Date: Friday 22nd June 2012 (9.30am – 5.00pm)

Venue: City Hall, Cardiff Admission:

FREE (Registration only)

The National Symposium is a development of the annual Gypsy, Roma & Traveller Workshop that encourages members from Local Authority, Central Government and GRT communities to discuss openly the challenges experienced in accessing services and provision. The previous annual workshops, held in Newport have been aimed at promoting a better understanding and appreciation of the developments needed to establish improved social cohesion and integrate GRT communities for the greater good.

This year, the message has been extended to include the concerns regarding wider Romani communities across Europe and beyond. The situation in many countries in the European Union is a cause for profound concern, as the recent report from the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammerberg has noted. Beyond the borders of the EU, the economic and social conditions for Roma and other Gypsy groups grow more grave day by day. Many of these communities are now present in the UK and Wales in particular, in increasing numbers as they seek asylum, better opportunities for improved quality of life and access to services and goods that are denied in their countries of origin. In particular, access to quality, early childhood education and care services, seen as the key mechanism to achieving long-term change for the Romani peoples, is at the heart of this year’s symposium.

We will have a number of important speakers coming from a wide range of organisations that promote and support Romani rights, in addition to well-known academic experts in the field of Romani Studies, policy and development. The event will be opened by Jane Hutt Assembly Member and Minister for Finance and Leader of the House, Welsh Government. The speakers include Emeritus Professor of Romani Studies, Dr Thomas Acton (OBE), Dr Adrian Marsh from the Open Society Foundation’s Early Childhood Programme (Roma initiatives), Mr Isaac Blake, Director of the Romani Culture & Arts Company. I hope you will be able to join us, and would be grateful for your early confirmation by email to isaacblake@romaniarts.co.uk.

The judging of the all Wales ‘Design a T shirt competition’, set up  in order to advertise the Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month gala event on 25^th June (open to everyone!) at St David’s Hall, Cardiff was a great success.

There were over 500 entries from Primary schools that celebrated Gypsy Roma and Traveller culture and demonstrated not only artistic flair, but also excellent background research.

Entries were received from Cardiff, Newport, Pontypool, Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil, Pembrokeshire, Wrexham, Monmouthshire, Rhyl, Carmarthenshire Flintshire and Powys.

The winners were all from Cardiff schools and were:

1st Urien Ware age 10 of Ysgol Mynydd Bychan

2nd Brooklyn Rafferty age 9 Shirenewton Homeclub

3rd Rhodri Gibbon Year 6 of Ysgol Mynydd Bychan

The panel of judges- Councillor Judith Woodman, Assembly Member Julie Morgan, Installation Artist Delaine Le Bas and Tim Wilson from the Cardiff Gypsy and Traveller Project were very impressed with the high standard of the entries.

The event was organised by Isaac Blake Director of The Romani Cultural and Arts Company and Carol Lewis of EMTAS, with the full support of the Traveller Education Service.

All entries will be on display on  the 25th June at St David’s Hall, where the stewards will wear the winning T-shirt design and the prizes will be presented.

The Romani Cultural and Arts Company is pleased to invite you to join them in Wales’ 4th celebration of Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month - June 2012

National Symposium on Friday 22nd June 2012, City Hall

Gala Event on Monday 25th June 2012, St David’s Hall

Exhibition’s

On Monday 25 June 2012 St David’s Hall – 10.00 am – 4pm

Challenge your opinions, indulge in the culture and share in the activities that demonstrate a rich cultural heritage within Wales. Its free to adults and children alike.

Films, live performances, art, and exhibitions that showcase the cultural diversity of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community in Wales.

You will be astonished and engaged by the amazing skills, heritage, stories, history, art, theatre and dance that will be displayed throughout the day.

Whatever your background, ability, perception or age, come and join this ever growing annual event.

Children from across Wales’s schools will be displaying their contribution along in an engaging day of interactive activities and workshops that provide fun for all the family.

Isaac Blake Director of the Romani Cultural and Arts Company says “Young people are the best agents of change”.

Julie Morgan Assembly Member said “I am looking forward to this exciting day.  This will be an opportunity for everyone to come along to find out more about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture.  I am proud to support this event”.

Out of nearly 162,000 charities throughout the UK, a select number of those were invited to No 10 Downing street as an appreciation of the Charitable work done with Children in the countries regions.

Isaac Blake, Director of the Romani Arts Company was one of the select delegates that had the opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister and his wife at Number 10 with assorted celebrities and key officials from the Nations prime charities.

This event celebrated the work undertaken with organisations that have delivered significant growth and understanding with children throughout diverse communities.

Isaac Blake proudly commented that “This was a wonderful opportunity to meet people and share the great work we have achieved this year so far”

Amongst the celebrities of Gary Barlow, Peter Endre and Stacy Solomon, Isaac Blake was probably one of the first Gypsies that has attained the recognition and invitation to this prestigious event.

Once again, children from the Gypsy, Roma & Traveller community have been represented and promoted by Mr Blake at the highest level. The event ended with candidates having a better understanding and awareness of children from varied backgrounds with the opportunity to  partner future actives with those involved.

The event received plenty of positive press coverage notably from (Travellers’ Times).

(Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) 2012 Getty Images

Don’t Miss Out…

For the month of June 2012 we are lucky to have the cultural and exciting Le Bas Family visiting South Wales for their involvement in the 2012 GRT History Month. While here, they have agreed to offer their vast cultural experience and knowledge and exciting work programmes to mainstream schools and alike.

Please don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to share the diverse and passionate feature of your curriculum of development.

This unique opportunity is only available during the month of June 2012. Their challenging and fun tailor made programmes of activity will entertain children and adults in a thought provoking, interactive understanding and rewarding delivery to children of all ages.

To benefit from this rare opportunity, simply register your interest by email at isaacblake@romaniarts.co.uk

For more information on The La Bas family and the History Month 2012, simply click on the links below.

THE LA BAS FAMILY

Venue: The Cardiff Story, The Old Library,  The Hayes, Cardiff.

Admission: FREE

Organisers – The Romani Cultural & Arts Company

The Romany Cultural and Arts Company will be the next community group to be exhibiting in the Cardiff Story’s City Showcase exhibition space. The exhibition will explore cooking traditions in Romany, Gypsy and Traveller communities.  With lots of objects and photographs, visitors will get a chance to experience some of the cooking equipment Romany, Gypsies and Travellers use, as well discovering a lot more about the community’s cultural values, traditions and history.

In addition, International Romany Artist – Delaine Le Bas, will create an installation funded by the Arts Council Wales that demonstrates creative art and crafts within the community.

The Romani Cultural & Arts Company are once again coordinating the Gypsy, Roma & Traveller (GRT) History Month in Wales in 2012.

A free event for all ages (public and schools alike) combines history and art, theatre and dance. Performances by children and adults will be designed to challenge, teach and CELEBRATE!

Your school has the opportunity to participate in ‘Design a T-Shirt’ competition which is open to all Primary schools in Wales to publicise the Gala event on Monday 25^th June 2012, St David’s Hall in Cardiff.

All the entries will be on display at St David’s Hall and the winning T-shirt design will be produced professionally and the winners will be invited to receive their prizes at the Gala event.

The T-Shirt’s will be judged by Julie Morgan AM, Judith Woodman Councillor , Tim Wilson Director of the Cardiff Gypsy & Traveller Project, Delaine Le Bas International Romany Artist and Isaac Blake – Director of the Romani Cultural and Arts Company on 9th March 2012 at Ysgol Mynydd Bychan School, New Zealand Road, in Cardiff.

All entries must be returned to the Romani Cultural and Arts Company office by Friday 2nd March 2012.

Click here to download an Entry Form!

More than 20 families from Cardiff’s Gypsy and Traveller community will get the opportunity to share their history, culture and traditions thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Despite having been part of British society for over 500 years, members of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Community are often thought of negatively.  This new project which involves residents from the Rover Way and Shirenewton sites, will share their experiences of their lives in Cardiff and their nomadic way of life.

The project, which will be managed by the Romany Cultural & Arts Company in Cardiff, will recruit volunteers and train them in recording oral histories, create a new exhibition which will tour venues throughout Cardiff and produce learning and interpretation material which will help people to have a better understanding of the heritage of the cities’ Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community.

Isaac Blake, Director of the Romany Cultural and Arts Company said, “Many people have documented the heritage and culture of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community, but much of that has been documented by people outside of our community.  This project will create an opportunity for Cardiff’s Gypsy and Traveller community to lead the project itself and be sure that it becomes a true representation of its culture and values.”

After the mechanisation of traditional rural work, the lives of people from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community changed dramatically and many people moved to towns and cities.

In addition to the financial support from HLF, the project will also be given practical help and support from St Fagans: National History Museum; The Cardiff Story; Cardiff Council’s Traveller Education Service and The Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales.

Beth Thomas, Keeper of Social and Cultural History at St Fagans: National History Musuem Beth Thomas said “The Museum is glad to support this project and provide an archival home for the material collected. The role of Welsh Gypsies in preserving aspects of Wales’ traditional music and dance has been well documented by others. This is a very timely opportunity for the travelling community to tell their own stories, present a fuller picture of their culture and way of life, and preserve that knowledge for future generations”.

Supporting the HLF grant award, Equalities Minister Jane Hutt, who recently launched ‘Travelling to a better future’ a Gypsy and Traveller Framework for Action said:

“Wales as a nation has always prided itself as a diverse society with a rich mix of cultures and traditions. Gypsy and Traveller culture and heritage forms a part of this diversity.  Thanks to this project more people will be able to learn about that heritage directly from the Gypsy and Traveller community that plays such an important part of everyday life in Cardiff.”

Jennifer Stewart, Head of the HLF in Wales added, “The lives of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities have changed significantly in the past 50 years.  This project not only offers the opportunity to record this history before it is lost, it offers exciting opportunities for people to get to know more about the history of the community in Cardiff”.

Press coverage notably from (Travellers’ Times & Roma).

Isaac Blake Director for the Romani Cultural and Arts Company said: “This project is close to my heart knowing how artistically barren these sites can be. But using arts I found a way to engage with children and young people.”

One of the most important aims of the Romani Cultural and Arts Company is to change the future through our work with children & young people and so we are delighted to confirm a grant of nearly £96,000 from BBC Children in Need, working with the Gypsy & Traveller Communities in South Wales. The project is will engage with children & young people on 6 Gypsy and Traveller sites across South Wales over a three year period. Its purpose is to:

bring arts-based projects to children & young people in Gypsy and Traveller communities

build confidence; and support local communities (working with local community groups etc) to take responsibility for the continuation of activities for children started under this project

The Romani Cultural and Arts Company believes that work with children & young people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds needs to use:

Role models – to raise aspirations

Story telling – to relay the history and culture where children & young people are unaware, but also to offer children & young people the opportunity to tell their stories and record the things that are important to them – for example through photography, video, poetry and prose and by contributing to Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month or by publishing their work on the internet

Arts based projects to allow forms of personal expression for children & young people who may be less comfortable using words, especially the written word.

Keith Towler, Children’s Commissioner for Wales, said: “The work Isaac and the team are undertaking to improve the lives of gypsy and traveller children and young people is critical. Their energy and creativity is pretty impressive and the way in which they attempt to integrate communities across south Wales is to be warmly welcomed. I wish them well in their efforts to develop the skills and build the confidence of these often vulnerable children and young people.”

The partners behind the project also include Cardiff Traveller Education Service and The Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales.