Hold Me Dearly: Social Art Project Amplifies Voices of Institutionalized Youth

Hold Me Dearly is a social art project and exhibition at Kumu Art Museum's inner courtyard, part of the museum's 20th birthday programme. Initiated by artist Marta Vaarik and Juri Krutii, the project emerged from a 2022 solo exhibition at Vabaduse Gallery, later expanded into a documentary and traveling exhibition. The show features works by eleven young people from closed child care institutions (KLAT) in Estonia, who chose their own media—photo, collage, installation, sculpture, sound, music, or short film—to tell their stories. The installation transforms everyday objects like a bus stop, vendor's booth, car, and playhouse into a "social sculpture park" where personal narratives meet public space. The project aims to give voice to youth often noticed only when something goes wrong, emphasizing understanding over judgment. Artists include Kadri, Easy, Liis, Intz, Adam, Ali, Karl, Kevv, Roosa, Tom, and Trevor. Entrance is free.