The Origin of the Slogan
In 1999, the City Government of Tartu organised a public competition to obtain a slogan for the city.
Altogether 793 ideas were submitted.
In March 11, 1999, the results of the contest were published:
- Winner of the contest: Heade mõtete linn/ City of good thoughts. Author Aivar Viidik;
- Second place: Sajandeid noor/ Young for ages (Through centuries young). Authors Anneli Tarkmeel, Margit Ainla and Aivar Reidla;
- Third place: Voolav vaim ei vanane/ Flowing spirit never ages. Author Jüri Kull.
The slogan was incorporated with the logo of Tartu that was created by artist Tiina Viirelaiu in 1997.
In 2022, design agency AKU created a new corporate visual identity (CVI) for Tartu and separated the logo from the slogan. The slogan "The City of Good Thoughts" still remains in use as it is fixed in the Statute of Tartu City.
