Domus Dorpatensis was founded in 2002 by Professor Alexander von Rücker of the University of Bonn, Professor Jenik Radon of Columbia University, and Nils Hollberg, President of the Association for the Restoration of Historic Buildings in the Baltic States. The foundation was established in the former home of Professor von Rücker’s family, right next to Tartu Town Hall. Its aim was to support the development of Estonian society by creating a space where science, the arts, civil society, environmental protection and other important areas of society could find a home and receive support.
Domus Dorpatensis is more than just a historic building or a foundation. It is an independent civil society platform where academic research, artistic creation and responsible civic engagement come together. We work together to strengthen the vitality of Estonian culture, as well as human culture more broadly. By ‘culture’, we do not mean merely that which falls within the remit of the Ministry of Culture and cannot be described by the word ‘sport’, but rather the way in which the human species adapts to life, through which older generations exchange and pass on to younger ones information and human achievements that are not transmitted genetically.
In addition to communication and cooperation between people from different fields of activity, communication and cooperation between different generations is therefore also important. Domus Dorpatensis creates opportunities that provide a meaningful reason for representatives of several different generations to come together and work together.
The people at Domus Dorpatensis believe that resilient societies are built not only on economic success or technological progress, but on trust, dialogue, scientific thinking, cultural understanding and active civic participation. By bringing together researchers, artists, entrepreneurs, teachers, students and citizens more broadly, Domus Dorpatensis creates a unique bridge where ideas can be explored and brought to life freely, responsibly and collaboratively.
The purpose of this bridge, which connects and supports, is not to provide ready-made answers. Its purpose is to create the conditions in which better questions can emerge, stronger communities of practitioners can develop, and wiser or more interesting decisions can be made.
Domus Dorpatensis is therefore a safe and welcoming meeting place. Even for dangerous ideas.