VilágVeleje news

Monday March 30, 2009

Athe Sam is here for the 3rd time! - Here We Are! Gypsy Art festival in Gödör

After 2 successful festivals in the last two years, Gödör Club organizes the most extensive weeklong gypsy festival this year too. A lot of European countries have similar festivals to Athe Sam. Budapest is the capital of a country where many gypsy communities live and enriching the culture. We think it is impossible to imagine Budapest without festivals like that, mainly because this city likes to call itself as a Festival City.

The goal of the festival

In the European Union gypsyness is one of the most populous group of the re-united continent, without its own state and unified language, but with a well-identified, rich culture. Athe Sam wants to present this rich culture.

The goal of Athe Sam! is to create a frame for intercultural dialogue with the appliances of art. The assumption of tolerance is knowledge, because we usually refuse what we do not know or we are afraid of it.

We hope that festivals like that can help to combat the negativ stereotypes against gypsy society. Our other important effort is that amongst different gypsy groups there would also evolve a cultural dialogue and that they get to know and accept each other’s culture.

Experience of the last two years is the proof that this festival has a very important role in Hungary’s cultural life. Gypsy communities can present its colorful culture to other gypsy or non-gypsy visitors on this forum.

Syllabus of the festival

There are more levels on which the festival deals with gypsy culture. There are going to be the usual concerts, theatre plays, film screenings, dance lessons and also new programs, initiatives.

Music program

Music always has an accentuated role at the festival. European gypsy culture is represented by bands from France, Serbia, Germany, Belgium, Romania.

At the official opening of the festival world famous Rajkó Band will play.

The prospective young performers got chosen through a competition. From 50 applicants the gypsy professional jury has chosen 10 who get the chance to perform in front of the festival’s audience.

Theatre program

This year we have invited three professional plays. Mesebolt Puppet theatre Suttogó füzesek – gypsy legend from Szombathely, Cinka Panna Gypsy Theatre: Francois Villon’s ballads –re-interpretad by Faludy György (which has won the first prize at ARCUSFEST this year) and the Independent Theatre vajdasági gypsy group: A Gipsy Prayer for South, which has been at the famous Edinburgh Festival also.

On Saturday and Sunday we have organized programs for the children and the youth on the Terrace of Gödör.

Exhibitions

We show the unknown gypsy art through exhibitions. There will be a photo exhibition from a high-school competition which was organized by Open Society Institute, Kasza Magdolna: Gypsies in World History comics exhibition, ChaChipe Youth photo exhibition and a photo exhibition that presents traditional gypsy crafts.

Athe Sam isn’t just a bunch of arty programs but a festival, meaning a celebration together, meeting with others and colloquy. So this year we have invited clubs and associations to start this colloquy. Firstly we can welcome three clubs of young gypsy intelligence: students from the romany department from Pécs, Solymosi Imre and friends from Gödöllő and Romaversitas from Budapest.

The second meeting is similar to this, we invite collaborators from romany media.

Display and market of handmade crafts

This is also a new initiation, where we can get to know crafts that are connected to gypsy culture. The finished baskets, wooden spoons, jewellery or instruments are also going to be avaliable for purchase. Location of the market is Erzsébet square, around Gödör Club.

Other programs

Film screenings are traditionally part of the festival, this year as well as fiction films, we can also see documentaries from VERZIÓ International Human Judiciary Documentary Festival.

We are going to have discussions with working professionals about gypsy education, traditions, and exclusion. Throughout our literature evenings we can get to know gypsy poets. There will be gypsy dance lessons for everyone everyday and also programs for children, such as craft works, dance lessons and a special children concert from Karaván Familia.

All programs are free throughout the festival, because we would like everyone to come and not to depend on financial matters.

Detailed program on www.athesam.hu!