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Culture Power Monday 16 November 2009 19.00-21.00 The Ratiu Foundation / Romanian Cultural Centre, Manchester Square, 18 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1H 6EQ; Tel. 020 7486 0295, ext 108; e-mail: bookings@romanianculturalcentre.org.uk ; Entry is free but booking is essential. Hosted by Dr Mike Phillips OBE, British novelist, historian and curator.

The public space in Bucharest is dotted with monuments commemorating various events or characters from the history of Romania, many of them erected in recent years, after the fall of communism in 1989. Some of them have been (and still are) much derided by the public, some were adopted more readily than the former, while others have a special place in the hearts of Bucharest’s inhabitants.

This year, a long-awaited memorial to the victims of the Holocaust in Romania was inaugurated. Starting from this point, architect Augustin Ioan – special guest of the Culture Power series for the second time – proposes a frank presentation and discussion on the subject of the so-called Architecture of Memory in Bucharest in particular, and in Romania in general.

With this occasion, we are also going to introduce to the audience his latest book, ‘Modern Architecture and the Totalitarian Project’ (Romanian Cultural Institute Press, 2009, 198 pages, ISBN: 978-973-577-577-3), a study into the relationship between totalitarianism and modernity, with a special emphasis on the case of buildings in Romania.

Augustin Ioan is a professor at the University of Architecture and Planning in Bucharest, Romania, and also a practicing architect. With post-graduate studies at Oxford and in the US, Augustin Ioan holds doctoral degrees in the history of architecture (1998) and philosophy (2002). He has published extensively in Romania, Europe and the US.

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Images above show (clockwise from top left): statue of statesman Iuliu Maniu; statue of politician Corneliu Coposu; part of the official monument commemorating the victims of the 1989 revolution; plaque in Bucharest’s University Square reading “Here, people died for freedom”; the memorial to the victims of the Holocaust in Romania; (unofficial) shrine and plaques in memory of the young men and women who died in the revolution; the obelisk of the official monument commemorating the victims of the 1989 revolution.

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Culture Power Friday 26 June 2009 19.00-21.00 The Ratiu Foundation / Romanian Cultural Centre, Manchester Square, 18 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1H 6EQ; Tel. 020 7486 0295, ext 108; e-mail: bookings@romanianculturalcentre.org.uk ; Entry is free but booking is essential. Hosted by Dr Mike Phillips OBE, British novelist, historian and curator.

Following their presence in the Roma Gypsy Survival Strategies series of events at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the London College of Fashion (see details below), architects Catalin Berescu and Alexander Valentino, and their guests bring images and stories from Romania, for an honest discussion on the subject of the Roma Gypsy ghetto.

> The Roma Gypsy are probably one of the most widely known but misunderstood communities around. From the fiery rhythms of their music to their perceived way of living and spirit of independence, the Roma have always exerted a fascination on the city dwellers in the West – from artists, writers and musicians to New Age travellers, bringing the proliferation of Gypsy-style or Gypsy-inspired music, the so-called bohemian fashion or boho-chic, and the enduring myth of boundless freedom.

Yet the people who provided the inspiration for these fashions remain most of the times an exotic enigma, and it seems almost nobody wants to exchange exoticism for harsh reality. The vision of the Roma Gypsy ‘nomadic way of life’ is too attractive, so many fail to notice the poverty in which the vast majority of the Roma live. They occupy a real ‘Archipelago of Poverty’, as one Romanian architect put it – collections of shacks and dilapidated buildings in urban and rural areas. In striking opposition to the shaggy, crumbling outdoors, the interiors are usually unexpectedly colourful and neat. The houses are under continuous construction or reconstruction, swiftly and pragmatically adapted to the scarce resources available.
Bearing testimony to the tenacity and inventiveness of the Roma Gypsy ghetto, this discussion hopes to offer answers to how the invisible and the exotic can be translated in terms of real policies addressing real problems.
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The guests from Romania in the Roma Gypsy Survival Strategies event are writer and Delia Grigore (writer, philologist, academic and Roma rights activist), anthropologist Vasile Ionescu, sociologist Florin Botonogu, and architect Catalin Berescu. Special guest is architect Alexander Valentino. They will make a series of presentations in a seminar taking place at the London College of Fashion, on Tuesday 23 June 2009. Details on www.fashion.arts.ac.uk/events/52693.htm
On Thursday 25 June, all the guests will be present at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for the closing event of the exhibition EU-Roma Dwelling. Details here.

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Culture Power Thursday 2 July 2009 19.00-21.00 The Ratiu Foundation / Romanian Cultural Centre, Manchester Square, 18 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1H 6EQ; Tel. 020 7486 0295, ext 108; e-mail: bookings@romanianculturalcentre.org.uk ; Entry is free but booking is essential. Hosted by Mihai Risnoveanu, Artistic Consultant of the Romanian Cultural Centre in London

Five years have passed since Paul Neagu left us. To commemorate Paul, sculptor, painter, poet, and larger-than-life character, the Ratiu Foundation / Romanian Cultural Centre in London is holding a special event, part of the Culture Power Series. During this evening, dedicated to Paul’s memory, the public will have the chance to see the wonderful documentary film ‘Paul Neagu: Heart of the Tornado’, by Laurentiu and Agnieszka Garofeanu. Some of Paul’s friends will also talk about him, bringing to light their recollections about an extraordinary man.

Paul Neagu: Heart of the Tornado
Documentary / UK / 2004 / 26 min / colour.
Directors: Laurentiu & Agnieszka Garofeanu
The film was produced with financial support offered by the Ratiu Foundation.
Paul Neagu settled in Britain in 1970 and embarked in a remarkable career as an artist and teacher. Laughing in the face of the Establishment, Neagu even formed a fictitious art group (Generative Art Group) which exhibited regularly. Influenced by Structuralism and philosophy, Neagu’s art worked with the Word for an even deeper impact. But one day, this great speaker was silenced by a cerebral attack, in 2001, which left him aphasic.

> For ‘The Heart of the Tornado’, the film-maker followed Paul’s daily life, and to get a deeper understanding of the man and his art, interviewed his friends and former pupils. ‘The Heart of the Tornado’ was completed shortly after Paul’s death in June 2004.

“Paul Neagu was a controversial figure in the British art scene, a teacher and inspiration to some of the most successful contemporary artists: Anish Kapoor, Anthony Gormley and Rachel Whiteread. We were lucky enough to meet and gain the trust of this mystifying man. This film is the record of the last year of his life and an emotional journey of the film-makers getting closer to the artist and the core of his work.” – Laurentiu Garofeanu

> You can read more about Paul Neagu on www.paulneaguhyphen.com

X | Close Image above courtesy of Woodrow Wilson Center The Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture 2009 in Washington, D.C. to be delivered by Adam Michnik: “Democracy: Traps and Question Marks” Thursday 3 December 2009, 16.00 – 18.00 Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Flom Auditorium, 6th Floor One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. For RSVP, e-mail IonRatiu-Lecture@wilsoncenter.org “Democracy: Traps and Question Marks” will be broadcast live over the internet (webcast) through Wilson Center’s On Demand service. A recording will also be available for later viewing on the event's page. Details on www.wilsoncenter.org/ratiu On Thursday 3 December 2009, Adam Michnik, the well-known Polish democracy campaigner, will be presented the 2009 Ion Ratiu Democracy Award and deliver the 2009 Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. He will be introduced by Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Adviser to U.S. President Jimmy Carter, 1977-81. The welcoming remarks are by Wilson Center President and Director, Lee Hamilton and by Ratiu Foundation Chairman, Nicolae Ratiu. Adam Michnik is the Editor-in-Chief of Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland’s largest daily newspaper. Historian, essayist and political publicist, Michnik was one of the leading organizers of the illegal, democratic opposition in Poland between 1968-1989. He was a founding member of the Komitet Obrony Robotnikow (Committee for the Defense of Workers) in 1976 and a prominent activist during the Solidarity movement in the 1980s. He participated in the Round Table Talks of 1989, and was later elected to Poland's first non-communist parliament, where he served from 1989-1991. Michnik is the author of several books, including Letters from Prison and Other Essays (1987), The Church and the Left (1993) and Letters from Freedom: Post Cold War Realities and Perspectives (1998). The purpose of the Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture (IRDL) is to bring visibility and international recognition to the ideas and accomplishments of individuals around the world who are working on behalf of democracy. The event expresses the deep commitment to democracy of the late Ion Ratiu through his contributions as a Romanian politician as well as his interest in democratic change worldwide. The Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture aims to replicate for campaigning democrats today, whether in exile from repressive regimes or representative of today's emerging democracies, the life-changing experience in Washington, D.C., of the Romanian democrat, Ion Ratiu, in the 1970s and 1980s. Ion Ratiu (1917–2000) was the most outspoken and consistent voice of opposition to Nicolae Ceausescu, whose regime he opposed for years from London as the democratically elected leader of the World Union of Free Romanians. Journalist, broadcaster and author, he was also a successful businessman in shipping and property, while simultaneously operating as a kind of Scarlet Pimpernel, assisting in the rescue of many who fled from Ceausescu’s dictatorship. After fifty years in exile he returned to his homeland in 1990 to contest the presidency. Although he won a seat in Parliament, and was to serve his country for his last ten years, his failure to win the presidency was a disappointment to many. Even nowadays, on Romanian streets, Ion Ratiu is remembered fondly, often referred to as “the best president Romania never had”. “Had Ion Ratiu been with us for the Democracy Award at the Woodrow Wilson Center this December 2009 he would have literally been overjoyed, challenging all of us to join him in a ‘hora’ in the Freedom Plaza, celebrating twenty years from the fall of the Iron Curtain.” (Professor Eliot Sorel, MD, member of the Wilson Center Council, senior advisor to the Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture) “My father, Ion Ratiu, often used to express his admiration for the Poles’ courage to never stop their fight against oppression. By awarding the Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture to Adam Michnik, we are not only recognising his tireless work for democracy in Poland, but we also recognise the Polish people's merit as 'fire-starters' of the chain of events that put 1989 in the history books!” (Indrei Ratiu, Director Ratiu Center for Democracy) “By offering Adam Michnik the 2009 Ion Ratiu Democracy Award, the Ratiu Foundation wants to pay homage to a great democrat, a most worthy example of all those men and women all over the world who choose to take an active role in making democracy a way of life, often facing persecution. As well as a celebration of democracy’s reawakening in Eastern Europe twenty years ago, the 2009 Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture represents for us the crowning of a year of events marking the thirtieth anniversary of the Ratiu Foundation, which was established in London, in 1979, by my parents, Ion and Elisabeth Ratiu.” (Nicolae Ratiu, Chairman Ratiu Foundation) The 2009 Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture at the Woodrow Wilson Center is the fifth event in a series begun at Georgetown University in 2005 and held at the Woodrow Wilson Center since 2006. Past awardees include Sergio Aguayo (Mexico, 2005), Saad El-Din Ibrahim (Egypt, 2006), Anatoli Mikhailov (Belarus, 2007), and Eleonora Cercavschi (Moldova, 2008). // // // // // // // // The Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture is organised by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, the Ratiu Family Charitable Foundation in London, and the Ratiu Center for Democracy in Turda , Romania. With the support of the Embassy of Romania in Washington D.C. , RH Printing, and DHL. // // // // // // // // The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, established by Congress in 1968 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the living national memorial to President Wilson. The Center establishes and maintains a neutral forum for free, open, and informed dialogue. It is a nonpartisan institution, supported by public and private funds and engaged in the study of national and world affairs. Details at www.wilsoncenter.org The Ratiu Family Charitable Foundation is a charitable organisation established in 1979 by the leading Romanian dissident and democracy campaigner, Ion Ratiu, and his wife Elisabeth Ratiu. The goals of the Foundation are to further education and research in the culture and history of Romania in particular, and also to stimulate and support civil society in its understanding and application of democracy and democratic principles the world over. Details at www.ratiufamilyfoundation.com The Ratiu Center for Democracy is an independent, non-governmental Romanian foundation, registered in 2004 in Turda, Transylvania. Based on the life and work of Ion Ratiu, the Center’s vision is to promote the values and behaviours associated with the practice of democracy, encouraging citizens of all ages to reach their fullest potential in the service of their community. Details at www.ratiudemocracycenter.org For further press information on IRDL: mail@ratiufamilyfoundation.com; Tel. +44 20 7486 0295, ext. 108

X | Close Adam Michnik. Photo: Albert Zawada / AG Well-known Democracy Campaigner Adam Michnik is the 2009 Recipient of the Ion Ratiu Democracy Award The Woodrow Wilson Center, the Ratiu Center for Democracy, and the Ratiu Family Charitable Foundation are pleased to announce that Adam Michnik is the 2009 Recipient of the Ion Ratiu Democracy Award. Historian, essayist, political publicist, Michnik was one of the leading organizers of the illegal, democratic opposition in Poland between 1968-1989. Michnik is a political activist and former member of Poland’s first democratic parliament. The Ion Ratiu Democracy Award will be presented at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington DC, on 3 December 2009, during the 5th edition of the Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture (IRDL). An introduction by Zbigniew Brzezinski, statesman and former US National Security Adviser, will precede Adam Michnik’s address. Registration details from www.wilsoncenter.org/ratiu/ Announcing the news, Nicolae Ratiu, Chairman of the Ratiu Foundation, said: “2009 is a year full of significance, as we celebrate 20 years from the fall of the Iron Curtain and the beginning of the democracy process in Eastern Europe. The revolutions that led to the fall of the communist dictatorships have been velvet, full of solidarity or, tragically, accompanied by bloodshed. Through his tireless campaigning and ability to withstand the pressures of a strong oppressive apparatus, Adam Michnik ensured – together with his colleagues in the Solidarity movement – the transition from communism to democracy in Poland, and proved that, in the end, the pen has been mightier than the sword. By continuing to campaign for transparency, accountability, and freedom of speech, Adam Michnik chose to serve not only his country, but also the promotion of democratic behaviour all over the world. In order to celebrate his achievements and to salute his efforts that lead to 1989 being the best year for democracy, the Ratiu Foundation, together with its Board of Trustees and Advisors, have decided to honour Adam Michnik and offer him the 2009 Ion Ratiu Democracy Award. We are all looking forward to the Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture in December, an event that will crown the celebrations of the 30-years anniversary of the establishment of the Ratiu Foundation in London, in 1979, by my parents, Ion and Elisabeth Ratiu.” For over 40 years Adam Michnik has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to securing the rights and liberties of the Polish people and to the values of democracy. He was a founding member of the Komitet Obrony Robotników (Committee for the Defense of Workers) in 1976 and a prominent activist during the Solidarity movement of the 1980s. He participated in the Round Table Talks of 1989 and was later elected to Poland’s first non-communist parliament, where he served from 1989-1991. Michnik continues to promote democratic values as the Editor-in-Chief of Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland’s largest daily newspaper. While he retired from active political life in 1991, Michnik remains one of Poland’s most prominent and influential people. The purpose of the Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture is to bring visibility and international recognition to the ideas and accomplishments of individuals around the world who are working on behalf of democracy. The lecture strives to enrich the intellectual environment in which ideas about democracy and democratic change circulate, both within and beyond Washington. Organised and sponsored by Woodrow Wilson Center (Washington DC), the Ratiu Family Charitable Foundation (London) and the Ratiu Center for Democracy (Turda, Romania), the event expresses the deep commitment to democracy of the late Ion Ratiu through his contributions as a Romanian politician and intellectual as well as his interest in democratic change worldwide. The 2007 Ratiu Democracy Lecture was awarded to Anatoli Mikhailov of Belorussia, who discussed Democracy as a Challenge. The 2008 Ratiu Democracy Lecture was awarded to Eleonora Cercavschi of the Republic of Moldova, who discussed children’s rights and education. Previous winners of the Ion Ratiu Democracy Award include Saad El-Din Ibrahim (Egypt) in 2006 and Sergio Aguayo (Mexico) in 2005. The 2009 Lecture will be held by the winner of the award, Adam Michnik. Ion Ratiu (1917–2000) was the most outspoken and consistent voice of opposition to Nicolae Ceausescu, whose regime he opposed for years from London as the democratically elected leader of the Free Romanian Movement. Journalist, broadcaster and author, he was also a successful businessman in shipping and property, while simultaneously operating as a kind of Scarlet Pimpernel, assisting in the rescue of many democrats from Ceausescu's dictatorship. After 50 years in exile he returned to his homeland in 1990 to contest the presidency. Although he won a seat in Parliament, and was to serve his country for his last ten years, his failure to win the presidency was a disappointment to many. Even nowadays, on Romanian streets, Ion Ratiu is remembered fondly, often referred to as “the best president Romania never had”. For further press information: Mihai Risnoveanu – mail@ratiufamilyfoundation.com ; tel: +44 20 7486 0295, ext. 108 // // // www.ratiufamilyfoundation.com // // // // www.ratiudemocracycenter.org // // //

X | Close Photo Exhibition: ‘Paul Neagu (1938-2004): A Portrait’ by Laurentiu Garofeanu Open until Tuesday 15 September 2009 The Ratiu Foundation / Romanian Cultural Centre, Manchester Square, 18 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1H 6EQ; Tel. 020 7486 0295 ext. 108 Opening times: Mon - Fri 12.00 - 18.00. Admission free (booking essential, by phone or e-mail at bookings@romanianculturalcentre.org.uk). To commemorate Paul Neagu (1938-2004) - sculptor, painter, poet, and larger-than-life character - the Ratiu Foundation / Romanian Cultural Centre in London have opened a special exhibition of portraits of Paul and his work, taken by photographer and film-maker Laurentiu Garofeanu during 2003-2004. Paul Neagu came to London in 1969 at the invitation of Richard Demarco. By that time he had already worked on the construction of dams in the Danube, and studied painting at the Nicolae Grigorescu Institute in Bucharest. In London he started his career by lecturing at Chelsea School of Art and Hornsey College of Art, and many of the young sculptors he taught subsequently achieved international recognition. Since gaining British citizenship in 1977 he has been widely recognised, not only for his input in British sculpture, but also as the author of a series of drawings, paintings and performances. In 1992 he obtained Romanian citizenship, and became a citizen of both Britain and Romania. His inspirations are said to come partly from works of Cubism, Marcel Duchamp, Brancusi, but his major influences can also be said to be the metaphysics of geometry, mythology, and eschatology. Focusing on his interest in the concept of movement, exploiting his background as a technician and engineer in his creations, he also explores themes of modern philosophy, using metaphor rather than logic as a tool. The exhibition was launched with a special Culture Power presentation in memoriam Paul Neagu, on 2 July, where ‘The Heart of the Tornado’, a documentary film by Laurentiu and Agniezska Garofeanu, was screened. The projection was introduced by art critic and writer Mel Gooding and followed by a lively Q&A with the film-maker, and with friends of Paul sharing some of their memories of this great man. This exhibition was made possible through a Ratiu Foundation grant.

X | Close STEPdoc 2009 a mobility grant of £1,500 for emerging Romanian film-makers The new funding session for STEPdoc, launched with the occasion of All Change!, the Romanian Film Festival in London, is now open. Applications are accepted until 15 September 2009 (postal mark). STEPdoc is a Ratiu Foundation programme which aims to reinvigorate Romanian documentary film, stimulating contemporary relevance and artistic innovation. STEPdoc consists of a mobility grant per year, worth £1,500, which will allow a Romanian film maker, at an early stage of his or her career, one month of immersion in the UK documentary culture, towards the development of a documentary project with international potential. The mobility grant is to be used for the individual research of a specific project set in the UK and / or for networking with a UK-based company in view of the development of a common film project. On a broader level, STEPdoc would provide an opportunity to gain inspiration and to take part in the vibrant British documentary culture. Applications for STEPdoc will consist of the following documents (in English): • Letter of intention (see details below) • Curriculum vitae and filmography of the applicant (max. 1 page each) • When available, evidence of previous work (DVD) • Documentation of the proposed project in development:   - synopsis (max. 1 page)   - treatment (max. 2 pages)   - argument / motivation letter (max. 1 page)   - research / networking plan for the duration of the mobility grant (max. 2 pages)   - further funding envisaged for the production of the film (max. 1 page) This call is open to documentary film-makers of Romanian nationality working on creative documentary projects that relate to Romania or involve Romanian subjects without necessarily being shot in Romania. Preference will be given to applications submitted by individual film-makers or independent producers. A proven commitment of the applicant to documentary form is desirable but not compulsory. The selection of the winning project will be made by the Ratiu Foundation Board of Advisors. The winner of STEPdoc 2009 will be personally notified in writing, and announced publicly during the Award Ceremony of the 10th edition of the Astra Film Festival. Astra, one of the most important documentary film festivals in Romania and Central and South-Eastern Europe, will take place in the city of Sibiu from 26 October to 1 November 2009. Whilst in the UK, the grant recipient will make their own accommodation and living arrangements. Should the grant recipient need any advice on networking with UK-based film organisations and/or professionals, the Board of Advisers will happily offer directions and suggestions. The recipient of the grant will be expected to submit a report on the completion of the mobility grant, and to credit STEPdoc by displaying the logo of the Ratiu Foundation on the film credits. Please send applications by post to the following address: Nicolae Ratiu Chairman The Ratiu Foundation Manchester Square 18 Fitzhardinge Street London W1H 6EQ, England, UK IMPORTANT Please specify in your letter of intention the following: - Name, Surname, Date of birth, Nationality, Address, Telephone, E-mail, Professional status, Work address (if applicable). Also, please include the answer to the following questions: - Have you been to the United Kingdom on a professional visit before? If yes, please give details. - How did you find about STEPdoc? The winner of the 2008 session of STEPdoc mobility grant is Matei Alexandru Mocanu, with ‘The Shukar Collective Project’. Previous STEPdoc winners are Adina Pintilie and Corina Radu with their projects in-the-making on metropolitan loneliness, and respectively a biographical documentary on Queen Mary of Romania. For any further information about the STEPdoc mobility grant, please contact: Ramona Mitrica Director, Ratiu Foundation e-mail: mail@ratiufamilyfoundation.com or go to www.ratiufamilyfoundation.com

X | Close Bursa Gabriela Tudor Grant O bursa anuala in valoare de 3500 lire sterline pentru manageri culturali romani In memoria Gabrielei Tudor Fundatia Gabriela Tudor, Bucuresti in parteneriat cu Fundatia Ratiu, Londra lanseaza in memoria Gabrielei Tudor o bursa anuala in managment cultural, menita sa ofere oportunitati de perfectionare profesionala la nivel european. Disparuta, prea curand, in ianuarie 2009, Gabriela Tudor a contribuit in mod semnificativ la dezvoltarea scenei artistice romanesti prin initiativele si proiectele realizate si prin sprijinul direct acordat artistilor si organizatiilor culturale. Aceasta bursa isi propune sa pastreze vie memoria Gabrielei Tudor, unul din putinii manageri culturali vizionari din Romania si in acelasi timp sa contribuie la perfectionarea si motivarea managerilor culturali din Romania la inceput de drum. Bursa, in valoare de 3500 lire sterline, se va acorda anual si va consta intr-un stagiu de sase saptamani in Marea Britanie. Bursierul va beneficia si de consultanta gratuita pentru implementarea unui proiect cultural in anul 2010 acordata de United Experts. Bursa se va derula in Marea Britanie in perioada ianuarie – iulie 2010. Data limita pentru depunerea dosarelor de candidatura: 10 septembrie 2009 Selectia dosarelor va fi realizata de catre o comisie formata din Irina Cios (manager cultural si curator Centrul International pentru Arta Contemporana), Petra Bischof (manager cultural, Programul Cultural Elvetian), Ramona Mitrica (director Fundatia Ratiu din Marea Britanie) si Cosmin Manolescu (director executiv al Fundatiei Gabriela Tudor). Castigatorul primei burse Gabriela Tudor va fi invitat sa participe la lansarea oficiala a bursei in management cultural, care va avea loc in data de 8 octombrie 2009 la Fundatia Ratiu din Londra. Pentru detalii si obtinerea formularelor de candidatura, va rugam sa ne contactati prin e-mail la bursa@gabrielatudor.ro, persoana de contact Cosmin Manolescu, sau sa consultati paginile de internet www.gabrielatudor.ro si www.ratiufamilyfoundation.com Bursa Gabriela Tudor este oferita de catre Fundatia Ratiu din Marea Britanie si United Experts cu sprijinul financiar al Programului Cultural Elvetian. Fondul destinat bursei Gabriela Tudor provine si din donatii facute de catre Voicu Radescu & Green Hours 22, Carmen Vioreanu, Irina Barbalata, Miki Braniste, Ioan si Liana Tugearu, Dan Bartha. Doina Barbu, Fundatia AltArt, Elisa Fuchs, Helene Kuendig, Urs Stussi, Ina Boesch, Christine Masserey, Thomas Stauffer, Walo Landolf, Petra Bischof, Virgil Margineanu, Thomas Kugler, Natalia Volchenko, Vlad Tudor, Radu Boureanu, Thierry Dumas, Damiano Foa si Oracle Network of European cultural managers. An Annual Grant of £3500 for Romanian Cultural Managers In Memory of Gabriela Tudor The Gabriela Tudor Foundation, Bucharest, in partnership with the Ratiu Foundation, London, are launching an annual grant in the field of cultural management, in order to commemorate Gabriela Tudor. This grant aims to offer the possibility of professional development on a European level. Gabriela Tudor – who passed away, alas too soon, in January 2009 – has significantly contributed to the development of the Romanian cultural scene through her initiatives and projects, and her direct support given to artists and cultural organisations. The goals of this grant are to keep alive the memory of Gabriela Tudor – one of the few visionary cultural managers in Romania – and at the same time to contribute to the development and motivating of emerging Romanian cultural managers. The grant, with the value of £3500, will be presented yearly. It will consist in a stay of six weeks in the UK. The grant’s recipient will also benefit from consultancy from United Experts, at no cost, to implement a cultural project in 2010. The grant programme will take place in the United Kingdom, any time from January to July 2010. Applications’ Deadline: 10 September 2009 The applications will be selected by a commission formed by Irina Cios (cultural manager and curator of the International Centre for Contemporary Art, Bucharest), Petra Bischof (cultural manager, Swiss Cultural Programme), Ramona Mitrica (director, Ratiu Foundation UK) and Cosmin Manolescu (executive director, Gabriela Tudor Foundation). The winner of the first Gabriela Tudor Grant will be invited to take part in the official launch of the grant in cultural management, which will take place in London, at the Ratiu Foundation, on 8 October 2009. For details and to obtain the application forms, please contact us on e-mail bursa@gabrielatudor.ro , contact person Cosmin Manolescu, or visit the internet sites www.gabrielatudor.ro and www.ratiufamilyfoundation.com The Gabriela Tudor Grant is offered by the Ratiu Foundation UK and United Experts, with the support of the Swiss Cultural Programme. Funds for the Gabriela Tudor Grant also come from donations made by Voicu Radescu & Green Hours 22, Carmen Vioreanu, Irina Barbalata, Miki Braniste, Ioan and Liana Tugearu, Dan Bartha, Doina Barbu, AltArt Foundation, Elisa Fuchs, Helene Kuendig, Urs Stussi, Ina Boesch, Christine Masserey, Thomas Stauffer, Walo Landolf, Petra Bischof, Virgil Margineanu, Thomas Kugler, Natalia Volchenko, Vlad Tudor, Radu Boureanu, Thierry Dumas, Damiano Foa and Oracle Network of European cultural managers.

X | Close Romanian and Moldovan High-school Students attend the Presidential Classroom, in Washington DC Fifteen Romanian and Moldovan high-school students from the cities of Bucharest, Falticeni, Turda, Calarasi, Onesti and Grigoriopol (in the Transnistrian enclave of the Republic of Moldova) are currently in Washington DC, attending the one week-long 2009 Future World Leaders Summit organized by the Presidential Classroom. The Presidential Classroom is the world’s leading provider of hands-on experiential education in the practice of government for high-school students from all over the world who attend a variety of programs organised by the Classroom throughout each year. The strength of this year’s Romanian/Moldovan contingent was made possible by scholarships provided by the Ratiu Family Foundation of the UK, by Dr Eliot Sorel of Washington DC and by the Presidential Classroom itself, directed by Romanian-born Ms Maria Darie. Nicolae Ratiu, Chairman of the Ratiu Family Charitable Foundation, says: “We are very glad to offer the Ratiu Foundation’s support to students from Romania and the Republic of Moldova so that they can attend the prestigious Presidential Classroom. Acting in the sprit of my father, Ion Ratiu, a great democracy campaigner and humanitarian, we believe that democratic attitudes and ideals should be nurtured and encouraged in the younger generation, in order to ensure a fair and honest future for all. By supporting this trip to the 2009 Future World Leaders Summit, we want to show our continued interest in educational and civil society programmes both in Romania and in the Republic of Moldova.” Dr Eliot Sorel of the George Washington University, an American of Romanian origin born and raised in Falticeni, Romania, says “My childhood dream of a united Romania will symbolically be realized for one week in my own city !!!”. Dr Sorel has worked particularly hard to achieve the exceptionally strong Romanian/Moldovan attendance at this year’s Presidential Classroom. During their one week stay in Washington DC, Romanian and Moldovan participants will not only attend classes in the US nation’s Capitol building, but will also have an opportunity to visit the capital’s historic sites as well as meet with members of the Ratiu Foundation’s US Board and other Washington residents interested in Romanian and Moldovan affairs. Two of the students of the Romanian/ Moldovan group, who are now the youngest Ratiu Scholars, are Simina Oprea and Daniela Caliga. Simina from Turda will be starting high-school this autumn; she is an excellent student and is also a member of the Ion Ratiu Debating Club. Since 2007 she is a registered volunteer with the Ratiu Center for Democracy, showing an active interest in civil society. Daniela Caliga is a student at Stefan cel Mare si Sfant High-school in Grigoriopol, Republic of Moldova. She is involved in various extra-curricular activities dealing with the effect of the complicated political and social conditions in Grigoriopol on students and their families. The Ratiu Foundation’s support for the presence of the Romanian/Moldovan group in the Presidential Classroom stems from its commitment to building civil society in Romania and also in the Republic of Moldova. This pledge was made in 2008 in Washington DC, with the occasion of the Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture. During this event, Moldovan democracy and human-rights campaigner, Mrs Eleonora Cercavschi, was honoured with the 2008 Ion Ratiu Democracy Award for her work. The Ratiu Family Charitable Foundation is a UK-registered charitable body established in London in 1979 by Ion and Elisabeth Ratiu, in order to promote and support projects which further education and research in the culture and history of Romania. The Foundation offers 100 annual grants worth GBP 200,000, principally for projects, postgraduate courses, conference participations, travel grants, and other short term courses including academic research. The Ratiu Center for Democracy is an independent, non-governmental Romanian foundation, established in 2004 in Turda, Transylvania. Based on the life and work of Ion Ratiu (1917-2000) the Center’s vision is to promote the values and behaviours associated with the practice of democracy, encouraging citizens of all ages to reach their fullest potential in the service of their community. The Center also promotes “democracy as a way of life”, by incorporating democracy-learning into its activities wherever possible and addressing problems that are common to most societies in transition to democracy. // // // www.ratiufamilyfoundation.com // // // // www.ratiudemocracycenter.org // // //

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NEW BOOK: ALONG THE ENCHANTED WAY A Romanian Story by William Blacker Hardback, 320 pages, John Murray Publishers (July 2009), ISBN: 9780719597909. Available in good bookshops and from Amazon.co.uk, Waterstones.com, and Play.com. RRP: £20

PRAISE FOR ‘ALONG THE ENCHANTED WAY’

“This is a wild and captivating story”
- Patrick Leigh Fermor, The Sunday Telegraph

“Blacker is an acute observer and he writes very well”
– John de Falbe, The Spectator

“A lyrical description of an almost vanished way of life”
– Wendell Steavenson, The Sunday Times

Synopsis:
Across the snow-bound passes of Northern Romania there is an almost medieval world. Life there is ruled by the slow cycle of the seasons, far from the frantic rush of modern life in every sense.
William Blacker lived side-by-side with the amazing people of Romania for many years, having accidentally stumbled upon this hidden universe. In Spring, as the pear trees blossomed, he ploughed with horses. In Summer he scythed the meadows and during the freezing winters he gathered wood by sleigh. By becoming part of this small, close community, Blacker was accepted into the community.

The Gypsies of Romania have always held particular fascination for the few travellers who venture into such remote parts of the world. They are considered untrustworthy, disliked and feared by the local villagers. Blacker was intrigued – and eventually fell in love with a Gypsy girl.

Change is afoot in rural Romania. William Blacker’s adventures in this fascinating country will soon be embedded in world history. From his carefree early days, tramping the hills of Transylvania to the book’s poignant ending, Along the Enchanted Way transports us back to a time many of us thought had all but vanished.

WIN ONE OF THREE COPIES OF ‘ALONG THE ENCHANTED WAY’!

To celebrate the launch of this book, the Romanian Cultural Centre in London has teamed up with John Murray Publishers in order to offer three readers the chance to win a copy of ‘Along the Enchanted Way’.
All you have to do is to provide the answer to this question: What is the name of the traditional drink specific to Maramures?
Hint: the attentive reader will see it mentioned further on in this message.


Send your replies by Thursday 1 October 2009 at mail@romanianculturalcentre.org.uk. Don’t forget to include in your message your FULL NAME and a TELEPHONE NUMBER where we can contact you. The winners will be selected through a raffle from all the correct answers received by the end of 1 October 2009, and will be notified in writing at the e-mail address provided.
Please note that the books won in this contest can be delivered free of charge to UK addresses only.

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William Blacker lived in Romania from 1996 to 2004. He has contributed articles to various newspapers and magazines including the Daily Telegraph, Times, Ecologist and Art newspaper. He now divides his time between England, Romania and Italy. He has a child who lives in Romania. As a treat to our readership, William gave an interview to the Romanian Cultural Centre recently, which we present below. The Romanian version, translated from the English by Mihai Risnoveanu, was published in the August edition of “Timpul” cultural magazine from Iasi, Romania (on page 13). A PDF copy can be downloaded from www.timpul.ro/magazines/82.pdf.

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William Blacker in Maramures, at the time of haymaking. Photo © William Blacker, courtesy of John Murray Publishers

INTERVIEW WITH WILLIAM BLACKER
by Ramona Mitrica, Director, Ratiu Foundation / Romanian Cultural Centre
Ramona Mitrica: First of all, congratulations for publishing ‘Along the Enchanted Way’. It is a wonderful book, with all the right ingredients that make for excellent reading: journeys of discovery, danger, passion, and horse-driven carts.
The action is set entirely in Romania, and it is a personal account of your life there. How much poetic licence did you take while writing it?

William Blacker: A lot less than some readers may think. Life in the Maramures when I first went there was very much as I described. The people lived almost entirely pastoral lives, such as those written about by Tolstoy or Hardy. Perhaps occasionally I did observe their world through 'rose-tinted spectacles', or through eyes mildly blurred by swigs of 'horinca', but in general there was no need to exaggerate.

As far as romanticizing the situation of the country people, I would much rather mildly romanticize than err in the other direction and suggest, as others do, that the peasants live in misery and poverty; that would have been both unfair and not at all accurate. For example, in the village of Breb where I stayed for many years most people lived in comfortable houses with large gardens and orchards, and with land for cultivating all the food they needed. When Romanians come to England they are appalled to see the conditions in which many English people live, in what seem to them to be tiny box-like houses all in a row, with even tinier gardens.

In the village my time was spent on the hills, in the hay meadows and the forests. I worked side by side with the villagers almost everyday, and became immersed in their traditional way of living. The people’s almost unfailing good-humour and easy manner made me sure that their lives were as contented and fulfilled as anyone’s.

RM: At a point in the book, you say that Romania “seemed like the wing of a mansion which had been closed up for a hundred years”. After almost twenty years since your first visit there, does this description still apply?

WB: Not so much anymore. The modern world has blundered in and, for better or worse, things have changed and are still changing. Nonetheless, anyone visiting the Romanian countryside for the first time will still find it an enchanting place, and there are still many corners of the mansion which remain unexplored.

RM: You are, by all standards, a very good friend of Romania, helping to preserve and restore its heritage. How did you get to be interested in Romania in the first place?

WB: In the late 1980's I had read a few articles in English newspapers about Romania. In particular there was one in 'Country Life' about the painted monasteries of the Bukovina. When I found myself in Prague in early January 1990, and with a car, I remembered the monasteries and decided to head east to visit them. As soon as I entered Romania, I saw what an exceptionally beautiful country it was, and how the people still lived the traditional and harmless way of life, the sort which so many people in the West want to emulate, but find so difficult to achieve. I was sure there was much to see and much to learn, and I was right.

I was also captivated by the beauty of the villages, both by their settings amongst the hills, forests and mountains, as well as by their well-preserved houses and barns. I had read in England of how the villages in Romania were being demolished on the orders of President Ceausescu, and so was enormously relieved to find that they were in fact almost all untouched and more architecturally-intact than any I had seen in all of Eastern Europe.

It was only after 1990 that the damage to these villages really began. Partly because some of the villages were abandoned by their previous inhabitants, party because of rampant and uncontrolled modernization. In an effort to help in 1996 I wrote a pamphlet about the plight of the Saxon villages of Transylvania. Happily, as a result of this little book large sums of money were raised to help preserve Romanian architecture. Most has been donated by the Packard Humanities Trust, and I am immensely grateful to them for their kindness and for the support of David Packard for Romanian architecture. There still, however, remains much to be done. It is vital that there are effective laws to protect historic buildings. At the moment the laws are not effective. Old buildings are being destroyed at an alarming rate. If this continues large swathes of the visual part of Romania’s history will be rubbed out. This would be a tragedy for Romania, as historic buildings can never be replaced. Romania wishes to be considered a modern country but modern countries protect their historic architecture.

RM: From reading the book, anyone can see that you bear a deep love for the Romanian countryside. What made you develop this passion to the point you lived there for some very good years? What was it like to live “off the fruit of the land”, just like a Romanian peasant?

WB: I had always loved the country, especially in England and Italy. Then, when I first visited Romania I was very happy to have found a place even more beautiful, and where the country people were more ‘alive’, and more involved with the natural world than in the West.

Concerning self-sufficiency - In the Maramures I was looked after by Mihai and Maria, they fed and housed me, and in return I helped them by working in the fields, the orchards, the woods and the distillery. We lived entirely off what we produced. Only sugar was bought. There was a great satisfaction in walking home tired from the fields in the evening, along the small paths, with our scythes, forks and rakes over our shoulders, chatting and exchanging jokes with other villagers. Everyone knew that on that day they had made a small step towards providing themselves with the food they needed for the year. I could not complete even half the work that the villagers could, but I felt a part of their lives, and I sensed that the hard work required in sun, rain and snow gave everyone a bond and a common purpose.

RM: You describe in the book episodes of rustic charm, but you haven’t shied away from presenting the troubled side of things, as well, things you lived through.

WB: Yes. I was just telling the story of my years there. I did not think it right to brush the unpleasant things under the carpet and pretend they never happened. Certainly some of the things Marishka and I experienced were upsetting, and sometimes hard to bear, but I was helped by many kind people, and I am glad to say life is now a lot easier.

RM: There are many people, both British and Romanians, who will be envious of the “simple life” you led, and many who would ask themselves “why did he go to live there, when many seem just to want to leave”?

WB: Indeed, I could never understand why there were not more foreigners living in Romania. For me it seemed the only place to be.

At the same time I found it difficult to understand why so many Romanians wished to leave, but equally I knew that I was in a privileged position. The pound was strong and went a long way in those days. I loved being there, but I understood why many Romanians wanted to go to earn better money abroad. It was very sad to see them go, and sad to see the way of life in the villages changing, but it was inevitable.

RM: You describe in your book, besides life in Maramures, life in a Saxon village where you settled. You also describe meeting the Roma Gypsy in Transylvania. I read your article in The Times ‘The Roma: Why we shouldn’t fear Gypsies’. Without giving any of the book away, can you please tell us what your involvement with this particular community was?

WB: I lived for some years with a Gypsy girl from a family of musicians. It was a delightful if slightly stormy period in my life. While living with her I worked with many Gypsies from the surrounding villages. They were skilful craftsmen and did much vital work repairing and preserving historic houses in Romania.

RM: And finally, what compelled you to write this story, and have you any plans for a follow-up?

WB: I saw that I was in the rare position of being a traveller from the late 20th century witnessing, day by day, life in a land which was in many respects just emerging from the Middle Ages. When I talked to people from England and Italy about my experiences, they always longed to know more.

And yes, I would like to write other books. I might write more about the Maramures; I certainly have plenty of material.

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THE UK PREMIERE of the latest film from the creators of the Cannes 2007 Palme d’Or winner ‘4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days’ TALES FROM THE GOLDEN AGE followed by an extraordinary Q&A session with directors Ioana Uricaru, Hanno Höfer, and Constantin Popescu. Thursday 29 October 2009, at 18.00 Renoir Cinema, The Brunswick, London WC1N 1AW Tube: Russell Square; Buses: 7, 59, 68, 91, 168, 188 Tickets from www.curzoncinemas.com or Box Office 0871 7033 991

Book the date in your diary for the most important Romanian film event of Autumn 2009!

• Tales from the Golden Age
Romania / 2009 / 131 mins / Romanian with English subtitles
Directed by: Cristian Mungiu (Palme d’Or, Cannes 2007), Ioana Uricaru, Hanno Höfer, Constantin Popescu

The final 15 years of the Ceausescu regime were the worst in Romania’s history. Nonetheless, the propaganda machine of that time referred without fail to that period as “the golden age”...

‘Tales from the Golden Age’ adapts for screen the most popular urban myths of the period. Comic, bizarre, surprising myths abounded, myths that drew on the often surreal events of everyday life under the communist regime.

The film is composed of several stories connected by the mood, narrative pattern and the details of the historical period: The Legend of the Official Visit, The Legend of the Party Photographer, The Legend of the Chicken Driver, The Legend of the Greedy Policeman, The Legend of the Air Sellers.

See the trailer and find more information, including a blog, on www.talesfromthegoldenage.com.

‘Tales from the Golden Age’ is released in UK cinemas by Trinity on 30 October 2009.

We are looking for media partners. If you want to make a contribution towards this major Romanian cultural event in Britain, please contact us on mail@romanianculturalcentre.org.uk

The UK Premiere of ‘Tales from the Golden Age’ is organised by Trinity and the Ratiu Foundation, with the support of the Romanian Cultural Centre in London.
For more information and press images, please contact us on mail@romanianculturalcentre.org.uk

The image above is from ‘The Legend of the Greedy Policeman’, courtesy of Trinity.

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“To [many people], Transylvania means just one thing: Dracula. Never mind the centuries of epic struggle between opposing empires over this strategic territory. Never mind that the clash of cultures here has evolved into some of the most workable ethnic cooperation in Europe [...]. Never mind that Transylvania’s landscape is not shrouded in gloomy moss and bats, but beautiful hillsides dotted with plump sheep and curvaceous haystacks. Never mind all that: Let’s talk vampires.”

New Book: DRACULA IS DEAD How Romanians Survived Communism, Ended it, and Emerged since 1989 as the New Italy by Sheilah Kast and Jim Rosapepe Hardcover, 424 pages, 32 black-and-white photographs, 12 maps, Bancroft Press (November 2009). ISBN 978-1-890862-65-7

BOOK LAUNCH EVENT
Monday 23 November 2009, 19.00-21.00, Ratiu Foundation, Manchester Square, 18 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1U 6EQ; Tel. 020 7486 0295, ext. 108. ENTRY IS FREE but booking is essential (by e-mail at bookings@romanianculturalcentre.org.uk or calling Tel. 020 7486 0295, ext. 108). If you booked your place already please ignore this reminder

Join former US Ambassador to Romania Jim Rosapepe and his wife, award-winning journalist Sheilah Kast, for the launch of their new book – ‘Dracula Is Dead: How Romanians Survived Communism, Ended it, and Emerged since 1989 as the New Italy’, published by Bancroft Press.

The launch reception marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain. Jim and Sheilah look forward to seeing you and personally signing your copy of the book. ‘Dracula is Dead’ will be available on the evening at the special price of £15.00 (regular price £18.99). If you are not able to attend the event but would still like to purchase a signed copy, go to www.DraculaIsDead.com to buy it online.

THE AUTHORS IN CONVERSATION
The authors will be in conversation with Nicolae Ratiu, Chairman of the Ratiu Foundation, on the subject of the book, their vision of Romania, and to explain the Count’s demise. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A with the audience.

EXTRA ROMANIAN FLAVOUR: LIVE MUSIC!
Romanian violin genius Bogdan Vacarescu, accompanied by accordionist extraordinaire Zivorad Nikolic, will bring a healthy dose of Romanian and Balkan groove to whet your appetite and make your feet tap.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
“If they gave out gold medals for books, ‘Dracula is Dead’ would get one. It’s a fascinating, long overdue, and timely look at Romania, giving readers an unparalleled view of my country’s many, many layers.” – Nadia Comaneci, Olympic Champion and gymnastics coach

“Romania is a living legacy of Rome [...]. Jim and Sheilah are outstanding guides to this country, which is both familiar and exotic.” - Madeleine Albright, US Secretary of State, 1997-2001

“Vivid travelogue, gripping memoir, and accurate analysis [...]. Highly recommended to all those who want to understand the human underpinnings of the struggle for freedom in East-Central Europe.” – Vladimir Tismaneanu, historian

SYNOPSIS
‘Dracula is Dead’ takes readers on a memorable tour of Romania – past, present, and future. Through a series of colourful vignettes, former US ambassador to Romania Jim Rosapepe and his wife, award-winning journalist Sheilah Kast, introduce us to the people, places, and history of Romania, transporting us to a vibrant country most of us know little about.

When people think about Romania, what most often comes to mind are images of Dracula’s fog-enshrouded castle in Transylvania, bleak orphanages, and an oppressed people reeling from Nicolae Ceausescu’s regime. In ‘Dracula is Dead’, the authors set the record straight, presenting a thriving nation that has overcome centuries of tyranny to emerge as a true success story with a bright future – that’s why they call it the New Italy. This compelling volume fills a void in the literature about Romania. On a larger scale, it explains the impact of the fall of Communism in Europe and helps us understand the growth of democracy throughout the world.

As Kast and Rosapepe write in their preface, “Many of Romania’s most difficult challenges in the twenty years since the fall of the Berlin Wall in Germany and the fall of the Ceausescu dictatorship in Romania have been similar to those encountered throughout the former Soviet bloc ... This is the story of all 350 million people in two dozen countries.” The authors write from their experiences in Romania over the past decade, including the years when Rosapepe served as US Ambassador (1998 to 2001). They experienced the inner workings of Romania – from the mines to the monasteries, from the hospitals to the software labs. They met Romanians from all walks of life at town meetings, on farms, in remote villages, and in schools and factories. They also spoke with American missionaries and Peace Corps volunteers, entrepreneurs, and Romanian Americans who came to Romania after the fall of Communism in December 1989. Many of their remarkable stories are included in this volume, in their own words.

The book features personages ranging from Ion Iliescu, both a leading figure during Communism and Romania’s first democratically elected president, to church leaders and the heads of the Jewish community, students, small-town mayors, and a colourful cast of real-life characters, including singing monks, IT entrepreneurs, and “The Mother-in-Law of the Year.”

Details on the book can be found on www.DraculaIsDead.com