Roma Stories
ROMA’S STORIES was a hybrid project that combined digital technology with artistic content production, aimed at promoting and celebrating the Roma community and its cultural heritage.
In the first part of the project, various types of content were created (articles, a documentary series, a virtual photo album, and an exhibition) to deconstruct existing negative stereotypes about the Roma community. This was achieved by promoting their cultural heritage, presenting their ethnic identity, and showcasing their ways of life. The documentary mini-series explores the lives of several individuals of Roma ethnicity. It features portraits of metalworking craftsmen, musicians, visual artists, feminists expressing their ideas through theater and music, and other protagonists. By surpassing stereotypes, the five episodes unveil hidden stories and provide a perspective on the traditional and cultural diversity of the Roma minority.
Another aspect of the project included a 5-day study visit organized by Icelandic partners. Five young Roma individuals, already involved in activities and organizations promoting Roma culture, had the opportunity to participate in job shadowing activities. They developed specific skills related to creative industries and cultural event planning during this visit.
Project funded through the EEA Grants 2014–2021 under the RO-CULTURA Programme
Project budget: 197.796€
Consortium:
- 23 Film Studio & Media SRL
- Projects ehf.
Project objectives:
The project aimed to promote and enhance Roma culture by developing an online platform with artistic content to raise awareness and improve societal perception. Key components included:
- Actively involving Roma communities in the creation of artistic content through collaboration in an interethnic team (Romanian-Icelandic), contributing to reducing social disparities.
- Empowering the Roma population through participation in job-shadowing sessions, fostering an economy based on knowledge, education, training, and entrepreneurial culture. These initiatives support human capital development, institutional capacity building, and align with the European Economic Area’s cohesion policy.
Results:
- A preparatory working visit to Reykjavik
- Research and mapping of the Roma community
- Creation of a digital platform
- Production of 5 documentaries
- Job-shadowing activity through a visit to Iceland