RUA Festival (Rural Urban Art) brings visual art to Estonia’s small towns and rural areas, creating opportunities for public art outside the city. Nomadic in nature, the festival changes location each year, highlighting how urban art can transform everyday rural spaces. Since its launch in 2018, RUA has painted over 80 walls across seven regions, including Põlva, Jõgeva, Viljandi, Ida-Viru, Võru, Tartu, and Saare County.

The festival was founded by Salme and Ita, who met in 2015 during a street art youth exchange. Noticing the lack of public art in Estonia’s small towns, they decided to create a dedicated festival. Each summer, about ten local and international artists spend a week painting walls, engaging communities, and activating public spaces. RUA celebrates creativity, accessibility, and cultural exchange, transforming villages into open-air galleries. By blending rural settings with contemporary urban art, RUA demonstrates the power of murals to enrich public life, inspire residents, and foster local pride.