Prima Vista Festival Opens with a Unique Micro-Library at the Tartu Observatory

On May 5, the international literary festival Prima Vista begins in Tartu, officially opening on May 6 at 4 PM at the Tartu Old Observatory with a four-day exhibition, “Micro-Library: A Library of Physical Influence.” The festival opening will take place in front of the Observatory (or in the west hall in case of rain), featuring speeches by Raimond Tamm, Deputy Mayor of Tartu; Tõnis Vilu, Tartu City Writer; and Kai Aareleid, this year’s Prima Vista patron. Musical accompaniment will be provided by Silver Sepp.

The Micro-Library at the Observatory is an interactive exhibition focusing on the book as a physical object and spatial experience. Reflecting this year’s festival theme, “Book as a Place, Place as a Book,” the Micro-Library highlights the materiality of books such as the textures of covers, the rustling sound of pages, the significance of design, and the sensory experience involved in reading. These are details that often go unnoticed in larger libraries.

“When you don’t have to worry about abundance or the overwhelming number of books, you can read peacefully, focusing on sentences and paragraphs. There’s time to appreciate the design,” explains Andrus Laansalu, creator of the Micro-Library concept and librarian for the event.

Visitors are encouraged to browse freely through all books, exploring their design and allowing themselves to read slowly, sentence by sentence or paragraph by paragraph. The Micro-Library is not a metropolis; it’s a room, or even a cozy corner—a place to encounter books in peace and presence.

Each festival day offers a unique selection: on May 6, books are chosen by Eik Hermann and on May 7 by the students of the Estonian Academy of Arts; May 8 presents a selection curated by Lina Itagaki (Lithuania); and on May 9, the choice is made by Jaak Tomberg and Andrus Laansalu.

A special panel discussion titled “The Book as a Physical Object” will take place on Wednesday, May 7, at 15:30. Moderated by Andrus Laansalu, the conversation will feature Eik Hermann, Ulla Väljaste, and Tõnis Tootsen, who will explore book materials, design possibilities, and sensory meanings, emphasizing why covers and pages matter.

Entry to the Micro-Library is included with a ticket to Tartu Observatory, which costs 3€ when purchased at the ticket office using the code “Prima Vista”

Entry to the Micro-Library requires an Observatory ticket, available for €3 with the code “Prima Vista”. Admission is free with a museum card. The opening of the Micro-Library and Wednesday’s panel discussion are free for visitors.

For more information and the full festival program, visit: kirjandusfestival.tartu.ee.