Signe Kivi

Signe Kivi

City of Tartu Electoral District

24 February 1957, Tallinn
Widowed, four grown-up children and seven grandchildren in the family

Education: Tallinn Pelgulinn Gymnasium (former Tallinn Secondary School No. 46) 1975; Estonian Academy of Arts, textile design (equivalent to Master’s degree) 1980

Career: enterprise Kodu, artist 1980–1985; Tallinn Art Plant “Ars”, artist 1985–1991; Tallinn Art University / Estonian Academy of Arts: Lecturer 1988–, Professor 1997, Head of Textile Design Department 1999, Extraordinary Professor 2002, Rector 2005–2015; Estonian Artists’ Association, Vice-President 1995–1998, President 1998–1999; Minister of Culture 1999–2002; Tartu Art Museum, Director 2017–2019

Party affiliation: Estonian Reform Party 1998–2006, 2014–

Membership in representative bodies: Congress of Estonia; 9^th Riigikogu 2003, 10^th Riigikogu 2003–2005 (Deputy Chair of Cultural Affairs Committee), 14^th and 15^th Riigikogu; Tallinn City Council 1996–1999, 2002, also elected 1999

Awards: Order of the White Star, 4^th Class 2004; Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland 2002; Commander of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique of the Republic of Portugal 2006; Commander of the Order of the Crown of the Kingdom of Belgium 2008

Other activities: National Library of Estonia, Supervisory Board 2019–2023, Chair of Supervisory Board 2022–2023; Board of the National Opera 2023–; Member of Estonian Delegation to the Baltic Assembly, Chair of BA Education and Culture Committee 2019–2023; Estonian Artists’ Association 1987–; European Year of Creativity & Innovation, Estonian Ambassador 2009; Estonian Women’s Union, member of the initiative group for restoration and re-founder;
participated in numerous Estonian and international exhibitions, collection “Eesti bussiputkade peaaegu täielik teejuht” (“A Nearly Complete Guide to Estonian Bus Stops”) with Eve Kask 2014, articles in the press

18.06.2026