Strong artistic traditions

Music, Arts and Culture

Gypsies and Travellers have developed their own traditions in music, story-telling, poetry, art and design, and dance.

Gypsy Dancer Their influence on artistic achievements in all these has been immense. They have helped forge such unique artistic expressions such as the art of flamenco in Southern Spain and sustain it today with their unique contribution - most of the leading exponents are Gypsy or are heavily influenced by them.

This section of our website aims to show the rich diversity of the travelling life and its legacy in terms of music and art.

Thanks to Steve Clarke, who collected and researched the music of Gypsies/Roma and Travellers, while working for the Traveller Education Service. He put together this fascinating information with the help of Fiona Lovelace, who also worked with the TES. This fine collection of music can be viewed at the TES Library and Resource Centre.

A Gypsy Pilgrimage

Saintes Maries by Spine TV

Watch a short film from Spine Television - Saintes-Maries-De-La-Mer: A Gypsy Pilgrimage. It examines life at the annual Gypsy festival in honour of Saint Sara. The film is directed by Leo Leigh & Leo Marks and is just over 24 minutes long.

Online Art Gallery

Ferdinand Koci at his solo exhibition in Leeds Ferdinand Koci is Roma, from Albania and an artist who has exhibited widely across Europe. Ferdinand is based in London but had his first solo exhibition in Leeds during GRTHM 2008.

As part of the build-up to GRTHM he was also involved in producing artwork that was made into posters to promote and inspire the National Poster Competition.

See our online gallery dedicated to his work and find out how Ferdinand can bring his talents to schools by clicking below.

Roma exhibition on Flickr

Sixteen snapshots of the Roma experience in Europe are now online as part of Dosta campaign.

Visit exhibition

Travellers Tales DVD

Travellers Tales DVD The hidden heritage of Surrey’s largest ethnic minority has been uncovered in a films involving Gypsy and Traveller young people and elders across Surrey.

Find out more >

More GRT culture

Sporting Greats

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Though not strictly music or arts we've been sent a brilliant picture of Gypsy boxer Johnny Frankham fighting Cassius Clay (later to become Muhammed Ali).

Have a look!

In Their Own Words

Gypsies and Travellers in their own words compiled by the Gypsy Roma Traveller Achievement Service is a fantastic read, and gives amazing insights into the lives and times of Travellers in this country.

Unfortunately this book is no longer available.

The collection of stories and personal histories in this rich volume creates a vivid picture of life within the Gypsy and Traveller communities.

Find out more

Find out what made a lasting musical impression on the great Vaughan Williams.

International Gypsy Guitar Festival

This annual event, which had its seventh year in 2008, usually take place over a weekend of Friday-Sunday in July. The festival is easily accessible from the A38, has a beer tent and has great music.

Information

For updates and full information on IGGF please contact Stuart Carter-Smith

07976 727 959 or

email Stuart.

visit website

Romano Suno

This is a collection of Romany Children's Writing and Artwork.

This book is a compilation of essays, poems and drawings published in the booklets Romano Suno 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. In this book they are published for the first time in English for an international audience.

See this page for examples of the art and writing, including a poem in its original language as well as a translation.

Around the section

Romani Songs

Music Session