Romani Cultural and Arts Company celebrates 10th anniversary
The Wales-based Romani Cultural and Arts Company celebrates its 10th Anniversary today, September 1st, 2019.
“We are very proud of these first 10 years and of what we have achieved,” said Isaac Blake, founder and Director.
“10 years of community strength and success!”
2009 – 2019
The Romani Culture and Arts Company has been the leading Romani organisation in Wales for 10 years and has become the strongest Romani and Traveller led organisation in the United Kingdom, with an extensive network across Wales, England and Europe.
The RCAC has an impressive portfolio of activities, programmes and projects, that have stretched its field of vision and engagement well beyond the usual parameters of what constitutes arts and culture. To build self-confidence, resilience and give a ‘voice’ to the usually ‘voiceless’, RCAC has
– extended its activities to include work on strengthening self–identity and Romani and Traveller ‘pride’, through arts and drama workshops with children of all ages,
– embarked upon a large, community-based early years creative education programme on (caravan) sites,
– worked with Romani and Traveller artists with international reputations,
– undertaken work in local primary schools across Wales to improve understanding around Gypsy, Roma, Traveller history, language and culture, especially through Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month (GRT HM),
– built stronger social and cultural relationships between Romani and non-Romani communities,
– carried out a unique and highly successful health and wellness project (in partnership with the Centre for Equality and Human Rights, Public Health Wales),
– organised exhibitions about Traveller lives and experiences, and delivered high-level, international symposia on the arts, education, government strategy, policy and Romani rights.
The RCAC also; through its consultants and experts, provides social justice and anti-bias training for local government officers in housing, planning and community provision services, voluntary-sector and non-governmental (NGO) organisation staff, early years pedagogues, teachers, educators and education managers, health professionals and practitioners, social workers, community-development workers, fire service officers and police officers, as part of its commitment to professionals and practitioners. This training is designed to provide practical, continuing professional development. Tailor-made support and training are also delivered to individual institutions and organisations (such as Public Health Wales).
“We are proud of our track record over the last 10 years and look forward to the next 10 and beyond,” said Isaac Blake.
You can download and read the Romani Cultural and Arts Company ten year report by clicking on here: RCAC TEN YEAR IMPACT REPORT; 2009 - 2019.