The Akademie der Künste in Berlin hosted the presentation of the project “European Itineraries of Roma Cultural Heritage (ROMHERITAGE)”, on December 5th, 2024.
On December 5, 2024, the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) hosted the presentation of ROMHERITAGE project achievements, at the Akademie der Künste in Berlin. The presentation was livestreamed and included in the “Roma Art of Assembly” events which brought together during 2 days ERIAC members, ROMHERITAGE partners, supporters and general public to celebrate Roma heritage, culture, and the collective power of the Roma community.
The event featured key addresses from Dr. Anna Lührmann, Minister of State for Europe and Climate at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, Mr. Zeljko Jovanovic, Chairman of the ERIAC Board and Director of the Roma Foundation for Europe, Ms. Timea Junghaus, Executive Director of ERIAC and Mr. Fabián Sánchez, ROMHERITAGE project manager and President of Presencia Gitana.
During the presentation, a video was broadcast, prepared by ERIAC, showcasing a summary and the impact of the work carried out within the ROMHERITAGE project, in which Routes of Roma Cultural Heritage have been established in Spain, Italy and Slovenia, as a first step towards the establishment of more national routes all over Europe.
Also, prominent Roma musicians performed and captured the energy and spirit of the Roma culture during the evening:
–Zea (Alžběta Ferencová) from the Czech Republic performed accompanied by Antonín Dlapa on guitar and Peter Hrncirik on cajon.
-A live concert by Bajsa Arifovska, from North Macedonia, blending traditional Macedonian instruments with world music, alongside the Slovenian piano and percussion duo Harmelogic.
-A DJ set by Aldessa, a Roma feminist and artist from Romania concluded the event, which also featured the participation of Roma artists such as flamenco dancer Israel Galván, Italian musician and composer Santino Spinelli or Albanian artist Sead Kazanxhiu.
In addition, a solo exhibition by Delaine Le Bas at ERIAC Art Space and “Roma Fluxus” mail art exhibition, at Akademie der Künste, curated by Timea Junghaus, were inaugurated during the event.
Following the presentation in Berlin, and other public events taking place in December, the next phase of the ROMHERITAGE project consists of the publication, in the coming weeks, of a common methodology to promote the sustainability of the routes in Italy, Spain and Slovenia, and for them to be replicated in other European countries, with the aim of obtaining the official certificate as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, starting in 2026.
