Ptarmigan operated in Tallinn from 2011-2014. We no longer maintain any presence in Tallinn, but this website will continue to serve as an archive of the activities produced at Ptarmigan during these years.
Opening Operations is a monthly series in 2014 that investigates the practical methods through which culture is produced.
Each month, a representative from a different Estonian culture organisation will present their activities as well as their operating budget and finances. The speaker will discuss a challenge or problem unique to their organisation, and the presentation will be followed by a group discussion. The goal is to share methodologies, open dialogues, and research creative alternatives to real-world problems involving money, labour, and collaboration. This project also seeks to democratise and demystify the act of "organising", proceeding from the belief that there is no right or wrong way to do things, and that different approaches breed more exciting and dynamic cultural forms.
This month's speaker is John W. Fail. John is the only constant volunteer at Ptarmigan since it's inception in 2009, and is also a member of Pixelache Helsinki. He generally looks to find interesting and fun things to do while being alive, and Ptarmigan is one such platform for these experiments. His practice runs the gamut from open-form, participatory actions and collaborations to esoteric music (having released a few LPs and cassettes over the years). His favourite band of all-time is probably the Velvet Underground, and he has an uneasy passion for Pittsburgh sports teams.
Light snacks and refreshments will be served, and the discussion will be recorded and released afterwards online in podcast form.
Avatud Toimingud/Opening Operations is a project of Migrating Art Academies and is supported by the Estonian Ministry of Culture.