Staromestská knižnica, in cooperation with the Slovak National Museum in Martin – Museum of Roma Culture in Slovakia and the magazine Romano fórum, is opening the exhibition Gallery of Roma Personalities. The exhibition is held on the occasion of the International Roma Day, celebrated annually on 8 April.
The exhibition will be officially opened on 7 April 2025 at 17:00 at Záhrebská 8 by Adriana Daneková, curator of the Museum of Roma Culture in Slovakia, who has long been involved in researching Roma history, culture, and minority rights.
The exhibition Gallery of Roma Personalities presents 24 outstanding Roma figures who have contributed with their talent, work, and legacy to the development of Slovak society.
“I am delighted that we can present an exhibition to the visitors of Staromestská knižnica that reveals the diversity and richness of Roma culture and reminds us of the lives and achievements of its personalities,” says Jana Slezáková, Director of Staromestská knižnica.
“Visitors will have the opportunity to discover 24 fascinating life stories, reminding us that each of us has the potential to make the world a better and more beautiful place,” adds exhibition curator Adriana Daneková.
The event will also include a discussion with experts on Roma culture and language. Guests of the discussion hosted by Romano fórum magazine:
Júlia Vrábľová
A linguist at the Department of Sociolinguistics at the Ľudovít Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, and an employee of the Ministry of Education. She is a member of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on Minority or Regional Languages and represents Slovakia in the European Federation of National Language Institutions. She translated Elena Lacková’s book “I Was Born Under a Lucky Star” and co-published the first Roma-Slovak workbook “Alice and Dodo’s Day.”
Vlado Rafael
Founder of the civic association eduRoma. He worked for seven years at the Open Society Foundation in Bratislava as an education policy consultant. He is the author and editor of several academic studies and research papers focused on education policy and the education of Roma children. He also documents the social status of Roma in Slovakia after 1989 through his documentary films “Roma 25 Years After…” and “Your Time.” In 2012, he founded the educational organisation eduRoma, which he continues to lead. In May 2016, he received the Human Rights Defender Award from the U.S. Embassy in Slovakia.
Admission to the event is free.
Gallery of Roma Personalities
Every nation proudly honours its prominent figures from various fields and commemorates their achievements and contributions.
The exhibition Gallery of Roma Personalities highlights 24 exceptional individuals who belong to the elite of the Roma community in Slovakia and whose accomplishments are worthy of admiration.
Many of the personalities presented have actively worked to improve the lives of Roma communities in Slovakia, combating prejudice, xenophobia, and racism.
They have contributed to the preservation and development of Roma cultural heritage and made their mark on Slovak history and cultural life.
This exhibition project, which will be expanded in the future with more notable figures, positively builds Roma ethnic awareness and helps introduce the life stories of these often little-known personalities in Slovakia.
Mgr. et Mgr. Adriana Daneková
Curator at the Slovak National Museum in Martin – Museum of Roma Culture in Slovakia. As a historian, she has specialised mainly in the lives and social status of Roma during the First Czechoslovak Republic and World War II, including Roma participation in the resistance during WWII.
She has also focused on traditional aspects of Roma culture in Slovakia, such as craftsmanship, culinary culture, and clothing traditions, and addressed cultural rights of national minorities. She is the author of numerous exhibitions and a co-author of the museum’s permanent exhibition.
Exhibition dates: 7–25 April 2025
The exhibition Gallery of Roma Personalities is organised by the Slovak National Museum in Martin – Museum of Roma Culture in Slovakia.
The Slovak National Museum is a state-funded organisation established by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic.