ANDO FORO – Roma Contributions to Berlin’s Contemporary Art Scene
Is it the Berliner’s open-minded attitude? Their peculiar sensitivity towards questions of identity? Are the roots to be found in the migration routes of the Roma? Where did it all start?
One thing is undeniable: Berlin has consistently played a crucial role in the cultural and social life of the Roma diaspora and, synchronically, Roma had also left their impactful mark on the history of the German capital.
Home of the first Roma feminist archive, host of the first Roma transnational arts and culture institution, shelter for a Romani film festival, place of Europe’s only commercial gallery specializing in Roma art, event location of the first Roma Biennale and venue for an autonomously run Roma organization: Berlin provides opportunities to collaborate both with Roma organizations and mainstream venues, while many artists, actors, musicians, and playwrights flocked to the city to show their work, openly embrace their Roma identity and tackle negative stereotypes and prejudices about Europe’s largest minority.
Is Berlin a sort of an accomplished ‘Romáland’, instrumental in raising the profile of Romani arts internationally?
In collaboration with the Maxim Gorki Theatre, the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) presents ANDO FORO, a panel discussion to explore the substantial cultural, social, and political presence of Roma in Berlin.
In celebration of International Roma Day, the discussion takes place at the Gorki KIOSK, following the coproduction by Anestis Azas and Prodromos Tsinikoris , ROMÁLAND, on the main stage of Gorki.
April 9, 2024
20:00 ROMÁLAND – Text and Direction: Anestis Azas, Prodromos Tsinikoris
Theater play
Maxim Gorki Theater, Am Festungsgraben 2, 10117 Berlin
In a blend of fiction and documentation, Roma and non-Roma tell of their experiences with and perspectives on ongoing racism – both in Greece and beyond. In Greek and Romanes with German and English surtitles. The Romáland guest performance is realized with the support of the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture.
More information and tickets are on the Gorki website.
21:30 ANDO FORO – Roma Contributions to Berlin’s Contemporary Art Scene
Panel discussion
Gorki Kiosk, Dorotheenstraße 3, 10117 Berlin
With the participation of:
Tayo Awosusi-Onutor (Singer, author, publisher, Board member of RomaniPhen feminist archive)
Anestis Azas and Prodromos Tsinikoris (Directors of Romáland)
Hamze Bytyci (Chair of the Board, RomaTrial and Director of Ake Dikhea)
Shermin Langhoff (Artistic Director, Maxim Gorki Theater)
Joanna Warsza (Independent curator, co-curator of the Polish-Romani Pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale)
Moderated by:
Timea Junghaus (Executive Director, European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture)
The panel discussion takes place as part of the exhibition “Berlin Tales” and event series organized by ERIAC and supported by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion of the State of Berlin.
