ProEtnica - the “agora” of Romania’s ethnic communities
For eight years now the Interethnisches Jugendbildungszentrum e. V. (ibz, Centre for Interethnic Youth Education) has been organising the interethnic festival, ProEtnica, in Sighišoara. In the festival’s first seven years over 5,000 representatives from 20 ethnic minorities participated in the event’s programmes. Thus far, more than 150,000 visitors have experienced the diverse festival programme; festival events reach millions of people via television, radio, newspapers and internet.
The secret to ProEtnica’s success is surely to be found in the democratic organisational structure of the festival: all partners are included in the organisation and have a voice in the concept development, which changes from year to year. In addition, the project is collectively evaluated afterwards. For this purpose, ibz organises 3 preparation seminars and one evaluation seminar a year and also keeps all partners informed of the latest news by means of a newsletter.
The programme is correspondingly eclectic:
Ranging from puppet theatre for the little ones, to lectures and round-table discussions on many current and historical topics to a vibrant and multifaceted stage programme, ProEtnica offers the participating ethno-cultural organisations - more than 20 all told – the opportunity to comprehensively present all areas of their lives to a large and interested audience.
In addition, during ProEtnica, the Sighisoara citadel is transformed into a colourful handicrafts market where craftsmen from the ranks of the ethnic communities can ply their traditional wares. Information stands hosted by individual organisations and contemporary art exhibitions by ethnic community members form a bridge between tradition and the present.
The festival journal is called the Agora of Ethnic Communities, which will also appear this year during the festival in three issues. Editing is carried out by editors from the partner organisations.
Sighisoara forms an ideal location for this event for many reasons: the historical influence of minority cultures is reflected exemplarily in the very well preserved citadel grounds in a manner unique for today’s Romania. During the festival the citadel – which was of course originally built as a means of defence and separation from other folk and ethnic groups – becomes a place for dialogue, reconciliation, meeting and mutual understanding. Thus, ProEtnica can also be interpreted as representing a contrast to historical events.
So ProEtnica is much more than just a festival. It is one of the most important meeting points for Romania’s ethno-cultural communities, an agora, a living institution, acting as a catalyst for the future.