Summary of the project
Although the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia is harmonized with European values and implies a society rooted in social justice, in which national minorities enjoy special attention with the aim of achieving full equality, and discrimination and incitement of racial, national, and religious hatred are prohibited, the realities for the most vulnerable groups are often very different in practice. Research on the position of Roma in Serbia, conducted by the organization Civil Rights Defenders in 2018, reveals that, generally speaking, Roma face discrimination and exclusion in all spheres of public life. The same research demonstrates that antigypsyism, cumulative discrimination, prejudice, and misperceptions of Roma prevail in Serbia, as in other European countries.
The issue of social exclusion affecting Roma people, as well as the lack of intercultural dialogue, has a profoundly negative impact on the general population and the public, who lack opportunities to become acquainted with the Roma community and their challenges. Consequently, stereotypes and discrimination against Roma and Roma women persist and are perpetuated from one generation to the next. This ultimately harms society as a whole, as a better understanding of the rich and diverse Roma culture fosters improved mutual comprehension, cooperation, and the utilization of the full potential of cultural diversity for the benefit of all members of Serbian society.
Since 2016, Art Aparat has consistently utilized music and artistic production as a means to bridge the gap between members of the general population and the Roma community, promote intercultural dialogue, and contribute to reducing discrimination while advocating for Roma culture in Serbia. Through the development of a unique approach that employs music and creativity as tools to facilitate direct collaboration and exchange among people, we have successfully engaged over 350 of the most marginalized children and youth from the Roma community, along with more than 250 individuals from the general population, in collaborative artistic endeavors. This has created opportunities for learning and exchange, nurturing friendship, solidarity, and unity. By means of activities such as our work in the intercultural choir “Svi UGLAS,” the organization of concerts, the production of audio-visual content, and other public events, we have consistently striven to enhance the knowledge and skills of children and young people from the Roma community, promote Roma culture, and raise awareness among both communities regarding the critical importance of strengthening social cohesion.
Project goals
The general goal of the project is to promote intercultural dialogue through audio-visual artistic production.
Specific objectives of the project include:
- The acquisition of intercultural competences and the familiarization of both Roma community members and the general population with Roma culture.
- Reducing discrimination against the Roma community within the general population and fostering empathy and solidarity in society.
- Sensitizing and familiarizing the general population with the topic of Roma rights and the position of Roma men and women.
- Promoting Roma culture.
- Facilitating the social inclusion of children and youth from the Roma community.
- Promoting music as a tool for social change.
Beneficiaries
Art Aparat’s work focuses equally on the members of Roma and non-Roma community.
Children and youth from the Roma community that the organization is working with, are one of the most socially excluded groups in Serbia. The often live in extreme poverty and irregularly attend school. Due to a difficult lifestyle, they don’t get so many opportunities to develop their skills and talents. The intercultural choir Svi UGLAS, as well as the other organized activities, help them acquire new knowledge, get a learning routine, make new friends outside their primary community and build sense of togetherness, practice completing tasks, strengthens their self-confidence and teaches them to love and value their own culture.
In addition to Roma children and youth, beneficiaries are the members of the general population who actively participate in the project. Through the direct joint work and artistic creation with Romani children and youth, people from this target group get to know Romani culture, develop new friendships and familiarize with the position of Roma in Serbia.
Project beneficiaries are also the visitors of the public event and consumers of the audio-visual content that will be created through the project, who will get to know Romani culture and art and familiarize with the values that our choir promotes – empathy, solidarity and togetherness.
Main activities
- Concert preparation – Working with children and the wider community in music workshops
- Production and holding of concerts
- Artistic production and promotion of two video clips
- Promotion of material through YouTube, social networks and media
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