Description
The necessity of implementing the project lies in the problem that nowadays Roma traditional crafts are slowly disappearing and that there is a need to safeguard this heritage. The project seeks to respond to this challenge by organising events dedicated to Roma minorities during a 6 month period in order to facilitate public access to Roma cultural heritage. The expected results are two exhibitions held in Bucharest and Sibiu where 40 craftsmen from different Roma communities in Romania (coppersmiths, cast pot makers, iron smiths, silver smiths, woodcarvers, weavers, tinsmiths) will give live demonstrations of 13 handicrafts and will display the objects crafted. Another expected result is a number of five crafts workshops where people outside the ethnic group, namely pupils from Bucharest’s schools, are offered the opportunity to follow closely how the craftsmen work and how the crafted objects are made in order to better understand the Roma traditions and crafts, thus opening these up to new generations. In addition, a study will be conducted that documents and safeguards five traditional Roma crafts. The bilateral relations between the Beneficiary and the Donor State will be strengthened through the partnership with the Norwegian NGO Romers Rettigheter working for Roma rights in Norway.
Summary of project results
The main needs identified in preparing the project "Roma Culture: conservation and revitalization of Crafts, part of the intangible heritage" is that Roma traditional crafts are disappearing. The main objective of the project, consisting in the “revitalization of Roma intangible heritage by facilitating access of the large public to events dedicated to this minority” was achieved firstly by organizing two exhibitions dedicated to the intangible heritage where visitors witnessed live crafts demonstration. Secondly, organizing five crafts workshops in schools facilitated the access of young students who could learn the crafts by exercising during the demonstrations. The project objective was achieved also by organizing “Crafts Caravan” that brought the Roma crafts in front of the public from Bucharest, Brasov, Sinaia and Predeal. The first target group of the project, consisting in 40 Roma craftsmen, benefited of exposure of their crafting techniques and the crafting objects throughout the two exhibitions in Sibiu and Bucharest. For the second group of beneficiaries, consisting in the craftsmen from 5 communities visited during the project, the changes occurred by the promotion on the interactive online platform funded in the project, which created the premises for the improvement of their situation. Another target group was represented by the students of two partner schools involved in the five crafts workshops, who understood the importance of preserving the crafts and gained a more tolerant attitude towards Roma.
Summary of bilateral results
The bilateral cooperation was not successful in the case of this project and this is reflected by the fact the bilateral project indicators were not achieved. The Norwegian partner failed to fulfill his obligations regarding the drafting of project brochures and publishing articles related to the project in Norway media.