More information
Description
The project aims to establish a Centre for Roma and Sinti in Prague. The Centre will strengthen the role of the Museum of Romani Culture and will be based on the underlying idea to preserve evidence of the Romani history as part of the European heritage. The multi-purpose Centre will combine information centre for the public, premises for temporary exhibitions, depository, offices for staff, lecturers and historians and large open space for public events. Gallery for permanent exhibition of Roma history and art shall be also established in Prague.
The project will, inter alia, include the following main activities:
- Reconstruction of the building of Centre for Roma and Sinti in Prague and construction of a pavilion,
- Procurement of equipment for the centre’s interior,
- Development and provision of educational activities,
- Collecting and providing information on Roma history,
- Presenting contemporary Romani art and culture,
- Organizing public events and temporary and permanent exhibitions,
- Educative and awareness raising services.
Summary of project results
The project was responding to the situation when there is no culture and educational centre focused on Roma and Sinti history and culture in Prague. Therefore, the Roma community is missing an institution established for nurturing and maintaining their culture and a place that would strengthen their identity and inclusion into the Czech society through various culture and educational programmes. Thus, the aim of the project was to establish a completely new Centre of Roma and Sinti in Prague, as a local branch of the Museum of Romani Culture operating in Brno. Unfortunately, this did not happen during the five years of the project due to construction complications. However, a number of soft activities took place - educational programmes and workshops carried out in cooperation with the Norwegian partner. Public events included commemorations, discussions, and exhibitions.
The Ethnographic Museum hosted the exhibition Open Journey, representing the Museum of Romani Culture''s collecting activities focused on amateur artists. The exhibition The Story of the Survivors, presented at the Clam-Gallas Palace, was a continuation of the exhibitions at the Lety Memorial. The latter was dedicated to the personalities who survived the imprisonment in the camp during World War. The exhibition included guided tours and accompanying activities such as discussions on art, Romani history and life. In cooperation with a Norwegian partner, three educational activities were created - an art workshop and programmes on prejudice and stereotypes. Another programme - The Fate of the Růžička Family - The Story of the Lety Camp and Beyond - is dedicated to the history of the concentration camp at Lety. An educational methodology using the principles of competences for democratic culture was developed. Public events included commemorations of the Roma Holocaust in the public space of Prague.
The Museum of Romani Culture under the auspices of the Centre of Roma and Sinti in Prague organized a total of 75 public events including discussions, cultural events, and commemorative events. Furthermore, 97 educational events for schools with programmes focusing on Roma history and culture were carried out. The intention was to build a public institution dedicated to Romani history and culture, based on education and community activities. During the project, the building was not renovated, but a network of Prague schools was built and engaged in educational programs, and a permanent circle of visitors to public events was created from among Roma and non-Roma, as well as a circle of descendants of Holocaust survivors. The topic of the Romani Holocaust entered the public space of Prague.
Summary of bilateral results
As part of the bilateral cooperation with The European Wegeland Centre, two joint workshops entitled Education for intercultural understanding took place in 2021 in Norway and in 2022 in the Czech Republic. The workshops also included getting to know the experiences of the partner and their educational programs, which are focused on education for democracy, focused on topics related to intercultural understanding and the application of human rights. The acquired experience and knowledge were used in the creation of the programs. The Czech side brought knowledge about society''s relationship with ethnic minorities and the struggle for the recognition of their rights. Centre of Roma and Sinti in Prague''s activities and educational programs were presented at the workshops. These are focused on Roma history, especially the Roma Holocaust, Roma traditions and customs and stereotypes. The outcome of the collaboration is an educational methodology for the Fate of Růžička''s Family program using principles for democratic culture. The methodology for the educational program was created based on the concept of the so-called competences for democratic culture as defined by the Council of Europe. The intention was to spread not only the facts about the genocide of the Czech Roma and Sinti, but also the development of attitudes, values and skills that must be acquired in order to preserve democratic culture and the peaceful coexistence of all in culturally diverse democratic societies. The program supplements the school curriculum with important historical events that every citizen of the Czech Republic should know.