Tales from the Trailer
'Tales from the Trailer' captures the stories of 20 Gypsy and Traveller people from the Cardiff area. Image: © Romani Cultural & Arts Company 2013
Text below © Tales from the Trailer website
The Romani Cultural and Arts Company proudly presents ‘TALES FROM THE TRAILER’, an exciting innovative online exhibition that captures 20 distinct stories from the cultures of two very different Gypsy and Traveller (GT) communities across the sites in Cardiff.
‘Tales from the Trailer’ provides a unique new digital platform for an exhibition to preserve and promote the culture both to the Gypsy and Traveller communities and also to the “settled” community. The project from start to finish has been steered and led by Gypsies and Travellers to ensure a true representation of the Cardiff GT community, it’s values, beliefs and realities.
Despite having been part of British society for over 500 years, members of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Community are often thought of negatively. Tales from the Trailer, which includes interviews with residents from the Rover Way and Shirenewton sites recorded by Romany Gypsy Patricia Knight, will share their experiences of their lives in Cardiff and their nomadic way of life.
The project has been managed by the Romani Cultural & Arts Company in Cardiff. Isaac Blake, Director 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.”
In addition to the financial support from The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), the project has also been given practical help and support from St Fagans: National History Museum and The Cardiff Story. 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, former 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”.
Explore this website and become entwined in the wonderful, dynamic world of the Gypsies and Travellers of Cardiff.