09 08 2024 | Roma Community Centre info

On the 20th of July, Roma Community Centre took part in traditional Žagarė cherry festival where Roma culture was represented. First, a children's and youth concert was held in the city square at the market, where the students of the Akmenė district art school, the singing studio of Joniškis cultural centre, Žagare culture centre's dance collective and the dance ensemble of the Roma Society Centre "Roma de drom" (Vilnius) performed. The event was hosted by the charismatic Brigita Mitrikaitė, who ensured a good mood and filled the atmosphere with energy and charm!

During the Žagarė cherry festival, the unique exhibition "BAXT"* by Andrew Miksys was opened in the synagogue, which reveals the life stories of the Roma community, their daily struggles and extraordinary spirit. This event is a real Žagarė BAXT event, spreading light and understanding about the difficulties and beauty of the Roma community. And this is a real event of Žagare BAXT. We are moved and inspired by what happened.

Andrew Miksys' exhibition "BAXT" aims to reflect anew about Roma in Lithuania and Europe from an artistic, historical, social and political perspective. In addition, the exhibition and accompanying events will be an opportunity to critically reflect on various attitudes related to this community in a wider context.

In 2022, the exhibition realised at the Museum of Modern Arts in Vilnius received echoes not only in Lithuania, but also in the world - one of the most influential international magazines "Vogue" included this exhibition in the list of must-see exhibitions in the world.

The opening of the exhibition was attended by the chairman of the Lithuanian Roma community Ištvan Kvik, the director of the Roma Community Centre Svetlana Novopolskaja, the director of the Baltic Region Roma Women Association Vaiva Poškaitė-Kovaliuk, alumni of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and of the Central European University Gopalas Michailovskis, representatives of authorities. The Žagarė Roma young man – SANTARAS - inspired everyone with their song.

The opening of the exhibition was the launch party of the AMARI KULTURA project. It was also be accompanied by various events aimed at getting to know and recognizing the Roma community - according to the photographer, there was a critical lack of them in the city.

*The translation of the word BAXT from the Romani language is luck, fate, fate, fortune, karma.