This spring, the Oxford and Cambridge Society of Estonia is heading to the City of Good Thoughts. We've wanted to hold a proper event in Tartu for quite some time to bring together both those of you based in and near Tartu as well as some of our Tallinn contingent. The Voltaire exhibition - curated by our wonderful member Sophie Turner - offers the best excuse to finally make it happen.

The idea is simple: an unhurried afternoon of good food, sharp ideas, and even better company - with Voltaire as our unlikely guide.

Programme - Saturday, 7 March

• 13:30 — Brunch at Sinimandria
• 15:30 — Private curator’s tour of “Voltaire: Making History” at the UT Art Museum by Dr Sophie Turner
• 17:00 — Optional: relaxed drinks, dinner, and walk around Tartu

We’ll start with brunch at Sinimandria, one of Tartu’s new hotspots (Kompanii St 2). The restaurant pays homage to a legendary pre-war Tartu establishment, making it the perfect place to set the tone before heading into the Enlightenment.

From there, we’ll move on to a private curator’s tour of the exhibition “Voltaire: Making History” at the University of Tartu Art Museum, led by Dr Sophie Turner, French cultural historian and visiting lecturer at EKA. Sophie is also an active new member of the committee of the Oxford and Cambridge Society, and a great balancing force, having attended both universities.

Sophie has been working on creating this exhibition for over two years, ensuring the arrival of specifically selected works of art from many museums outside of Estonia.

The tour explores how French Enlightenment ideas (and objects) reached Estonia and shaped local intellectual life. A particular spotlight is placed on the 1920s and 1930s, when Voltaire became a symbol of cultural modernity for the Estonian intelligentsia in the young Republic. Expect surprising connections, fresh perspectives, and a gentle dismantling of the idea of Estonia as a cultural backwater on Europe’s margins. The exhibition is made all the more special by the beautiful setting - the UT Art Museum is a true hidden gem and is considered to be the oldest art museum in Estonia. Read more about the exhibition here.