He Recalled That Paide Theater İtself Originated From a Discussion at the Festival About Whether the Town Needed İts Own City Theater

Harri Ausmaa, the new director of Estonia's Opinion Festival, aims to expand the event's role in shaping the country's discussion culture throughout the year, prioritizing debate quality and impact over attendance numbers. Ausmaa told Vikerraadio that leading the festival is a natural extension of his previous work, noting his connection began while managing Paide Theater, which became a key festival partner. He recalled that Paide Theater itself originated from a discussion at the festival about whether the town needed its own city theater.

The new director is motivated by the chance to influence Estonia's culture of public debate. "Culture is not just a way to fill time or provide entertainment. Culture, including the culture of opinions and discussions, influences how people understand each other, how communities function and what kind of society we live in, he said.

Ausmaa observed that substantive dialogue has become rarer in Estonian society, with rapid changes and uncertainty pushing people to cling to their positions, often resulting in monologues rather than discussions. He sees the festival's role as preserving discussion culture and creating positive visions for the future. One major change he plans is making the festival more active year-round through new discussion formats, training sessions, educational materials, and engaging different target groups.

While the two-day August event is the most visible expression, he stressed that discussion culture must be nurtured throughout the year. Ausmaa noted that the public often overlooks how festival discussions lead to sector-specific development plans and practical initiatives. To make this impact clearer, the festival is developing a participation and feedback model to assess discussion outcomes.

He also wants to increase youth involvement by creating discussion formats with young people and bringing topics that resonate with them. With attendance steady at around 10,000, Ausmaa sees limited room for growth due to Paide's physical constraints, so he plans to focus on quality, experiment with formats, use technology, and bring the festival to new locations in the town. "What motivates me is that Opinion Festival is this one trusted space where people dare to meet, he said, emphasizing the importance of providing a platform for listening even when people disagree. This year's festival runs August 7–8, featuring over 200 discussions and workshops, including some in English.