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See the art of Ferdinand Koci the international Roma artist in our online gallery The History Month in Leeds in 2008
Leeds had a wide-ranging series of events and exhibitions to celebrate GRTHM 2008. The Gypsy Roma Traveller Achievement Service in Leeds approached the month with gusto, organising numerous, diverse events for everyone, from workshops in Schools to a Ceilidh night with storytelling and Traveller music.
There was so much going on an event guide was produced. The guide listed all the public events, but also explained the need for the month.
The following are some of the highlights.
Ferdinand Koci Exhibition
Art and Poster Exhibition
Leeds had the first ever solo exhibition by International Roma Artist Ferdinand Koci. Exhibited alongside Koci's paintings, drawings and sculpures were the National and Leeds Poster Competition winners that were also on display.
Ferdinand pictured by his painting "Ancient Roma Dance"
Ferdinand is a Roma, Meckar, from Albania. He has exhibited all over Europe and has won the Beaux Artes competition in Clermont Ferrand in France.
Des Hurley (centre) and friends provided music at the launch of the exhibition
Download the programme for this event
Visit our online Ferdinand Koci gallery
‘It’s a Cultural Thing or is it?’
The play based on the life story of professional writer and performer Michael Collins returned to the area for GRTHM 2008. Collins sets about exploding the myths often created to stigmatise the Traveller communities. True to collaborative theatre, the play is dedicated to Travellers and settled people who stand up to discrimination and prejudice.
There were two performances of the play, one at the Carriage Works in Leeds and the other at the Otley Courthouse Theatre. The latter performance featured a live music from Romipen the Polish dance and music ensemble.
Read about Mobile another Collins play
Leeds GRTHM Concert Series
The GRTHM organisers, The Roma Support Group and the Gypsy Roma Traveller Achievement Service were pleased to mark the first National Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month this year with three concerts to celebrate the richness these communities bring to our lives.
1. St Chads
The first concert at St Chads in Headingley took the form of a Ceilidh night with Irish musicians and Romipen. The event saw the first of a number of performances by Romipen a Gypsy ensemble from Slovakia. The ensemble consists of two parts: a Gypsy band led by Marek Koncek and solo dancers Vlado Michalko & Linda Luptáková.
The professionally trained band plays a broad range of styles inluding classical pieces by composers such as Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Strauss. Come and learn new dances and enjoy the exciting music.
2. Seven Theatre
The second concert took place in Chapel Allerton at the Seven Theatre. Romipen would close the show once more but this time were preceded on stage by music, stories and drama from professional Traveller storytellers.
Scottish storytellers Jess Smith and Sheila Stewart MBE are internationally renowned, richly steeped in the storytelling traditons and give captivating performances. They were joined by Richard O’Neill, another storyteller; a Romani Gypsy.
Watch part of Romipen's performance
3.Grand Finale - Leeds Civic Hall
The final concert combined the talents of the previous two and added even more to the mix, and took place in the splendid surroundings of Leeds Civic Hall.
The Orchard Family and Brigid Corcoran joined the storytellers (including Sheila Stewart MBE on the right) and Romipen for this grand finish to Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month in Leeds.
Romani Rad is a group of Roma dancers and musicians from Poland. The exotic and colourful costumes are all designed and handmade by Romany women. Theirs is a tradition expressed by costume, music and dance, skills which are handed down from generation to generation.
The Orchard Family, a mult-instrumental, singing and dancing family come from true Gypsy stock, with strong music traditions. Their ancestors have lived in Devon and Cornwall for more than 400 hundred years.
Brigid Corcoran has been described as Country Music’s brightest rising star. Her interpretation of the traditional songs added to her understanding of the newer music has made her popular with all generations. There is notice being taken of Brigid as far away as the USA and she is in great demand for festivals throughout the UK.
GRTHM 2008
Gypsies, Roma and Travellers are the largest Ethnic Minority community in the European Union with over 12 million people and they have enriched our culture in many different ways.
The aims of the first GRTHM were simple:
To explain the history and culture of the communities,
To challenge myths and break down barriers
To celebrate the richness that these communites bring to our everyday lives.
Read more on the GRTHM website.
Other Leeds Events
Film
The Hyde Park Picture House had a special showing of Gypsy Caravan: When the Road Bends.
Described as the Buena Vista Social Club for Gypsy
music the film captures the spirit of an amazing musical
culture and the heart of the musicians and singers who
express it. Shot by legendary cinematographer Albert
Maysles and directed by Jasmine Dellal, this musical
documentary follows five Gypsy bands who unite for the Gypsy Caravan as they take their show around North America for a six-week tour.
Conference
The Banqueting Suite, Leeds Civic Hall as well as hosting the Grand Finale of the Leeds part of GRTHM, held the Northern Regional Conference ‘Gypsy, Roma and Traveller participation, aspiration and achievement’.
With Michael Collins, Jess Smith, Sheila Stewart MBE, Richard O’Neill, Romipen, William and Jimmy Dundon this was an educational conference, which featured members of the GRT communities working in partnership with education and other agencies to further develop best practice in raising the achievement and aspiration of the GRT children, young people and families.