It turns out that this is the message of the international festival GYPSY FEST, which calls to fight stereotypes and invites the public to get rid of stereotypes and get to know real people.
Huge posters with these phrases filled the public spaces of the capital. Some of them even have the option to scan a QR code. Such posters raised questions among passersby, and only the keenest noticed that this is an announcement of the international festival taking place in Vilnius on September 19.
“This year we are organizing the jubilee – the tenth – international Roma culture festival GYPSY FEST. It will take place very soon. Every year the festival has a slogan that invites the public to reflect, change their stereotypes, look differently at Roma and not only them – at people of any nationality and even themselves.
For example, one year we said “A Roma is not a genie,” another year: “Afraid of a Gypsy? Get to know a Roma.” This year we decided to take another step and invite the public to a dialogue with themselves. Therefore, the event posters do not announce but encourage reflection. I know that this touched many people. We hope to see each of them at the festival this year, which will take place during the “Tautų mugė” (Nations Fair),” says one of the event organizers, chairman of the Lithuanian Roma community, Ištvanas Kvik.
He reveals that this year Vilnius will again be colored by the now traditional theatrical procession, which will include musicians, special effects, dancers, and guests from abroad. The procession will invite not only to break stereotypes but also to get acquainted. “The final point of the procession will be Kudirkos Square near the Government, where we will hold a free concert for the city’s people and guests on the “Tautų mugė” stage.
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Here, not only SARE ROMA and well-known Roma ensembles from Lithuania will perform, but also our guests from Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Serbia. It will be a huge concert where we will offer not only music but also invite to get to know Roma up close – people just like everyone else. Those who are talented, musical, kind-hearted, and open. It is not just music, dance, and colors. It is an invitation to get to know, listen, reflect, and perhaps change your attitude,” says I. Kvik.
During the event, an improvised Roma village will also operate in Kudirkos Square, where anyone interested can get closer to Roma culture and culinary heritage. Here, Roma women will sell their handicrafts, and those interested, as the organizers joke, can even find out their future.
“GYPSY FEST invites not only to get to know Roma culture through dance, song, music, and cuisine. We want to talk about what is often invisible but lives in our minds – stereotypes. Therefore, we send 6 social messages that invite you to stop, think, and ask yourself: why do we sometimes already have a preconceived opinion about a person we do not know? And more importantly – how do our own stereotypes affect our daily lives?” says the co-author of the idea, head of the Baltic region Roma association Vaiva Poškaitė-Kovaliuk.
She reveals that during the free concert in the center of Vilnius, the young Roma competition ROMAVISION, organized for the third year, will also take place.
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GYPSY FEST program on September 19.
3:00 PM Theatrical procession from Vilnius Town Hall to Kudirkos Square.
6:30 PM Free Roma music concert at Kudirkos Square!
