“Only your opinion separates us”, “Everyone who walks under the sun has their own shadow”, “Scan your stereotypes”, “Have you inherited a stereotype? Don’t leave it to your children”, – these and similar inscriptions are surprising Vilnius residents on the city streets these days. Posters with mysterious inscriptions attract the attention of passers-by and make them ask – what is this? It becomes clear who is sending what messages to Vilnius residents.

It turns out that these are messages from the international festival GYPSY FEST, which calls for fighting stereotypes and inviting the public to get rid of stereotypes and get to know real people. 

Huge posters with these phrases filled public spaces in the capital. Some of them even have the option to scan a QR code. Passersby asked questions about such posters, but only the more observant noticed that they were an announcement of an international festival taking place in Vilnius on September 19. 

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“This year we are organizing the anniversary – the tenth – international Roma culture festival GYPSY FEST. It will take place very soon. Every year the festival has a slogan that invites the public to think, change their stereotypes, look at the Roma and not only them – at people of any nationality and even themselves in a different way. For example, one year we said “Roma – not a genie”, the next year: “Are you afraid of a gypsy? Get to know the Roma”. This year we decided to take another step and invite the public to a dialogue with themselves. Therefore, the event posters do not advertise, but encourage reflection. I know that it touched many people. We hope to see each of them this year at the festival, which will take place during the “Fair of Nations”, – says one of the organizers of the event, the chairman of the Lithuanian Roma community Ištvans Kvik. 

He reveals that this year Vilnius will once again be colored by the already traditional theatrical procession, which will include musicians, special effects, dancers, and guests from abroad. The procession will invite not only to destroy stereotypes, but also to get to know each other. “The final point of the procession will be Kudirka Square near the Government House, where we will organize a free concert for the people and guests of the city on the stage of the “Fair of Nations”. Not only SARE ROMA and famous Roma ensembles from Lithuania will perform here, but also our guests from Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Serbia. This will be a huge concert , where we will give not only music, but we will invite you to get to know the Roma better – people like everyone else. People who are talented, musical, kind-hearted, and open. It is not only music, dance, and colors. It is an invitation to get to know, hear, think, and perhaps change your attitude,” says I. Kvik.

An improvised Roma village will also be open during the event in Kudirka Square, where anyone who wishes will be able to get to know Roma culture and culinary heritage up close. Here, Roma women will sell their handicrafts, and those who wish, as the organizers joke, will even be able to find out their future.

“GYPSY FEST invites not only to get to know Roma culture through dance, song, music and cuisine. We also want to talk about what is often invisible, but lives in our minds – stereotypes. Therefore, we are sending 6 social messages that invite us to stop, think and ask ourselves: why do we sometimes already have a preconceived opinion about someone we don’t know? And even more importantly – how do our own stereotypes affect our everyday lives?” says Vaiva Poškaitė-Kovaliuk, co-author of the idea and head of the Baltic Region Roma Association. 

She reveals that during the free concert in the center of Vilnius, a competition for young Roma, ROMAVISION, which has been organized for the third year, will also take place. 

GYPSY FEST program on September 19th.

15:00 PM Theatrical procession from Vilnius Town Hall to Kudirka Square.18:30 PM Free Roma music concert in Kudirka Square!