Description
'Székelyek Traditions – a journey into the culture of secui from Romania' is meant to consolidate the cultural identity of the secui in Romania through promoting their traditions and handicraft in a major event to be organized in Bucharest. The event aims to generate a better understanding of cultural diversity through a wide exposure of the Romanian ciziten to the specifics of Székelyek art and culture. The main expected results of the project are: a field research on the main Székelyek traditions/arts/hancrafts resulting in a monography of the Székelyek culture and a brief presentation movie; a competition for selecting the 50 most representative traditional artists/craftsmen to participate in the first national Székely Fair to be organized in Bucharest, which expects to reach an audience of over 15.000 people and an average of 1.500 visiting the fair. During the fair, which is intended to become a periodic traditional brand event, the project will equally bring to the attention of top decision-makers the topic of further need for debate and action on public policies aimed at promoting the cultural diversity in Romania.
Summary of project results
The present project was meant to provide a successful/impactful response to the major need of promoting intercultural dialogue at regional and national level through understanding cultural diversity of Hungarian ethnic minority in Romania. The project main objectives were: consolidating the cultural identity of Szeklers in Romania through promoting their traditions/art crafts and handicraft in a major event (fair) to be organized in the Capital city – Bucharest and generating a better understanding of the cultural diversity through a wide exposure of the Romanian citizens to the specific of Szekler art and culture. The main expected results (and corresponding indicators) of the project were a field research (cartography) of the main Szekler traditions/arts/handcrafts resulting in a monography of the Szekler culture and a brief presentation movie (printed in 2180 copies); a competition for selecting the most representative traditional artists/craftsmen to participate in the first national Szekler Fair to be organized in Bucharest, an event which reached a wide audience of over 15.000 people informed/visiting the fair. On the occasion of the fair – which is intended to become a periodic traditional brand event, with support of the project partner, the project brought to the topic the further need for debate and action on public policies aimed at promoting the cultural diversity in Romania. The main deliverables within the project were a monography and documentary of Szekler traditions – launched at the Szekler Fair in Bucharest and also presented at Sfântu Gheorghe, a debate on promoting diversity and cultural identity of minorities, with the participation of politicians, representatives of universities, embassies, ministerial committees, cultural institutions, Szekler Fair of traditional artists/craftsmen organized in Bucharest with thousands of visitors and an important media coverage. The event was promoted in the media, on Facebook. The monography and the documentary movie proved to be valuable works, realized at high quality standards, appreciated by the wider public and specialists as well. The visitors of the Fair had the chance to consume a slice of genuine Szekler culture and gastronomy and to have a better look into particular traditions of the region. Two communities had the chance to interact, to get valuable information on each others’ culture and habits, and, finally, bar a few bricks of the wall of stereotypes that still separate them.
Summary of bilateral results