From genocide to genius
With just 2 weeks to go, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities across Britain are gearing up for the third Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month (GRTHM) throughout June 2010.
Highlights for 2010 include a nationwide talent contest called “Travellers Got Talent”, and the arrival in London of an exhibition which remembers the forgotten 1.5 million Romany people who died in the holocaust.
Throughout June, Gypsies, Roma and Travellers across England will be competing in a nationwide talent contest. Travellers Got Talent, or Bari Radt (Big Night) in Romani, will feature 9 regional finals held across England, ending in a live national final at the Gypsy Arts Festival on July 9th 2010.
From Plymouth to Wakefield, Britain’s diverse Gypsy and Traveller community will be coming together to show off their talents. Just like its namesake, Britain’s Got Talent, the competition is open to people of any age, performing in any way they like.
Travellers Got Talent 2009: the event started last year in Hampshire. Can you sing better than last year's winners.
“From singing to Mcing, from flamenco dance to hip hop, anything that can be performed live is allowed. Everybody from stand-up comics to gymnasts, spoon players and magicians are welcome,” says organiser Jake Bowers of the Gypsy Media Company.
“The only restriction is that participants must be from traditional Romany Gypsy, Roma, Showman, Irish or Scottish Traveller families. And they must register with their regional final organiser in order to compete. The winner and runner-up from each of the nine regional finals will be invited to perform at the national final on July 9th.”
The winner of Travellers Got Talent / Bari Radt will receive £500. The act in 2nd place will receive £300 and the act in 3rd place will receive £200.
- The national final of Travellers Got Talent will be held in the grounds of the beautiful Museum of East Anglian Life, Crowe Street, Stowmarket IP14 1DL from 6:30pm on July 9th
Entrants must compete in the regional final where they live. The dates of the regional finals and their organisers can be found at: http://www.grthm.co.uk/travellers-got-talent.php
Just weeks after European nations celebrated the 65th anniversary of VE day. London’s Mile End arts centre will host an exhibition that remembers an ethnic community still blighted by intense racism and persecution. From the United Nations to the European Parliament, the Holocaust against the Roma and Sinti Exhibition has toured the world. On June 8th it will be opened by its creator Romani Rose, Chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma.
Romani Rose knows all about the holocaust, or porrajmos as it is known in Romani. “Thirteen members of my family were murdered during the Holocaust. My grandfather was murdered in Auschwitz and my grandmother in the concentration camp of Ravensbruck,” he says.
Just 26 miles of water, and the efforts of the allied forces, spared British Gypsies and Travellers from a similar fate, but having avoided it so narrowly Rose is keen for us to learn its lessons.
“Britain was not occupied and was spared from the Holocaust,” he says. “But the Romanies in Britain should know about the fate they were proposed to suffer too.”
- The Holocaust Against the Roma and Sinti Exhibition will be on at the Mile End Arts Pavillion, Off Grove Road, Tower Hamlets, London, E3 5BH from June 8th to the 31st
- GRTHM 2010 will also feature an exhibition of wartime Sinti (German Romany) portraits by Otto Pankok from the 7th -26th of at the Stephen Lawrence Gallery, University of Greenwich, Queen Anne Court, Old Royal Naval College, Park Row, Greenwich, London SE10 9LS.
Other highlights throughout the month include:
Roma beyond borders exhibition: Just one of the many events on during Gypsy History Month. Photo: Nigel Dickenson
4 – 5 June, Surrey
The Epsom Derby, 4/5th of June
One of the biggest horse racing events in Britain with a long Gypsy history and big Gypsy attendance. There is evidence that Gypsies lived in the woodland on Epsom Downs in the early 1500s. The day festival of horse racing dates back to 1780. Head past the grandstand and racetrack to see the
stalls, the funfair and the Gypsy and Traveller community at play.
4 – 7 June, Cumbria
Appleby Horse Fair, 4th – 7th of June
If you are looking for a single event that sums up Gypsy and Traveller culture head to the town of Appleby-in-Westmoreland in Cumbria over the first weekend in June. No other single event crams so much Gypsy
and Traveller colour, chaos and character into such a short amount of time than Appleby Horse Fair
See: www.applebyfair.org
7 – 26 June, London
12 June, Brighton
Sussex Gypsy Heritage Day, 12th of June
Sussex Gypsy and Traveller communities are coming together with their local police force to celebrate their heritage. Featuring live music from across Europe, wagons, campfires, displays and films, the day will take over a community centre and park in the heart of Brighton.
The Time and Place:
From 10:00am – 4:00pm, 12th June
The Brighthelm Church and Community
Centre, North Road, Brighton,
East Sussex, BN1 1YD
12 & 13 June, Cambridge
My Big Fat Gypsy festival, 12th/13th June
Gypsy and Traveller communities from across East Anglia will gather in Milton Country, Cambridgeshire, CB24 6AZ. Park with wagons, rides, music and much more.
13 June, Worcestershire
“Gypsies – who are 
ya!”Hartlebury, Worcestershire, 13th of June
Enjoy a celebration of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Heritage and culture at
Worcestershire County Museum. See one of the largest displays in the country of Gypsy Wagons including the famous Esmerelda, as well as folk music, traveller historians, storytelling, displays and demonstrations of traditional crafts.
The Time and Place: 11:00am - 5:00pm, 13th of June
Hartlebury Castle, Nr Kidderminster, DY11 7XZ
18 June – 13 Aug, Wolverhampton
Roma Beyond Borders, 18th June – 13th August
Nigel Dickinson has been photographing Europe’s largest ethnic group for decades. His exhibition is a revealing documentary and an insider’s view of the Romany Gypsy diaspora throughout all of Europe.
The Place: Light House, The Chubb
Buildings, Fryer St, Wolverhampton, WV1 1HT
19 June, Surrey
Gypsy Day: Celebrating Gypsy Life in Surrey, West Ewell, Surrey, 19th June
See traditional Gypsy wagons around the campfire, cookery demonstrations, arts and craft activities, Gypsy musicians and much more!
The Time and Place: 11:00am - 5:00pm
Bourne Hall, Spring Street, Ewell, Surrey,
KT17 1UF
Contact: 020 8394 1734
22 June, Cheltenham
23rd June, London
Gypsy History Talks: Inn on the Green, London, 23rd of June
Just one of a month long series of events, tonight’s Gypsy history talks feature historian and author Donald Kenrick, Romany Journalist Jake Bowers and Barrister Marc Willers editor of the Council of Europe’s handbook for lawyers defending Roma and Travellers.
To see an entire list of films, bands and talks
visit: www.westmeetseast.co.uk
The Time and Place: 7:00pm onwards,
Inn on the Green, 3-5 Thorpe Close,
London W10 5XL.
24 June, Gloucestershire
Gypsy and Traveller Awards and Entertainment Evening, 24th of June
Gypsy and Traveller young people from across Gloucestershire will be taking over the Picturedrome theatre to celebrate their achievements and talents. Featuring drama, live music and an awards ceremony.
The Time and Place: 6:30 – 8:30pm, 24th of June
The Picturedrome Theatre, Barton St,
Gloucester GL1 4EU.
By invitation only.
Contact: Karen Steger 01452 427261
karen.steger@gloucestershire.gov.uk
June 26th, Bradford
Baildon Green Gypsy Fair, 26th of June
There were Gypsy fairs on Baildon Green in Bradford until 1937. Now it’s making a comeback thanks to Bradford Gypsy Voice with the support from Bradford Council.
There will be a traditional Gypsy camp which will include bow top painted living wagons as well as traditional crafts demonstrations, services and information stalls.
Throughout the day there will be entertainment provided by various community groups and a traditional palmist
and celebrity guest.
To see all of the many other events occurring across Britain, please visit: www.grthm.co.uk