The Utcaszínházi Alkotóközösség, the organization behind the TeatRom Festival, has been working for over fifteen years to provide space and visibility for Roma children in the Cserehát region, one of Northern Hungary’s most beautiful yet economically challenged areas. Building on long-standing professional and personal relationships, the SPARSE+ project will be implemented in five municipalities between 2024 and 2026, continuing the work that began with the launch of the TeatRom Festival in 2020.
Blending the traditions of the TeatRom Festival with the methodology of SPARSE+, a series of mini-festivals will take place in each participating municipality in September 2025. The programmes will feature community theatre sessions for local children, a talent show highlighting young local performers, and an international contemporary theatre production.
To coordinate the details of these events, the teams from Pro Progressione and UtcaSzak – Márton Beke and Balázs Simon – conducted site visits to the local promoters in Borsodbóta, Sajókaza, and Szendrőlád. In Borsodbóta, the municipality is supporting Hajni Váradi and Julcsi Budai in organising the event, which is once again planned to be held in the schoolyard.
In Sajókaza, last year’s community centre offered shelter from the rain, but this year we are hopeful that sunny weather will allow the events to take place in the courtyard of the castle. Éva Ádám, Noémi Váradi, and Ferenc Kuru are supporting the organizing, along with the local municipality and cultural centre staff.
In Szendrőlád, as in previous years, the Bhimrao Association will serve as the main local partner. Their dedicated team – Adrienn Ádám, Amelita Czövek-Mata, and Norbert Káló – will once again take on the organising tasks.
Site visits will continue throughout the summer, with Alsóvadász still to be scheduled. In the meantime, several joint meetings are planned to strengthen cooperation and coordination across the participating communities.