Creative Europe
Desk UK
for Culture

Roma Routes involves partners from the UK, Germany, Slovenia, Greece and Romania developing a network of heritage organisations, mostly museums, and representatives of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. Each country is planning events showcasing Roma culture which will lay the groundwork of a Roma Route of Culture and Heritage, supported by the Council of Europe.

Heritage is a means of engagement which is a non-confrontational method of communication, which allows Roma culture to be seen and understood, away from the tensions of policing, housing etc. Roma have the opportunity to communicate with knowledge and confidence and it allows Roma and non Roma people to meet personally and to develop understanding.

The first event on June 19th at Bourne Hall Museum, part of the UK government’s initiative, Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month was an opportunity to see some beautiful traditional Gypsy vardos (wagons), cookery demonstrations, arts and craft activities, exhibitions, music and importantly conversation between Romani Gypsies and non Roma people. A highly successful conference, ‘Visibility of Roma’, took place in Strasbourg in October, hosted by the Council of Europe, and future events include a month of celebrations in Slovenia, lectures and music in Germany, a commemoration of Roma who died in the holocaust, a Romanian summer camp for Roma and non Roma, Roma people performing for the first time in a museum in Athens and many opportunities for Roma musicians and artists to perform.