Estonian art university cuts ties with Israeli institution, drawing rebuke from political leaders

An art university in Estonia has cut ties with an Israeli university, canceling a design anthropology workshop planned with a visiting Israeli professor.

The Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA) abruptly ended its partnership with Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art in Tel Aviv and canceled the workshop, which was set to take place early next year.

Jonathan Ventura, associate professor at Shenkar College in Tel Aviv told the Estonian news site ERR that EKA had not officially informed him of its decision to cancel the second part of a seminar he was scheduled to deliver at the academy in February. He learned about the academy's decision from a friend who works there.

EKA's decision to cut ties with the Israel school faced criticism from Estonian government officials and pressure from its board of directors."

In a press conference, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated, “I believe the academy should reconsider this decision.” 

Foreign Affairs Minister Margus Tsahkna called on EKA's council to intervene, calling the decision “a step in the wrong direction.” 

Shortly thereafter, EKA Council Chair Maria Mägi-Rohtmets, released a statement saying, "The council advised the rector, together with his colleagues, to look at this issue, which has now become a much bigger issue, once again, and consider all the pros and cons.” 

The rector of EKA, Mart Kalm, later said the decision to sever ties with the Israeli institution will be reviewed. 

Speaking to Estonian media, Kalm said, “I should apologize for my imprecise wording, which has upset people, taken on a life of its own, and allowed misunderstandings to arise.” 

Kalm also tried to minimize the outrage over the school’s decision by saying the academy’s decision was in line with “most art universities in Europe.”

The Estonian art school attempted to present the move as a balancing step saying, that following the decision, the academy would no longer have ties with any Palestinian or Israeli universities. 

In its statement, EKA said it “sympathizes with all those who are suffering in the current war.” 

Professor Ventura highlighted the unusual level of scrutiny directed at Israel within the international academic community.

“I'm pretty sure that if Donald Trump decides on something very, very bad, no one will be boycotting an academy in the U.S.,” Ventura said. “So there seems something very strangely unfair in this whole situation.” 

When asked if he believed there is an inherent bias against Israelis in Western universities against Israelis, Ventura responded, “You can call it whatever you want, but it is, there is a bias that now is really extreme, but it's nothing new.” 

“I've experienced it in many countries way before what's happening now,” Ventura stated. He expressed surprise, noting that he had never faced such bias in Estonia before, even though he had visited the country four times.

“I really like the country and I like EKA. I think it's a great school and I have a lot of friends there,” Ventura remarked. “There is obviously a lot of hypocrisy and mini-politics and I don't know, but it's not a secret that academia tends to be targeting things in a specific direction.”