Jüri Kuuskemaa

Jüri Kuuskemaa (born 25 October 1942) is an Estonian art historian, curator, heritage advocate and radio host. He is best known for his long association with the Kadriorg Art Museum and for researching and popularising the history of Kadriorg and Tallinn Old Town through museum work, lectures, broadcasting and public tours. In 2003, The Baltic Times described him as "one of Estonia's best-known historical experts".

Early life and education Jüri Kuuskemaa was born in Tallinn on 25 October 1942, while Estonia was under German occupation during World War II.

His father, Madis Kuuskemaa, died in 1944, aged 23, at the Battle of Narva after being mobilized into the German Army with the rank of Oberfähnrich. His paternal grandparents were actors August and Betty Kuuskemaa.

Career While still a student, Kuuskemaa completed museum practical training at Kadriorg Palace and later worked there for many years as a curator in the Art Museum of Estonia; he later also worked at the museum's Niguliste Museum branch.

By 2012, Kuuskemaa was serving as counsellor for cultural affairs to the mayor of Tallinn.

The City of Tallinn, when awarding him the Town Hall Medal in 2007, cited his long-term work in researching and popularising Tallinn Old Town and Kadriorg through writings and radio and television programmes, as well as his long involvement in heritage activity and the organising committee of the Tallinn Old Town Days.

He hosted the history programme Memoria on Kuku Raadio; the programme archive identifies him as its presenter and lists its most recent broadcast as 25 June 2023. The City of Tallinn also identifies him as the city's herald at the annual Tallinn Day celebrations.

Selected works Kuuskemaa's publications have focused chiefly on Kadriorg, Tallinn and historical church heritage. Among his books are:

Historical Organs in Estonia (with Andreas Uibo, 1994) Peeter I ja Katariina I Tallinnas (2009) Kadriorg. Lossi lugu / Kadriorg: Palace's Story (with Aleksandra Murre, Kadi Polli and Mart Kalm, 2010) Legends and Tales of Old Tallinn (2012) In 2007, the City of Tallinn awarded him the Town Hall Medal.