ABOUT US

WHO WE ARE

ARA ART is an association mainly consisting of young people who are involved in art creation with social overlap and realization of this aimed culture events. This association acts most of the time theatrically and musically as well, it also deals with organizing conferences, discussions and more and more educational projects focused on the population that suffers from social disadvantage. During the year we organize many smaller events (concerts, performances) of young Roma artists, but here are our main and long term cultural projects.

WHAT WE DO

1) Theatre

A) Roma theatre group ARA ART was founded in 2011. It is formed by a group of young active Romas, and their target is to point out the Roma-Czech situation through the theatre.

The ensemble contains of 10 actors and one director, others are involved depending on the project that is being realized. The group of 10 actors involves professionals and amateurs.

The group rehearsed the play “Guľi daj”, which proved to be a very efficient tool in terms of highlighting the Roma minority in separated locations. It is an original drama written by a Roma journalist, film maker a LGBT activist David Tišer. The play is trying to transfer a legend of a mythical Roma character of “Guľi daj” (in English Sweet Mother, similar to Czech Polednice) to the present time, and also discusses the current situation of the Roma minority from their own point of view. The play had been performed at many Roma festivals and cultural events during the years 2011 – 2014. Thrilling stories from the lives of the Romas had a significant impact not only to the activist and the major society, but mainly on the Romas themselves. Nowadays there is not any other theatrical ensemble composed only of the Romas in the Czech Republic. The fact that the Romas act for the Romas is very important to reach our goals – to involve the Romas and make them think about their social status as well as wake up the civil sentiment in them.

Trailer for Guľi daj here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMgontLZ5Dk

B) Theatre of the Oppressed is a method that was invented and gradually established not only in Latin America, but later in Europe by a Brazilian director, pedagogue and social activist Augusto Boal, in the 60s and 70s of the 20^th century. This theatre deals with the exploitation of life’s stories, real situations, theatrical approaches and techniques of working with socially excluded groups of citizens, or with those who have some experience with any kind of social oppression. They try to reflect current situations but lead also to social communication, ideally to a change.

Theatre of the Oppressed is a method that works in two phases. The group which wants to work on their topic prepares a short play, the preparation of which involves hours of meetings every week during two months. During the meetings they use techniques leading to process the topic of social oppression and also methods to help non actors express their story through theatre. (See Augusto Boal: Games For Actors and Non Actors) In reality they involve in games and exercises to relax, develop imagination, group dynamics, and basic theatrical skills and to reflect their own feelings and experience..

The second phase, the performance, is a theatrical form known as theatre-forum, where the spectators have the possibility to enter the performance after watching it for the first time, and by altering the behaviour of one character change his destiny. That leads to a natural conversation that helps to mutual acceptance and understanding for both sides of this “baricade”.

A group of Czechs and Romas that managed to prepare two performances, “The times are blue” (Modrá je doba) and “American dream” (Americký sen) had been formed last year thanks to the cooperation of ARA ART and the Charles University in Prague. These performances had a huge impact on the educated public and had been repeated many times. They are currently working on other three performances with the topic of oppression, discrimination based on ethnicity.

2) Roma Fusion – Art is the wealth of the poor

Cooperation in culture and art means the natural form of communication and makes up necessary discussion. We believe it is very important to start this debate and to support it. In this project Roma Fusion  - Art is the wealth of the poor we are going to connect variety of artists from different social level and we will support their art cooperation during thematically focused evenings. Those who feel excommunication will have the chance to present themselves in this art area with creators who don’t feel it. We will provide them safe space without any pressure for commercial success.

 We also count with the fact that these artists will invite their natural target groups to these evenings and meetings so that it will connect art and social field but at the same time also those people that wouldn’t normally have the chance to meet and to share this. Firstly, we will focus on those who are able to perform with their art potential but they don’t have the opportunity to show off and on the other hand we will invite those who perform often and they can contribute with their experiences.

3) International Roma day (8^th of April 2015)

Starting point - Nowadays there are no descent celebrations of the day of Roma people in the Czech Republic comparing to other countries of Europe, in Slovakia as the nearest example. However, formal celebrations with sufficient publicity are very important for the formation of national identity where we can introduce positive patterns not only to the majority society but also to another Roma people. In addition it has also an educating character. Therefore we think it is suitable to set up this tradition- to make an event with all  Roma organizations‘ strength which would be the starting point and after there could be a great celebration created for another years. Long-term aim is to be on air with the celebration of the day of Roma people by public TV as we can see it in Slovakia.

Conception of the ceremonial IDR 2015  (divided into 2 main roles.)

1.    Art

Evening is going to be set into celebrating spirit which mainly means professional music- for Roma people. Especially young artists are going to perform here. Not only well-known artists are going to perform with the director David Tišer (Ara Art) and singer and actress Pavlína Matiová (Vinohradské divadlo). They are going to prepare completely different programme from their repertoire- unexpected duets, changing of music genres, uniquely prepared performances for specific people of the evening. (in 2.)

There are also going to be Roma hosts - there will be Roma language spoken from the podium as well.

2.    Student tribute to Roma personalities

During January and February 2015 we are going to make a research with the help of Roma and Non-Roma organizations (Slovo 21, Romea, Museum of Roma culture). It is going to be for Roma students in high school and Universities. Students are going to pick their own heroes – group of Romas of up to 40 people. These people will be awarded for their whole-life work or for any contribution to the Romany society by these young students. Results will be published and awarded people will be invited to ceremonial evening where they will be introduced and they will receive a symbolic tribute.

Categories of awards:

Culture, Media, Politics, School and Academy, Society, Sport, In Memoriam

4) ARA ART’s experimental mini gallery

It is very difficult for young artists to find a place to show their creations. We decided to open an experimental exposition which is going to be open for young artists (not only from the Roma minority). The goal of this gallery is to present the Roma culture and the Roma artists in a different setting – to show that the Romas are not only musicians and dancers. We want to find young Roma artists, expose their creations and cooperate with them in the future. We also want to connect with already existing Roma galleries in the whole world. Workshops and other activities will take place in the gallery, cooperating with the Museum of the Roma culture in Brno.

The curator of the gallery is Věra Duždova, graduate of the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, the opening is scheduled for the beginning of May of 2015.