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The Barvalipe Academy is the agenda-setting and strategic body of the Institute which has an advisory and inspirational role in order to fulfill ERIAC’s objectives.
Following the first meeting of the Barvalipe Academy, held on 5 February 2019 in Belgrade, two Academy members – Gilda Horvath and Dr. Iulius Rostas – were elected to sit in the ERIAC Pakiv Board.
As, in accordance with the ERIAC Statutes, no member of the Board can also be a member of the Barvalipe Academy, the vacancies produced by the Board appointments were to be filled by two new distinguished members of the Roma arts and culture community. ERIAC Board approved a procedure for filling the vacancies in accordance with the Statutes based on voting results of the General Assembly and the Pakiv Board. As a result, two new members of the Board were appointed: dr. Florin Nasture and Miguel Ángel Vargas.
Dr. Florin Nasture is a Roma advocate from Romania who holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the National School of Public Administration, Bucharest. He graduated from the Faculty of Philology and Theology at Bucharest University, where he also obtained a Masters degree in Strategic Management. In addition, he obtained a Master in Social Development Practice from London Metropolitan University. Since 1997, he has been involved in Roma Civil Society, first as a project coordinator for the Romani Criss Foundation and then as the senior manager for the Roma Education Fund. Florin Nasture has a long-standing experience in advocacy for education and health rights of those who are vulnerable. Also, he has been delivering training programmes as part of projects implemented by different organizations in the areas of community mobilization and development, conflict resolution and mediation, democratic participation, project management, and education. In all his work, Florin Nasture has been guided by the principles of community development, gaining significant expertise in civic mobilization and community empowerment.
Miguel Ángel Vargas (born 1978, Spain) is a stage director, poet, actor, and researcher. In his work, inspired by the poetics of the old, he uses material and aesthetic elements of the past to influence contemporary contexts; from his point of view, nothing – material or not – dies free of life and of a certain magical influence, especially in the universe of Theater. He earned his degree in Art History from the University of Seville, studied Stage Direction in the the Instituto del Teatro de Sevilla, and currently researching the representation of Roma theater artists on stage (Sevilla and Cádiz, 1746-1845), while also collaborating with international organizations like ERIAC or Central European University for the Roma emancipation through culture and art. Miguel has performed as a theater actor on several stages across Europe; starting in 2001 with Teatro del Velador and Teatro del Duende (Spain), Newcastle Northern Stage (London), and the historic Roma Theater Pralipe (Germany). As well as occupying different positions in the field of being an opera technician at the Teatro Maestranza, a technical director of the Teatro Quintero, and a TV stage manager for the television program Ratones Coloraos in Canal Sur TV. During 2010, he was the production manager of the show Flamenco Hoy, by international filmmaker Carlos Saura. In 2012, he was awarded Young Creators Award by the Instituto de Cultura Gitana of the Ministry of Culture of Spain.
Congratulations to the new Barvalipe Academy Members!
With the new appointments, the Barvalipe Academy is complete with its 15 statuary members and fully operative.