Kondase Keskus
The art museum in the Old Town of Viljandi presents paintings by the naive artist Paul Kondas and the work of other self-taught and outsider artists.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Kondase Keskus (Kondas Centre) was established in 2003 as a municipal museum devoted mainly to naive and outsider art. It is dedicated to one of the best-known self-taught Estonian artists, Paul Kondas (1900–1985). The centre is in the Old Town of Viljandi on Pikk Street, near the ruins of the Order's castle, in the red-brick parsonage building belonging to St John's Church, which was completed in 1895. During the Soviet era the building housed the district library, which operated there from 1948 until the new library building was completed in 2002.
The centre was created through the cooperation of several parties: the Viljandi City Government, the Viljandi artists' association Kirikyyt, the Viljandi Museum and the parish of St John's Church in Viljandi. Today the Kondase Keskus is a subordinate institution of the City of Viljandi, and since 2011 it has belonged to the Sakala Keskus (Sakala Centre).
The permanent exhibition has paintings by Paul Kondas and a room reminiscent of the artist's studio and flat; there are also works by other Estonian outsider artists. Kondas achieved international fame after he was included in the encyclopaedia of naive artists published in London in 1984.
Highlights
- Naive paintings by Paul Kondas in the permanent exhibition
- Room reminiscent of the artist's studio
- Works of Estonian outsider art and self-taught artists
- Descriptions of the paintings for visually impaired visitors
- Parsonage building of red brick from 1895 in the Old Town
Permanent exhibition
- Paul Kondase püsinäitus – The exhibition has the naive paintings of Paul Kondas and a room reminiscent of the artist's studio and flat; works by other outsider artists are also on show.
- Founded
- 2003
- Operated by
- Sakala keskus (Viljandi linna allasutus)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5Pupils, students, teachers, pensioners and repressed persons |
| Children & teens | freePre-school children do not need a ticket. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freePeople with a severe or profound disability do not need a ticket. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €4 per personAdult group ticket from ten people; the group ticket for pupils, students, teachers and pensioners is €3 per visitor. |
| Families | €14Family ticket. |
| Guide fee | €20 |
| Museum lesson | €2Per visitor. |
| Workshop | €3Per visitor; workshop prices are €3–15. |
Workshop prices are €3–15 per visitor.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Wheelchair users can come to the museum together with a companion; a portable ramp is available. The second floor cannot be reached by wheelchair, as there is no accessible lift. The permanent exhibition has descriptions of the paintings for visually impaired visitors.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum is in the Old Town of Viljandi on Pikk Street, near the ruins of the Order's castle and St John's Church.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Educational programmes include museum lessons, workshops and activities for pre-school children, school pupils and adults. |
