On 26-27 November, the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) in partnership with institute of Romani Culture in Albania (IRCA) organised a conference on “Recognizing and Celebrating European Identity and Culture of Albania’s Roma”. The conference was preceded with the establishment of a cultural exhibition curated by the renowned Roma Artist Sead Kazanxhi.

ERIAC was initially launched in Berlin, Germany on June 8th, 2017 as a joint initiative of the Council of Europe, the Open Society Foundations, and the Alliance for the European Roma. The opening of ERIAC in Albania is an important development, embodying the success of the recognition of Roma arts and culture. Its work is directly linked to the values promoted by the Council of Europe pertaining to cultural rights and antidiscrimination.

The event aimed at providing visibility to Romani individuals operating in the areas of arts and crafts in the country while structuring a dialogue for institutional preservation of the elements of Romani cultural identity as a valuable integral part of Albania’s cultural heritage. Furthermore, it served as an opportunity for acknowledging the contribution in arts and culture of Roma individuals and for offering new prospects to Romani talents in the country.