8th April 2021 will be the 50th Anniversary of the 1971 World Romani Congress, which led to the explosion of Roma, Gypsy and Traveller activism across the world.
An open-membership, non-political committee has been set up in London to liaise between people who want to organise events to mark this very special Roma National Day.
Within the London Committee we are working towards two specific events so far:
1) A large, interactive exhibition organised by the Galerie Kai Dikhas in Berlin to bring a selection of the best of modern Romani Gypsy and Traveller art to prestigious venues in London
2) A pilgrimage to Cannock House, in Chelsfield, site of the 1971 Congress, with a concert/performance event led by the Romani singer-songwriter, Pashey Smith, hopefully at the Bull Public House where the Gypsy Council was founded in 1966 (and its own 50th anniversary celebrated in 2016.)
Funding applications are pending. An academic seminar might be another possibility if one of the younger Roma, Gypsy or Traveller academics who still has a job steps up to organise it.
We would love to hear from anyone who would like to be involved in these events, or would like help with or publicity for stuff they are organising.
The chair of the committee is Virgil Bitu, the secretary is Thomas Acton, and Grattan Puxon, who founded the Gypsy Council and ran the first World Romani Congress is a prominent member.
Contact details
Virgil Bitu
Thomas Acton
Grattan Puxon
Contact Thomas Acton if you want minutes of the three meetings held so far or to go on the London Committee mailing list.
