Paradise Lost

Venice-Budapest, September 2007 -- Paradise Lost - The First Roma Pavilion and the Cultural Councilor of the City of Venice partnered to organize a festival of Roma Culture in Venice this autumn. The festival Cultural Cont@mination 2007 will feature concerts, fashion shows, literary events and discussions.

The festival was announced at a press conference organized in Venice on September 14. The program will include three concerts of world-known Gypsy bands from the Balkans, a fashion show by a Roma creator from Romania, a literary event by a Gypsy author from Italy, a Roma DJ party, a Roma culinary fiesta and much more.

Each event will be organized under the banner of The First Roma Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, and will invite citizens of Venice and their Italian and foreign guests to visit the Pavilion and learn about contemporary Roma art.

“The Cultural Authority of the City of Venice strongly supports multiculturalism and diversity. Culture builds bridges among people. If people know more about each others’ music, literature, art, cuisine, folklore and even fashion, they will accept each other better and build more productive and livable society” – says Calogero Lo Giudice, spokesperson for the Cultural Councilor of the City of Venice.

“It is our belief that the identity of the Roma serves as a model for a modern European transnational identity that is capable of cultural fusion and adaptation to changing circumstances,” says Tímea Junghaus, the curator of The First Roma Pavilion. “We are extremely satisfied with the collaboration with the Cultural Authority of the City of Venice and are looking forward to sending a positive message of mutual respect among people and against racism and discrimination,” added Junghaus.

The festival Cultural Cont@miantion established this year by The First Roma Pavilion and the Cultural Councilor of the City of Venice, will be continued in the future. Each year, a culture of a different minority living in Venice will be introduced by the festival.

For more information: press.romapavilion@osi.hu

Roma Pavilion: www.romapavilion.org

Cultural Council of the City of Venice: www.culturaspettacolovenezia.it

The program (to be expanded):

September 16, 2007

Roma Style fashion show:
The First Roma collection prêt-a-porter, autumn-winter 2007
Mestre, Piazza Ferretto,Venice

September 16, 2007

Concert of Esma Redzepova & Ensemble Teodosievski (Macedonia)
Location: Mestre, Parco di Villa Franchin in viale Garibaldi, Venice