Tallinn hosts international STRIKE iron-art festival

The Estonian Academy of Arts is hosting STRIKE, a five-day international festival in Tallinn dedicated to blacksmithing, metalwork, and the cultural significance of physical craft. Running from November 4 to November 8, the program includes exhibitions, workshops, public demonstrations, and a two-day conference.

Organized by the academy’s Jewellery and Blacksmithing Department, the event explores ironwork as a living field connecting traditional craft with contemporary art, design, and research. The festival examines the relationship between humans, technology, and materials, specifically addressing how traditional techniques can be preserved in an era of automated production.

A major exhibition featuring over 300 works by more than 100 artists is scheduled to open at the academy’s White House on Friday, November 6. All festival events are free and open to the public.