Jaak Allik

Jaak Allik (born 6 October 1946)^[1] is an Estonian theatre critic, theatre director and politician. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party, and was previously the Estonian Minister of Culture 1995–1999 (Estonian: Eesti kultuuriminister).^[1] He was member of the VII, VIII and X Riigikogu.

Jaak Allik
Jaak Allik (2011)
Secretary of Ideology (EKP)
In office March 1990 – August 1991
Preceded by	Mikk Titma
Minister (Government Vähi II)
In office 17 April 1995 – 6 November 1995
Minister (Government Vähi III)
In office 1 January 1996 – 17 March 1997
Minister of Culture (Government Vähi III)
In office 17 March 1997 – 1 January 1996
Preceded by	Jaak Aaviksoo
Succeeded by	Jaak Allik
Minister of Culture of Estonia (Government Siimann)
In office 17 March 1997 – 25 March 1999
Preceded by	Jaak Allik
Succeeded by	Signe Kivi
Personal details
Born	(1946-10-08) 8 October 1946 (age 78) Tallinn, Estonian SSR, Soviet Union
Political party	Social Democratic Party
Alma mater	University of Tartu
Profession	theater critic, theater director, set designer, politician

Personal life

Allik studied at the University of Tartu with a bachelor's degree in philosophy and a major in sociology and history, later working as a lecturer in that same university.^[2] He worked as a theater director and designer in the 1980s, becoming the set designer for Ugala.

Because Allik had been a part of the Estonian Communist Party since 1971 (and, ultimately, the CPSU), he became part of groups such as the Supreme Soviet and involved with notable Estonian communists such as Mikk Titma and Indrek Toome. After an independent Estonia Allik was mainly a theater director and theater critic but still remained in politics.

Allik's parents were the communist politicians Hendrik Allik and Olga Lauristin during the 1940s. His maternal half-sister is the sociologist and politician Marju Lauristin. His son, Mihkel Allik, has been an advisor to the Chancellor of Justice. His cousin is the architect Vilen Künnapu.^[3]

Awards

• Honoured Worker of the Arts Industry of the Estonian SSR (1986)
• Order of the White Star, 4th Class (2002)
• Order of the City of Viljandi (2003)