Museum of Roma Culture

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The Museum of Roma Culture (Muzeum romské kultury in Czech) is an institution dedicated to the history and culture of the Roma (Gypsies). It is situated in Brno, Czech Republic.

[edit] History

The Museum was founded in 1991 by members of the Czech Roma intelligentsia, led by Jana Horváthová, in the period of freedom which followed the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia. During its early years, its location moved from one place to another and the institution struggled with financial problems. In December 2000, it moved to its present building on Bratislavská Street in Brno, which is the centre of the local Roma community (the area is a devastated ghetto). The museum is now financed from the state budget.

On December 1, 2005, the first permanent exhibition was opened.

[edit] Exhibitions

The permanent exhibition [1] covers 6 rooms with an area of 326 m². It is dedicated to the life, culture, and important events of the Roma during their migration from India until the present day, with emphasis on the situation in Czech lands during the period 1945–1989.

Temporary exhibitions, mostly art and photography, are created from time to time.

In addition to the exhibitions, the museum is also a place of Roma research in Central Europe. With a public library, students and other interested people have a chance to select from more than 3,000 publications (books, magazines, CDs). The museum organizes lectures, concerts, panel debates and Romany language courses for the public and professionals. In the afternoon the club is opened for Roma children from the neighbourhood.