Culture Minister Heidy Purga, a former radio DJ, sees music as the gentlest possible way in.

By myself, I, you know, I know this, the best way to interact or to learn to know somebody's, their mother languages or their, their culture is through culture, through music, for example.

Estonia has finally came to this decision that, uh, everybody must learn Estonian language at school.

Every beginning is sometimes hard, but it's only way for a small nation to keep our language and to keep integrated.

[instrumental music]

But Culture Minister Põder argues that's precisely when investing in culture matters most.

We have only 1.3 million people live in Estonia, but, you know, last year there were, like, 1.2 million museum visits and 1.2 million theater visits.

Our nation is, like, so into the culture.