From Inclusion to Cultural Power: Roma Agency in European Cultural Policy
New publication explores Roma agency in European cultural policy. The European Roma Cultural Foundation (ERCF) is pleased to share a new publication exploring the transformative role of Roma cultural agency in Europe. From Inclusion to Cultural Power: Roma as a Test of European Cultural Policy appears in the newly published volume Minority Policies and Governance in Europe (IEŚ Policy Papers 1/2026), edited by Aleksandra Kuczyńska-Zonik.
The chapter argues for a shift from frameworks of inclusion towards approaches centred on cultural agency, self-representation, and power-sharing. Rather than treating Roma communities as subjects of integration, it proposes understanding Roma cultural participation as a transformative force capable of reshaping the values, institutions, and priorities of European culture itself.
At a moment when questions of democracy, diversity, and social cohesion are increasingly influencing cultural agendas across Europe, the publication highlights the ways in which Roma cultural actors and institutions challenge long-standing structures of exclusion and contribute to building a more equitable cultural landscape.
Written by ERCF Executive Director Tímea Junghaus, the chapter forms part of a broader collection examining contemporary minority governance and policy developments across Europe, including contributions on Poland, Ukraine’s EU-accession minority reforms, and Roma cultural policy.
The publication is available in open access:
Open-access PDF:
https://ies.lublin.pl/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ies_policy_papers_2026-001.pdf
Publication page:
https://ies.lublin.pl/en/policy-papers/minority-policies-and-governance-in-europe/
Minority Policies and Governance in Europe
IEŚ Policy Papers 1/2026
Edited by Aleksandra Kuczyńska-Zonik
ISBN 978-83-68760-14-9
Read the full publication to explore how Roma cultural leadership can help redefine the future of European cultural policy.
#RomaCulture #ERCF #CulturalPower #RomaArts #RomaPolicy #EuropeanCulture #MinorityRights
