Roma History Belongs Here!

Istoria romilor se potrivește aici! I istoria e romenqi ʒal kathe!​

–An interactive journey through the memory, culture, and Roma representation is an exhibition organized by the Goethe-Institut Bucharest as part of the NARDIV – United in Narrative Diversity project, funded by the European Union. It explores the history, culture, and representation of Roma communities in Romania, inviting visitors to critically reflect on the images and narratives that have shaped public perceptions of Roma people over time.

The exhibition emerged from the collaboration between curators Luiza Medeleanu and Delia Popa, which began through the Training for the Contact Zone program, a project dedicated to helping cultural professionals address contested heritage and difficult histories. Their partnership demonstrated how museum practices can be enriched through multiple perspectives, fostering more inclusive and participatory approaches to cultural heritage.

Conceived as a documentary exhibition, Roma History Belongs Here! brings together cultural and educational projects, publications, photographs, interviews, and archival materials that offer a more nuanced understanding of Roma history and lived experiences. Developed through a Roma–non-Roma curatorial collaboration, it serves as a counter-narrative to traditional representations that have often marginalized Roma voices. In response to the continued underrepresentation of Roma communities within Romanian and European cultural institutions, the exhibition places Roma perspectives and experiences at its center.

Education and participation are key components of the exhibition. Visitors are invited to engage with important moments in Roma history through an interactive puzzle that combines images and texts to reveal connections between historical events, social processes, and individual experiences. The puzzle created by Luiza Medeleanu and Delia Popa is displayed on a mobile cenotaph designed by architect Antonio Grgić and decorated by Roma artist Denis Nanciu. Other artistic interventions by the artist in the form of decorative metal flowers symbolize the resilience, memory, and continuity of Romani identity.

A dedicated section presents the work of Roma actress, director, and activist Alina Șerban, highlighting artistic and educational projects developed with Roma women from several European countries within the NARDIV project. Another section introduces contemporary Romani theatre, emphasizing the role of independent organizations such as Giuvlipen and AmphiTHEATRROM while drawing attention to the absence of a state-funded Romani theatre in Romania.

The exhibition also encourages visitors to critically assess eight excerpts from academic texts, essays, and school textbooks on Roma history and representation, comparing balanced perspectives with texts that reproduce stereotypes and prejudice. It also features photographic portraits of six Roma activists by Roma visual artist Mădălina Pepenică, alongside interviews conducted by the curators and edited by Pepenică.

By bringing together research, art, and personal testimony, Roma History Belongs Here! creates a space for dialogue about history, collective memory, and representation. It invites audiences to imagine more inclusive cultural institutions and contributes to the broader goals of the NARDIV project by informing recommendations for more equitable and participatory cultural practices across Europe.