European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture

What European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture does

The European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) is a non-profit association registered under German law (e.V.) in Berlin, founded in June 2017 as a joint initiative of the Council of Europe, the Roma Foundation for Europe (formerly Open Society Foundations' Roma Initiatives Office), and the Alliance for the European Roma Institute. It operates as the only transnational European-level organisation with a single mandate for the recognition of Roma arts and culture, serving Roma communities, artists, scholars, filmmakers, musicians, and civil society organisations across Europe, alongside European and national policymakers and cultural institutions. ERIAC runs a portfolio of programmes spanning the full cultural value chain: major exhibitions (BARVALO, Abduction, FUTUROMA, Roma Pavilion Venice Biennale 2022, Manifesta 14, Milan Triennale), the travelling AMARO KINO short film showcase, the ERIACNET4EU grant-making programme funded by the EU CERV Programme, artist residencies (Villa Romana Florence for seven consecutive years, DAAD-ERIAC Berlin), the biennial Tajsa Roma Cultural Heritage Prize, the Barvalipe Digital Library of Critical Romani Scholarship and Online University, Romani language textbooks (A1/A2), the Romani Gili music contest, and the WOMNET Roma women's network. Its technology footprint consists of digital platforms for Romani language preservation, online cultural programming, and the AMARI ĆHIB initiative with Microsoft aimed at integrating the Romani language into AI and digital infrastructures.

ERIAC's business model is grant-funded and donation-dependent. Primary revenue streams are institutional grants from the European Union (CERV Programme via ERIACNET4EU), the Council of Europe, the Roma Foundation for Europe, the German Federal Foreign Office, the Berlin Senate Department for Culture, and the Hauptstadtkulturfonds Berlin. Secondary streams include individual donations (via Deutsche Bank wire transfer and Stripe) and membership contributions structured under ERIAC's Principle of Contribution framework. Most programmes are free to participants, and ERIAC operates with a multi-country team of approximately 21 core employees plus consultants across three offices: Berlin (headquarters with a public contemporary art gallery), Belgrade (ERIAC Serbia), and Bucharest (ERIAC Romania). The institute is governed by the Pakiv Board (chaired by Mensur Haliti) and advised by the 15-member Barvalipe Academy (chaired by Jake Bowers), with two-thirds of Barvalipe Academy members required to self-declare Romani ethnicity.

Name

European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture

Legal name

European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture e.V.

Website

https://eriac.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ERIAC is the only transnational European-level non-profit dedicated to Roma arts and culture, founded in 2017 in Berlin. It serves Roma communities, artists, and scholars across Europe through exhibitions, film programmes, grant-making, artist residencies, language education, and cultural research, funded primarily by EU and German institutional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Institution and Arts Programming Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (71211)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Cultural Heritage, Arts & Archaeology Service Programs (EDAIAGAH), Arts & Culture Appreciation (Art History, Film Appreciation, Music Appreciation) (EDAAAGAO)

Keywords

• Roma cultural institution
• Cultural programming services
• Artist residency programmes
• Grant-making services
• Heritage preservation education

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin, Reinhardtstraße

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Institutional Grants and EU Funding: ERIAC's primary revenue consists of grants from institutional funders including the European Union (CERV Programme, Citizens Equality Rights and Values Programme, ERIACNET4EU project), the Council of Europe, the Roma Foundation for Europe (formerly Open Society Foundations), and national government bodies such as the German Federal Foreign Office, Berlin Senate Department for Culture, Hauptstadtkulturfonds Berlin. These grants fund specific projects, cultural programmes, grant-making to third parties, and institutional operations.
2. Individual Donations: ERIAC accepts donations from individuals via bank transfer (Deutsche Bank, IBAN: DE69 1007 0024 0935 7187 00) and credit/debit card via Stripe. In-kind contributions related to Roma arts and culture or organisational operations are also welcomed, subject to board evaluation.
3. Membership Contributions: ERIAC operates a membership scheme with contributions (ERIAC Membership Contributions 2026, Principle of Contribution) through which members support the institute and gain access to thematic sections and governance structures (Pakiv Board, Barvalipe Academy).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ERIAC is a non-profit cultural institute delivering transnational programmes in Roma arts and culture, including curated exhibitions (BARVALO, Abduction, FUTUROMA), the travelling AMARO KINO film showcase, the ERIACNET4EU grant-making programme for Roma civil society organisations, the Barvalipe Online University and Digital Library, Romani language textbooks (A1/A2), artist residencies (Villa Romana Florence, DAAD-ERIAC Berlin), and biennial events such as the Tajsa Roma Cultural Heritage Prize. The institute supports Roma artists, scholars, and communities across Europe through educational, curatorial, and grant-funded initiatives while partnering with the Council of Europe, EU institutions, national governments, and cultural institutions.

Product overview

ERIAC is a cultural institute with a single mandate as the transnational European-level organization for the recognition of Roma arts and culture. The organization operates various interconnected programs including Barvalipe Online University for Romani scholarship, ROMAMOMA for contemporary art exhibitions, Amaro Kino for Roma short films, ERIACNET4EU for grant-making, Romani language educational resources, and cultural events such as the Tajsa Roma Cultural Heritage Prize. ERIAC functions as an international hub supporting exchanges across cultural domains and Romani identities through exhibitions, artist residencies, film programs, and community initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Barvalipe Online University and Digital Library Online university offering courses on Romani scholarship, history, and culture, including the Barvalipe Masterclass series and a Digital Library of Critical Romani Scholarship. Delivered through eriac.org for Roma and non-Roma learners globally.
• ROMAMOMA (Roma Museum of Contemporary Art Initiative) Long-term contemporary art project initiating a forum for collaborative reflection on a future Roma Museum of Contemporary Art, featuring exhibitions and artist programmes at ERIAC's Berlin headquarters and partner venues.
• Amaro Kino (Travelling Roma Short Film Programme) Travelling short film programme showcasing recent works by emerging Roma filmmakers and collaborators, distributed through festival partnerships including Rolling Film Festival (Kosovo), BEAST International Film Festival (Porto), and national film tours.
• ERIACNET4EU Grant-Making Programme European project under the EU CERV Programme distributing FSTP grants to Roma civil society organisations across Europe to support the implementation of the EU Roma Framework, administered through open calls via a dedicated online grant management platform and ERIAC's regional offices.
• Romani Language Textbooks (A1 and A2 levels) Romani language learning materials at A1 and A2 levels for adult learners, produced as part of ERIAC's International Cultural Outreach Programme to support Romani language acquisition and preservation.
• Romani Gili Contest Annual social media-based music competition celebrating, preserving, and promoting Roma musical heritage through contest participation and winners' showcases.
• DAAD-ERIAC Residency Programme for Arts and Media Multi-annual initiative jointly launched by the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program and ERIAC, offering an annual one-month residency in Berlin to one artist or cultural practitioner with self-declared Roma identity, advancing cultural equity and empowering underrepresented voices.
• Tajsa Roma Cultural Heritage Prize Biennial flagship event celebrating Roma cultural heritage and artistic excellence, co-financed by the Federal Foreign Office and European Commission, combined with the ERIAC General Assembly.
• Villa Romana Residency Programme Annual artistic residency programme in Florence (now in its seventh consecutive year) run in collaboration with Villa Romana, providing a contemporary artist of Roma origin with space for artistic research, production, and dialogue within an established international context.
• Re-thinking Roma Resistance Project documenting stories of Roma resistance throughout history, including a book and a Roma Heroes educational game, released as part of ERIAC's knowledge-production programmes.
• WOMNET Gathering Gathering of ERIAC's Roma women's network (WOMNET) focused on digital presence, pride, and Romani women's identity in online spaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 staff and consultants across Germany, Serbia, and Romania delivering programmes pan-European
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Rolling Film Festival (Kosovo)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026ERIAC collaborates with the Rolling Film Festival in Kosovo—one of the most important cultural platforms in the region dedicated to Roma storytelling, representation, and intercultural dialogue through cinema. As part of the collaboration, ERIAC presents Roma film programming at the festival (June 15–21, 2026), celebrating contemporary Romani filmmaking.
• BEAST International Film Festival (Porto)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026ERIAC collaborated with BEAST International Film Festival for a special screening of AMARO KINO: Romani Short Films, taking place on 6 June 2026 at Batalha Centro de Cinema in Porto. The programme brought together four short films from across Europe exploring themes of identity, belonging, resilience, and cultural survival.
• Villa Romana (Florence)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026ERIAC and Villa Romana continue their collaboration (seventh consecutive year) to support a contemporary artist of Roma origin through an artistic residency programme in Florence. The programme provides a dedicated space for artistic research, production, and dialogue within an established international context, reflecting the shared commitment of ERIAC and Villa Romana to Roma artistic excellence.
• DAAD Artists-in-Berlin ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Launched jointly by the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Programme and ERIAC, the DAAD-ERIAC Residency Programme for Arts and Media offers an annual one-month residency in Berlin to one artist or cultural practitioner with self-declared Roma identity. The programme advances cultural equity and empowers underrepresented voices. The 2026 winner was announced July 17–18, 2026.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Microsoft supports ERIAC's AMARI ČHIB (Our Language) initiative, which seeks to bring Romani language into AI technologies and digital infrastructures. As AI increasingly shapes how people access information, communicate, and learn, this partnership addresses the underrepresentation of Romani in these systems, presenting both a challenge and opportunity for the language.
• ERGO NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026ERGO Network leads the JEKHIPE consortium, with ERIAC as a co-implementing partner. JEKHIPE addresses key structural obstacles hindering justice and equality for Roma communities across Europe, building upon the preceding 'Chachipen' truth and reconciliation project. ERIAC's role includes producing 6 masterclass videos on Roma history and culture.
• Council of EuropeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2017The Council of Europe is one of ERIAC's three founding institutions (alongside the Roma Foundation for Europe and the Roma Leaders' initiative – Alliance for the European Roma Institute). The Secretary General of the Council of Europe nominates one member to the Pakiv Board. The Council of Europe co-finances ERIAC's Roma Memory joint programme with the European Commission and provides institutional legitimacy and support.
• Roma Foundation for EuropeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2017Formerly the Open Society Foundations – Roma Initiatives Office, the Roma Foundation for Europe nominates one member to the ERIAC Pakiv Board. It is one of the three founding institutions and provides financial and institutional support for ERIAC's establishment and ongoing operations. Mensur Haliti serves as Vice President for Roma for Democracy and Network Development at the Roma Foundation for Europe.
• Alliance for the European Roma Institute for Arts and CultureflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2017Also known as the Roma Leaders' initiative, the Alliance was the driving force behind advocacy efforts to build a Roma Institute. The Alliance nominated founding members and continues to hold a position on the Pakiv Board. The idea of creating ERIAC was taken up by a group of Romani cultural producers, intellectuals, and activists in 2014 who formed this Alliance.
• PAUL HASTINGS EUROPE LLPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerERIAC receives pro bono legal support from PAUL HASTINGS EUROPE LLP, a major international law firm providing legal counsel for the institute's operations and governance.
• Kai Dikhas Gallery (Berlin)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKai Dikhas Gallery in Berlin supports ERIAC's exhibition curation, providing curatorial expertise and gallery space for Roma contemporary art exhibitions at ERIAC's Berlin headquarters.
• Gallery8 (Budapest)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGallery8 in Budapest supports ERIAC's exhibition curation, complementing the Berlin gallery partnership and extending ERIAC's curatorial capacity across Central/Eastern Europe.
• Centre for European Policy StudiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) collaborates with ERIAC as a partner in the JEKHIPE project consortium, contributing policy research and advocacy expertise alongside ERGO Network and ERIAC.
• Freundeskreis Europa e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreundeskreis Europa e.V. is listed among ERIAC's supporters and friends, providing friendship-network support to the institute.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• ERGO Network: A pan-European Roma civil society network advocating for Roma rights and inclusion across the EU. ERIAC is a co-implementing partner of ERGO in the JEKHIPE consortium, indicating they share overlapping Roma-focused mandates across Europe and comparable policy-facing positioning, though ERGO emphasises rights advocacy while ERIAC focuses on arts and culture.
• RomArchive: A digital archive of Roma arts and culture operated by a consortium of European academic and cultural institutions. RomArchive is the closest direct peer to ERIAC, sharing the same mandate of preserving and disseminating Roma cultural heritage, though it operates primarily as an online scholarly archive rather than an event-driven institute.

Broad incumbents

• European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC): An international public interest law organisation advancing Roma rights in Europe. ERRC shares ERIAC's pan-European Roma-focused mandate and similar institutional standing, but its work is centred on strategic litigation and human rights rather than arts and culture programming.
• European Cultural Foundation: A pan-European foundation funding cultural policy and cross-border cultural collaboration. ECF shares ERIAC's pan-European cultural mission but operates at a much larger funding scale and across all cultural communities rather than specifically for Roma.
• Haus der Kulturen der Welt: Berlin's House of World Cultures is a major federally-funded institution presenting contemporary art and cultural discourse with a global focus. It is comparable to ERIAC as a Berlin-based cultural institution engaging with marginalised cultural communities, though on a much larger scale and with broader thematic scope beyond Roma.
• Roma Foundation for Europe: One of ERIAC's three founding institutions, formerly the Open Society Foundations' Roma Initiatives Office. While a strategic partner, the Roma Foundation for Europe operates a broader Roma inclusion and democracy agenda across Europe with a larger funding footprint, making it a more established incumbent in the Roma philanthropic space.
• Manifesta: The European Nomadic Biennial is a major roving contemporary art exhibition in which ERIAC has participated (Manifesta 14). As a peer, Manifesta shares ERIAC's pan-European contemporary art platform ambitions but operates on a substantially larger scale and across all artistic communities rather than focusing on Roma representation.
• Council of Europe – Roma and Travellers Team: The Council of Europe's intergovernmental programmes on Roma inclusion (including ROMACT and Dosta!) overlap with ERIAC's policy and cultural mandate. As one of ERIAC's three founding institutions, the Council of Europe is a comparable actor in the European Roma policy and cultural space, operating at intergovernmental scale.

Emerging players

• Kai Dikhas Gallery: Berlin's Kai Dikhas Gallery is a curatorial partner of ERIAC focused exclusively on contemporary Roma art. As a niche commercial-gallery peer, it shares the specific Roma-art mandate but operates on a much smaller exhibition-only model without ERIAC's broader policy, education, and grant-making portfolio.
• Central European University – Romani Studies Program: CEU's Romani Studies Program is one of the few academic programmes globally dedicated to Romani studies, with ERIAC board members (e.g., Dr. Dezso Mate) formerly affiliated. CEU sits adjacent to ERIAC in the knowledge production domain — sharing faculty, scholarship pipelines, and content for ERIAC's Barvalipe Digital Library.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/eriac.org
• Instagraminstagram.com/eriac_org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/european-roma-institute-for-arts-and-culture

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture