti
Rickman Trade OÜ
AS LHV Pank
Meelis Lilbok
Haage Joogid OÜ
Advokaadibüroo Cobalt OÜ
Port Artur OÜ
Monica and Ott Kaukver
The Ministry of Culture has been recognising the organisations and individuals that have made contributions to the field of culture since 2012.