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

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.

‘Khančeske – You are Welcome – Mai Croeso i chi’

is a two day celebration of Romani and Traveller people and their culture taking place in west Wales on September 30^th and October 1^st 2011.

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Day 1 will include presentations and discussions with members of the local communities, artists, academics and politicians culminating in a

Q & A session with an impressive panel of guest speakers including

Prof. Ian Hancock from the University of Texas, Austin, a Romani scholar, linguist and political advocate.

Also speaking will be Dr.Sarah Cemlyn, School for Policy Studies, Bristol University, Susan Alexander, Travellers’ Aid Trust and Simon Thomas AM for Mid & West Wales and Isaac Blake, Roman Cultural & Arts Company.

Teleri Gray & Robin Hugh Bowen will make a connection with Welsh Romani history by giving a rare performance of storytelling accompanied by the Triple Harp.

Location:

Politics & Culture □ Gwleidyddiaeth & Diwylliant

Llanelli, Glenalla Civic Hall SA15 1EE

September 30 Medi □ 10 – 5

info: 01559 362843  look@simply-solar.co.uk

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Day 2 sees the opening of a new photographic exhibition by Romani photographer Andrea Annamária Duka and the UK launch of the Roma Media Archive www.romamediaarchive.net inaugurated at the Roma Pavillion www.callthewitness.org of the 54^th Venice Biennale 2011.

There will be workshops with Scottish artist Shamus McPhee plus cash prizes for the best pictures and ‘Identity Through Movement’ will be explored with Romani dancer and choreographer Isaac Blake.

At 6.00pm traditional Romani food, cooked by ‘Hungry Dragon’ over a stick fire will be enjoyed followed by a wildly energetic Hungarian Ceilidh with the Jani Lang Band.

Location:

Exhibitions, Workshops, Romani Food & Hungarian Ceilidh

Arddangosfeydd, Gweithdai, Bwyd a Romani a Hwngaraidd Ceilidh

Cardigan, Small World Theatre SA43 1JY

October 1 Hydref □ 2 – 11

info: 01559 362843  look@simply-solar.co.uk

or: 01239 615952   info@smallworld.org.uk

Kethanes džastar

Let’s get together □ Gadewch i ni ddod at ei gilydd

Professor Emeritus Thomas Acton

Professor of Romani Studies
Tel: 020 8331 8923
Email: t.a.acton@gre.ac.uk
Office: Hot-desking
Recent Publications

Office Hours

By arrangement

Qualifications

1955 – 1965: Brentwood School, Essex: 12 O-levels, 3 A-levels, 2   S-Levels
1966 – 1969: Trinity College, Oxford, Minor Scholarship: B.A.Hons.  (Second Class) PPE
1969 – 1972: Nuffield College, Oxford, SSRC Scholarship: D.Phil. in Sociology and M.A., 1974
1978 – 1987: Polytechnic of Central London, PT. Cantonese Chinese

Languages

Reasonable: English, French, German, Kalderash Romani, Anglo-Romani, spoken Cantonese,
Basic communication: Irish Traveller Gammon/Shelta, Latin;
Dormant: Russian

Professional Experience

2010 : Emeritus Professor

1997 : Professor of Romani Studies

1994 : Promoted to Principal Lecturer Grade, University of Greeenwich

1989 : Reader in Romani Studies, Thames Polytechnic

1981 : Senior Lecturer (by promotion) in the Sociology of Social Policy, Thames Polytechnic.

1977- 81: Lecturer Grade II, Thames Polytechnic.

1974 – 77: Research Fellow in Social Policy, Thames Polytechnic.

1973 – 74: Part-Time: Supply Teacher , I.L.E.A. & Revision Tutor Dartford CFE

1973 – 74: Full-Time: Manager, Justin de Blank Provisions Ltd. London SW1.

1970 – 73: Part-time: Various Oxford Colleges: Tutoring and revision class lectures.

1966: Full-time A. Driver and operative, Crown Cleaners,  Brentwood, Essex.

B. Assembly line worker, H.Moeller, Bonn, West Germany.

Recent Publications

Research Interests

Romani Studies, Sociology of Health, Social Policy for Older People, Chinese fishing and canal-boat communities.

Professor Emeritus Thomas Acton - Cv available to download below

Professor Emeritus Thomas Acton – CV

Dr Adrian Marsh (Senior Programme Manager of Roma Early Childhood Development Programme) will be giving a presentation to the Budapest Roma ‘Bravlaipe’ Summer School, organised by the Open Society Institute’s Roma Initiative Office, this weekend.

Anticipate another challenging presentation on the topic of Gypsies Genocide.

Download: Dr Marsh’s 2011 lecture – PDF file (Gypsies Genocide)

Web-link: Gallery of Katarzyna Pollok’s paintings and objects

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month 2011 has come to end and what a month it has been.

The annual celebration event at Newport’s Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre (30th June) was designed to challenge while celebrating the contribution that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people have made to the local community. A week long residency, funded by Newport Children and Young People’s Partnership, involved children from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds drawn from six schools across Newport, coming together to develop and present a performance of unity entitled ‘A SUITCASE FULL OF SHOES’.

The event, which included traditional storytelling, wagon painting workshops and video, included a short animation film by young Gypsies and Travellers from Cardiff’s Shirenewton site (Gypsy Ways) that was put together with the support of the BAFTA winning animation company Cinetig.

Gypsy Ways is a film made with young people from the Shirenewton Gypsy and Traveller site in Cardiff. It uses a combination of animation and live-action to follow the reminiscences of Laurel Price as she recalls growing up in a traditional Vardo and her life on Leckwith Common in Cardiff in the 1970’s before settling on the permanent site of Rover Way in the docklands of Cardiff.

Bringing a European wide perspective on the situation of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers in locations from Istanbul to Invergordon, Stockholm to Southampton and Çannakale to Cardiff, Were Dr Adrian Marsh & Dr Thomas A Acton who presented challenging workshops on the topic of Romani rights, history and cultures.

The NoFit State Circus worked with young people on the Rover way site over a period of 10 weeks to put together an engaging performance for an audience of family, friends and the settled community.

We also presented workshops in Welshpool and Swansea leading up to the month.

We would like to thank all of our funders and supporters.

All of the events received plenty of positive press coverage notably from the BBC, Travelling Ahead &  Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month).

We look forward to next year, and something even bigger.

‘We are very fortunate indeed to have established such a good working relationship with the Romani Cultural and Arts Company. It has enabled us to engage, using the arts as an engagement tool, and better assist and support the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community in South Wales as they face the very real issues and barriers to accessing support and service provision’.

Michael Flynn – Project Director Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales.

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Llanelli Celebration of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Culture and Heritage Event.

The Llanelli Multicultural Network(LMCN) in partnership with the Llanelli Town Neighbourhood Policing Team(NPT) held a very well attended and successful event on Monday 22^nd November celebrating Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Culture and Heritage. It was well supported by members of the settled and traveller communities. The event featured story teller Teleri Grey who told stories of her family’s history in Wales. Speeches of support were given by Assembly member Helen Mary Jones AM and PC Adrian Ward traveller Liaison Officer with the NPT .

There were lots of interactive craft activities for people of all ages to enjoy.

Helen Mary Jones was also on hand to present an award to 11 year old Chloe Lee from Coedcae School. Chloe had designed the winning entry in the “design a logo” for the “Gypsy Traveller Learning and Future Employment” project. She received a voucher for a new bicycle. Senior Project officer with the LMCN said after the event” It was so nice to see so many people from the community here. Especially encouraging was the chance to meet with families from the local Traveller community. The father of one family said it was time for his community to have a voice “ Paolo added “ we can now make a start at have a meaningful dialogue with the Traveller community and see how we can all work together”A huge thanks to everybody who came and took part in the events.

Pictures of the event are available on their “facebook” page ..llanelli multicultural network or visit our website www.lmcn.org

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Wrexham helps celebrate Traveller history month

An event to celebrate Traveller history and culture recently took place at Belle Vue Park in Wrexham. Over 100 people joined the occasion, with exhibitions and displays of traveller traditions, arts and crafts, dancing, cooking and other activities in the park.

Organisations that provide public services were among those in attendance, taking the opportunity to learn more about the culture in a positive way. The event was staged as part of National Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month, and was opened by the Mayor and Mayoress of Wrexham, Councillor Ian Roberts and his wife Hilary.

The Mayor said: “The day was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Traveller history and for the Traveller community to share its traditions with other Wrexham residents.” Local traveller Eva Delanhey, who helped organise the event, added: “It was a pleasure to celebrate our traditional event with so many local people.”

Gypsy Ways is a film made with young people from the Shirenewton Gypsy and Traveller site in Cardiff. It uses a combination of animation and live-action to follow the reminiscences of Laurel Price as she recalls growing up in a traditional Vardo and her life on Leckwith Common in Cardiff in the 1970′s before setting on the permanent site of Rover Way in the docklands of Cardiff.

Press coverage notably from the (BBC & Travellers’ Times).