Behind every cultural event lies the effort and enthusiasm of those who bring it to life. In more than 25 years of organizing the World Roma Festival Khamoro, we have accumulated a wealth of experience – and now, we are passing it on. We provide young Roma man and women not only with knowledge but also with real-life practice in cultural management, so that they can one day confidently and professionally carry out their own cultural projects in the future.
• The program is designed for young Roma aged 20-30 who are involved in artistic and cultural activities.
• Training takes place throughout the year, but its highlight is the Khamoro Festival, where participants tare directly involved in the organization – they assist with concert production, prepare Children’s Day, and help coordinate the spectacular parade through the center of Prague.
• In 2024, we trained 20 graduates from various regions of the Czech Republic.
Theory or Practice?
What works better – first talking about cultural event management or jumping straight into action by helping organize a festival? For us, the second approach has clearly worked. Young Roma first get involved in preparing the Khamoro Festival, and only afterward do we analyze different aspects of event organization. This method not only keeps them motivated but also minimizes the risk of them dropping out of the program. At the same time, hands-on experience helps them to become more familiar with the theory through direct experience on the ground.
Cultural Management
What are we actually passing on? We teach how to create an attractive programme, put together a dramaturgy and select the right artists. We show how to secure funding - whether from grants, subsidies or private donors. We also focus on effective communication, from social media to working with the press. And last but not least, we cover every detail of production so that our participants know exactly what to watch out for when organizing an event.
Events Organized by Our Graduates
Our training is just the beginning. We encourage participants to launch their own cultural events, and we also provide them with financial support to do so. One such event was Mít svůj sen (To Have a Dream), organized by Nikolas Petik in Pardubice on April 24, 2024. This one-day program was carefully designed to show Roma children that dreams are achievable - through the inspiring stories of 11 successful Roma individuals who had to overcome many obstacles on their path to education.
The event attracted 800 visitors from both Roma and majority society and became a powerful motivational experience for everyone involved. It was held under the patronage of Pavel Šotola, Deputy Governor of the Pardubice Region, and Lucie Fuková, Government Commissioner for Roma Minority Affairs.
The Khamoro Shares Experiences program is financially supported by Bader Philanthropies, the City of Prague, and ČEPS, a.s.
