European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) discusses the future of Roma history
In the framework of the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC)’s International Cultural Outreach Program, a two-day event "The Future of Roma History: Remembrance, Historical Justice and the Role of Roma Youth” took place in Kraków from February 1-2, 2018
Anna Mirga-Kruszelnicka & Monika Błaszczak, ERIAC
The ERIAC initiated its international activities with the International Cultural Outreach Program, supported by the Federal Foreign Office of the German government. In the framework of the program, seven international events took place between January and February 2018 (in Sevilla, Kraków, Budapest, Prague, Rome, Bucharest and Berlin). The aim of the International Outreach Program was to introduce the ERIAC to diverse audiences in places outside of the ERIAC’s headquarters in Berlin and to ensure a bottom-up formation of the strategic directions of the organization based on Roma leadership. The outreach program served to build up enthusiasm and mobilize support for the ERIAC among Roma and non-Roma individuals, communities and institutions.
Three parallel components, all open to the public with free admission, comprised the event: the exhibition “The Rights to Look”, curated by Delaine Le Bas and Wojciech Szymański; an international expert conference "The Future of Roma History: Remembrance, Historical Justice and the Role of Roma Youth”; and workshops for high-school students about Roma by Roma youth activists Noemi and Delfin Łakatosz.
Launched in Berlin in June 2017, the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) is a joint initiative of the Council of Europe, the Open Society Foundations, and the Alliance for the European Roma Institute. Its mission is to increase the self-esteem of Roma and to decrease negative prejudice of the majority of the population towards the Roma by means of arts, culture, history and media. The ERIAC acts as an international creative hub to support the exchange of creative ideas across borders, cultural domains and Romani identities. The ERIAC aims to be the promoter of Romani contributions to European culture and talent, success and achievement, as well as to document the historical experience of Romani people in Europe.