Associazione Them Romanò
Founded in 1990 in Lanciano to preserve, promote and spread Romani culture throughout the world
Our Mission
Culture, dignity and rights of the Romani people
The National Cultural Association Thèm Romanò was founded in 1990 in Lanciano (CH) by a group of Roma with the aim of identifying, promoting and spreading Romani culture at national and international level, so that non-Roma may better understand the culture of this people and so that the Roma themselves may become aware of their thousand-year history and culture.
The Cultural Association Thèm Romanò Aps-Ets is the national headquarters of the International Romanì Union (IRU), whose President is Normunds Rudevich, a Roma from Latvia. It is affiliated with the Union of Romanès Communities in Italy (UCRI). It represents the Roma in the Observatory on ethnic minorities in Italy.
President
Alexian Santino Spinelli
An internationally renowned musician, composer and writer. He holds two degrees: one in Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures and another in Musicology, both from the University of Bologna. He currently teaches Romani Language and Culture at the University of Rome La Sapienza. He is an Honorary Citizen of Laterza (Taranto) and Ambassador of Peace for the Chair of Peace established in Assisi in 2022.
What We Do
Our Activities
"Amico Rom" Competition
An International Art Competition now in its 33rd edition, one of the most important cultural events dedicated to promoting Romani culture worldwide.
European Orchestra for Peace
The concert project brings ethnosymphonic Romani music with 5 lyrical singers performing in the Romani language to the most important European theatres, with music composed by Alexian Santino Spinelli and drawn from the international Romani tradition.
Education and Research
Continuing education courses for teachers, seminars, conferences, courses on Romani history, literature and language. European projects for schooling.
"Because the Roma themselves may become aware of their millennial history, culture and rights"
Associazione Them Romanò — since 1990 for Romani culture