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Description
All project activities are oriented towards increasing the access of the Roma communities / from the small settlements / to culture, and to the preservation and intensive socialization of the Roma folk arts rites, traditions and customs. Today, around the world, millions of people watch and create, through their phones, videos, movies and other visual arts. Surveys show that representatives of Roma communities are relatively positive about the use of modern mobile devices and applications - as the main medium for their social inclusion and social inclusion. The project idea is: to improve the access to culture of minority groups and to support the processes of preservation and dissemination of their movable folklore heritage, based on various video formats, optimized for visualization through mobile devices and mobile applications. Through research and implementation of innovative European and Norwegian practices, electronic tools generating cultural events will be created. "Digital Workshop" is a space for publishing digitalized samples of Roma arts, celebrations and customs. Samples of Roma art will be visualized in this space in video format. Through an intuitive interface, users will publish and play videos on their phones, as well as manually organize them into cultural performances - actively participating in local celebrations and traditional rituals. Such performances will be demonstrated in the final project activities. There will be a demonstration of organizing and conducting innovative local, cultural performances. In a similar way, educational events will be organized and held - aimed at acquainting the Roma communities with the newly created electronic tools in the Digital Workshop. Digital art techniques popular in Norway will also be on display.
Summary of project results
Lack of opportunities for artistic and creative expression of the Roma community; ignorance of Roma culture, traditions and art; limited participation of the Roma community in cultural events; lack of modern communication channels for social and cultural inclusion.
The main objective of the project is to increase the participation of Roma minorities from small settlements in cultural initiatives and improve their access to art and culture. Specific objectives: - Improving access, attracting new audiences and interactively involving Roma communities in local cultural initiatives and celebrations through electronic tools functioning on their mobile devices; Increase access of Roma minorities to cultural processes in the country, through intensive intercultural dialogue between all stakeholders and highly professional collaboration to organize innovative cultural and educational events; Inclusion of Roma communities and Roma culture in the intensive digitisation processes of contemporary art and culture and their inclusion in the pan-European digital intercultural dialogue. The project activities included Digital workshop on Roma folklore, celebrations and rituals in video format, mobile and web applications, the creation of the "The Roma wedding" - travelling performance in video-live format, as well as attracting and involving the audience in Roma cultural events and folklore rituals, including a travelling educational seminar.
The results directly contribute to the presentation and promotion to the public of Roma culture, traditions and art in their diversity, as well as the presentation of new events in small settlements. The project has also contributed to the overall objective of the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism to reduce economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area. The target groups of the project are: the Roma community in the four target areas - the villages of Joakim Gruevo, Yagodovo, Malo Konare, Bolyantsi; the project also targets the other part of the local population - the ethnic Bulgarians. Apart from the representatives of the Roma communities of these settlements, the target group included all potential users and viewers, regardless of their ethnicity. The project creates conditions for equal participation in the cultural and social life of the settlements and equal use of the products created through the project activities. The project has contributed to the building and development of the creative potential of the Roma leaders in the Indi Roma 97 Foundation, the local Roma communities and community centre workers from the small settlements and the Bulgarian population living in these settlements. The broad participation of local people in the preparation and implementation of the events has created a sense of ownership of the project. The involvement of the partner - Glitch Studios AS from Norway - has enhanced the innovative character of the project activities and lead to a stronger highlighting of the rich artistic identity as well as the cultural diversity of Europe.
Summary of bilateral results
The partner''s contribution was significant and much appreciated. The partner from GLICH STUDIO presented and discussed a presentation on Norwegian practices for building on folklore, celebrations and rituals with added virtual reality. The project team gained experience on the application of modern and innovative practices in digital interpretation of Roma folklore.