Open Call: History Through Roma Eyes

The European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) together with its project partners — Jaw Dikh Foundation (Poland), Women for the Future Association / Independent Theater Hungary (Hungary), Media Voice (Slovakia), and ARA ART (Czech Republic) — invites applications from young Roma individuals (aged 18–35) to participate in the international project Shared Histories, Shared Futures, financed by the Visegrad Fund and implemented within the Visegrad region. As part of this call, two participants per country (Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia) will be selected.

About the Project

Shared Histories, Shared Futures brings together young Roma storytellers to explore shared Central European histories and document Roma contributions to civic, cultural, and social life. The project focuses on personal stories connected to World War II resistance, life under communism, democratic transition after 1989, and everyday practices of solidarity and coexistence.

By collecting and publishing these stories in a publicly accessible digital archive, the project helps strengthen inclusive memory practices in the V4 region and increase the visibility of Roma voices in regional historical narratives.

What Participation Includes

Selected participants will join the project as youth researchers and take part in a two-day international Youth Lab in Prague (April 26-29, 2026). Travel, accommodation and meals will be fully covered by the project.

During the Youth Lab, participants will receive professional training in ethical interviewing, oral history methodology, and storytelling formats (text, audio, and video). Following the training, each participant will collect and document three oral histories in their home country between May and September 2026, with support from a national mentor.

Each selected participant will receive:

• An honorarium of 500 EUR upon successful completion of three documented stories.
• Additional production support of up to 900 EUR for the post-production of the final public version of the collected stories (editing and preparation of the creative output).
• Travel support of up to 80 EUR to cover domestic transportation costs related to conducting the interviews
• Professional editorial, graphic design, and communication support
• Promotion of their work through ERIAC and partner communication channels
• Inclusion of their stories in the project’s international digital archive and public campaign
• Participants will also be invited to contribute to the project’s final online conference in November 2026.

Eligibility

Applicants must be:

•     Individuals of Roma origin aged 18–35  
•     Based in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, or Czechia
•     Available between March and September 2026
•     Interested in storytelling, history, memory work, or civic engagement

Previous professional experience is not required. However, experience in collecting and presenting stories, journalism, audiovisual work, research, artistic practice, community work, or cultural activism will be considered an advantage.

In the selection process, the committee will assess applicants based on motivation, clarity of proposed story ideas, commitment to the full project cycle, and potential to successfully complete the required outputs. The selection will also take into account gender balance and regional diversity.

Required Project Outputs

As part of their participation, selected youth researchers are required to submit the complete documentation package for each story they collect. This includes:

1. The original high-quality video recording of the full interview (maximum length: 2 hours).
2. The full transcript of the conversation (with translation into English).
3. A creative public version of the interview.While the full raw interview is required for archival purposes, each participant must also produce a shorter public-facing version that captures the essence of the story and makes it accessible to wider audiences. This can take the form of an edited short video, a documentary-style segment, a social media video (including reel format), an audio piece, a visual narrative, a performative interpretation, or another agreed creative format.

Recommended duration: 3–15 minutes.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via the online application form. The form will ask you to provide the following information:

• Motivation Letter (max. 500 words)

Please explain why you want to participate in this project. How does your personal or professional background relate to the goals of “History Through Roma Eyes”? What do you hope to learn or achieve through this experience?

• Project Proposal

Please outline the types of stories or individuals you would like to document. You may refer to specific family histories, community elders, or historical events (for example WWII, the Communist period, or the democratic transition after 1989).

• Required Documents

CV and any relevant projects, portfolio materials, or additional documents related to storytelling, research, journalism, audiovisual work, or artistic practice.

Deadline: 6 April 2026, 23:59 CET

Applications must be submitted via the online application form

If you have any questions regarding the call, please contact: petro.rusanienko@eriac.org 

Applications will be reviewed by an international committee composed of representatives of the partner organizations.