CURRICULUM VITAE

Name Veijo Oskari Baltzar Date and place of birth 9 Jun 1942, Title Cultural Counsellor (2011) [email protected] www.veijobaltzar.fi

PRIZES AND AWARDS p.2 LITERARY WORKS p. 2 THEATRE p. 3 PERFORMING ARTIST p. 4 VISUAL ARTS p. 6 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN p. 8 TEACHING ACTIVITY p. 8 CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL RESEARCH p. 9 PRESS WORK p. 9 LECTURES p. 10 SOCIETAL ACTIVITY AND MEMBERSHIPS p. 11

1

PRIZES AND AWARDS

1980 1st prize in the Golden Harp – competition in Dublin for TV-play The Red Garden (manuscript) 1981 The theatre action of the year. Awarded by Finnish Theatre Center. 1992 The Art award of the Province of Kuopio. 1991 The Culture award of county Rautalampi. 1999 The 3rd prize in the international “Amico Rom” - competition. Lanciano . 2000 The 2nd prize in the international “Amico Rom” - competition. Lanciano Italy. 2002 Arvo Turtiainen literature prize. 2008 Mikael Agricola medal celebrating 40-year literary career. Helsinki, Tammi publisher. 2011 An honorary title of Cultural Counsellor, kulttuurineuvos, granted by the President of . 2016 Finalist and honorable mention (international recognition for 50-year activity for the benefit of European Roma), European Roma Spirit Award (ERSA). Bratislava, Slovakia 2017 Artist pension, granted by Arts Promotion Centre Finland as recognition for meritious artistic activity

LITERARY PRODUCTIONS

Novels 1968 The Burning Road (Polttava Tie). Tammi Publishers. The Swedish translation Brännande Väg published 1969. 1969 The Engagement of Blood (Verikihlat). Tammi Publishers. 1970 Mari. Tammi Publishers. 1978 The Crystal Ball of Black Sarah (Mustan Saaran krisallipallo). Tammi Publishers. Novel for children. 1988 Käärmeenkäräjäkivi. Tammi Publishers. 1990 The Black Tango (Musta Tango). Tammi Publishers. 2000 Phuro. Tammi Publishers. 2008 In love and war (Sodassa ja rakkaudessa). Tammi Publishers.

Philisophy/Scientific work 2012/ Towards Experiential philosophy (Kokemuspohjainen filosofia). A polemic 2014 work. Ntamo publishers. English translation of the book published 2014 (Translation by Jüri Kokkonen)

Poetry 2014 The Seven-String Guitar (Seitsemän kielen kitara). Poem collection 1964–2014 (ntamo publishers)

Tv- and listening program manuscripts 1974 The Ballad of the Gypsies (Mustalaisballadi). Channel 1. Finland.

2

1979 The Red Garden (Punainen Puutarha). TV-play’s manuscript. Channel 1, YLE Broadcasting company. The manuscript won 1st prize in the Golden Harp – competition in Dublin 1980. 1980 The Crystal Ball of Black Sarah (Mustan Saaran kristallipallo). Listening program to the Swedish radio. 1998 Djengiba. Listening program to Finnish radio.

Movie manuscripts 1979 The Engagement of Blood. (Verikihlat) with Ilkka Vanne. 1991 The King of Töpäri (Töpärin Kingi) with Armas Baltzar and Ilkka Vanne. TV- play, Channel 1, YLE Broadcasting company. 1997 Whose son? (Kenen poika). Short movie. Written and directed.

Librettos 1994 Karma 1996 Orli 1999 Veren juhlat (The Celebration of Blood)

Other literary works 1978 Vappu. Short story on Uma Aaltonen’s anthology The Horse and I. Otava.

Numerous short stories, pamphlets, poems, etc. Published in different newspapers and journals.

Written poems since 1964.

Baltzar’s poems composed by Toni Edelmann: Recorded by Vera Telenius, 1983 Recorded by Pauliina Pohjanheimo, 1994 Lyrics for Drom orchestra since 2001

2016 Excerpt from the novel The Engagement of Blood pp. 105-109. The World from Home. Book of Encounters, Lecti Book Studio. Anthology of Finnish authors.

THEATRE

1976-1981 Theatre Baltzar, establisher, manager, director (Mikkeli, Helsinki) 1981-1988 Roma Theatre Drom, establisher, educator, manager, director (Theatre Academy Helsinki) 1997-1998 Leading teacher and lecturer, Theatre Academy Helsinki 2013 – Integration Theatre Baltzar, manager and director (Aleksander theatre, Helsinki)

PLAYS (written and directed)

Whole night plays 1981 The Black Scourge (Musta ruoska). Roma theatre Drom. 1982 The Hungry Cranes (Nälkäkurjet). Drom Theatre.

3

1980 The Crystal Ball of Black Sarah. A play for children. Performed in theatre Green Apple in Helsinki. 1983 I’ll Forge Stone to Be a Horse (Taon kivestä hevosen). Drom Theatre, Helsinki Student Theater. The play was performed at the International Theatre Festival at Hamburg 22.–26.11.1985 with excellent reviews. Performances at Deutsches Schauspielhaus, Hamburg. 1984 Iron Nights (Rautayöt). Drom Theatre. 1986 Iron Horses (Rautaratsut). Drom Theatre. 1991 The God Is Great (Jumala on suuri). Passion play. Premiere at Rautalampi church. Männistö church, Kuopio 1993 1992 The Paradise of Gods (Jumalten Paratiisi). Kuopio. Premiere at the Kuopio Student theatre/ Kuopio Student Theatre. 1993 Backyard Carmen (Takapihan Carmen) 1993. Kuopio. Premiere at the Kuopio Student theatre/ Kuopio Student Theatre. 1993 The Gang, diploma work of a drama course. Premiere at the Helsinki Deaconess Institute’s 400-birthday celebration. 1993 The Dance, premiere at Cultural Centre Poleeni, Pieksämäki. 1993 I Will Not Leave My Friend (Kaveria ei jätetä). Premiere at the Christian Institute of Pieksämäki. 1996 The Forest of Women (Naisten metsä). Premiere at the Adult Education Centre of Helsinki. 1997 Love and Mary (Rakkauteni Maria) Oratory. Premiere at the International Church Festival of Lappeenranta. 1994- ORLI, Folk opera. Premiere at the Imatra Cultural Center 1995. The second 1997 version premiered in March 1997 at Finlandia Hall, Helsinki. 2004 The Paradise of Gods (Jumalten Paratiisi). Premiere at Snåre Hall, Tammisaari (other venues Billnäs, Etno festival; Nurmijärvi, Taaborinvuori and Cultural Centre Caisa) 2009 BOTOX. A modern play about multicultural Finland. Helsinki. Premiere at Cultural Centre STOA (other venues Cultural Centres Vuotalo and Caisa). 2011- The God is Great (Jumala on Suuri). A modernized version of the play (originally 2012 written in 1991) about crucifixion of Jesus Christ in today’s society. Music: string quartet from Sibelius Academy. Premiere at The Rock Church, Helsinki. 2014 With the Seven-String Guitar. Gipsy cabaret. Premiere at the Alexander Theatre, Helsinki 2016 Sin. A musical play. Premiere at the Alexander Theatre, Helsinki

4

Poetic plays 1979 Muistan eläneeni (Remembrance of my life). Theatre Baltzar 1982 Tie (The Road). Drom. 1983 Yön kulkijat (Wanderers of the night), Theatre Drom 1983 Punainen hevonen (The Red Horse). Drom. 1985 Mustat kiharat (Black Curls). Drom. 2005 Mustalaisrunoteatteri (Gipsy Poetry Theatre). Helsinki.

Others 2012 “Sny” (Dreams). Short play performed at Prague’s New Stage of the National Theatre as the result of 6-day theatre workshop, as a part of the project Theatre of Nations: Roma at Nova Scena.

Orli Folk Opera 1994-1997

5

PERFORMING ARTIST

2017 – The leading singer, LudvigXIV orchestra. Performances in Espoo (FIN), Tallinn (EST), Zagreb (HRV), Sered’ (SLO) and Budapest (HUN)

2016 Sin, one of the leading roles. Musical play. Premiere in the Alexander Theatre, Helsinki 20 April (other performances 22, 28 and 29 Apr)

2014 With the Seven-String Guitar, a leading role. Gipsy cabaret. Premiere in the Alexander Theatre, Helsinki 19 March 2014 (other performances 30 Mar and 12 Apr)

2014 Drom orchestra, soloist, exhibition opening of “Miranda – the Roma Holocaust”. Vantaa, Tikkurila library. Welcoming speach by Member of Parliament Antti Lindtman.

2014 Drom orcestra, soloist, Matti Lohi college, Rautalampi.

1974 Mustalaisballadi (Gipsy ballad), leading role. TV play, TV 1 (YLE)

6

VISUAL ARTS

1975 Exhibition for young artists in Ateneum Art Museum, Helsinki.

During the 1970’s-80’s numerous exhibitions in different galleries in Finland, among the latest:

1991 Raudan takaa (Behind the Iron) Exhibition with Oili Marski in the library of Rautalampi. 1991 Kiven aika (The Time of the Stone) Exhibition with Oili Marski in Kuopio, Gallery Vintti. 2004 Mustalaisten Tie (The Road of Gypsies) Photography and visual art exhibition, Cultural Centre Caisa, Helsinki. 2010 Barvalo Drom – Viable Roma culture. Cultural Centre Caisa, Helsinki. Exhibition presenting Romani history, culture and art; visual art, photography, installations. Initiator and main organizer of the exhibition. The exhibition presented a collection of my latest art works, part of which reflected the experience of Holocaust by .

7

2012 Miranda – the Roma Holocaust. Who’s afraid of the White Man? a touring exhibition about the Roma Holocaust. Project director, design and implementation. Production: Drom Association. Opening: City of Kouvola 7.3.2012, other venues 2012-2016: Tuusniemi, cities of Mikkeli, Pieksämäki, Lappeenranta, Jyväskylä, Turku, Rauma and Helsinki (The National Museum of Finland 13 Sep 2013 – 23 Mar 2014). 2013- Personal art exhibition at The National Museum of Finland in connection to 2014 the display of exhibition Miranda – the Roma Holocaust. 2014 Do you ask, who I am? A personal exhibition of 50 works. City of Suonenjoki, Kellarikalleria. July 2014 2014 The Nordic Tango. A personal exhibition of 45 art works at the Latin Art Gallery, Prague, . Openers of the exhibition: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Petr Drulák and Ambassador of Finland in Czech Republic Helena Tuuri. Nov-Dec 2014 2016-2017 Miranda exhibition displayed at cities of Iisalmi, Vantaa, Vaasa, Kokkola, Espoo, Rautalampi (FIN) 15/2/2017 Opening of Miranda exhibition’s World Tour by Former President of Finland Tarja Halonen, Espoo Cultural Centre 11/5/2017 Exhibition ”Miranda – The Roma Holocaust” started its European tour (as part of EU-funded Through Miranda’s Eyes project). First international openings:

11 May – Museum of Occupations, Tallinn, Estonia 15 May – Latvian Holocaust and Riga Ghetto Museum, Riga, Latvia 29 Jun – National and University Library in Zagreb, Croatia 2 Aug – Sered’ Holocaust Museum/Slovak National Museum, Slovakia 3 Aug – Holocaust Memorial Centre, Budapest, Hungary 27 Sep – Varazdin’s Old Synagogue, Varazdin, Croatia

See all international openings of Miranda project here: www.drom.fi/miranda

Left: Opening of Nordic Tango exhibition, 20 Nov 2014, Prague (together with Petr Drulák, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic)

8

Right: Miranda exhibition at Museum of Occupations, Tallinn, Estonia

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

1991 Doctor’s house from 15th-18th century, restoration, Rautalampi. 1992 Atelie House, Rautalampi. 2000 American Villa, basic repair into the artist’s house, Pohja. 2002 Old school of Brasby, basic repair into modern villa, Karjaa. 2005 Apartment Lönnrotinkatu 23, basic repair, interior design, Helsinki. 2007 Apartment Helsinginkatu 23, basic repair, interior design, Helsinki. 2007 Writer’s Atelier House. Architectural design. Brasby, Karjaa. 2009 Sauna. Architectural design. Brasby, Karjaa.

TEACHING ACTIVITY

1970-1973 Taught literary writing at the adult education centre of Helsinki. 1981-1984 The leading teacher of Roma theatre course in the Theatre academy of Helsinki. 1981-1985 Teacher at Theatre Academy of Helsinki. 1981 The establisher of Roma theatre Group Drom, teacher, director and leader. The theatre originated from Theatre Baltzar, established in 1976. 1989-1991 Various literary writing courses, e.g at Adult Education Centre of Sisä-Savo. 1993-1994 Teacher of drama course in the Christian Institute of Pieksämäki.

9

1995-1996 Art college of Imatra. 1997-1998 Teacher at Theatre Academy of Helsinki. 2011-2012 Pedagogical Director in the research project of Intercultural Experiential Education, established by Baltzar. See the book “Towards Experiential philosophy”. HUMAK University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki. 2012 International theatre workshop with Czech, Roma and Finnish participants. Teacher-director. Realized as a part of the Czech project Theatre of Nations: Roma at Nova Scena. National Theatre, Prague. 2013 – Integration Theatre Baltzar, Alexander theatre, Helsinki (annual educational art productions)

- also numerous shorter courses

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL RESEARCH

1969 Research and documentation project about Finnish Roma together with photographer Henrik Schütt. 2001-2002 Interview research on Roma survivors of Holocaust. Interviews conducted in Sweden, Germany and Italy, 2001 and 2002.

PRESS WORK

1969-1970 Permanent assistant in newspaper Aftonbladet. 1986-1987 Permanent assistant in newspaper Hyvinkään Sanomat. 1970 Permanent assistant at Nyapressen 1970–1971 Finnish Gipsy Mission, publicist 1970-1972 Journalist, newspaper Kotitiellä

Writings in numerous Finnish newspapers such as Suomen Kuvalehti, Helsingin Sanomat, Dagens Nyheter, Aftonbladet, Aamulehti, Apu, Nyapressen, Kotitiellä, Kirjailija-lehti, Parnasso, Romano Boodos, Latso Diives and local newspapers.

LECTURES

In Finland 1968 Roma Conference, Helsinki. 1969 The ”Novel 69”- event. Old Student House, Helsinki.

Various presentations and lectures during the years 1969–1998, please see some of the latest below:

1998 University of Jyväskylä, about Romani literature.

10

2000 University of Helsinki, about Finnish literature, together with writers Kjell Westö and Marja-Leena Mikkola. 2007 University of Helsinki, Renvall Institute, about Romani literature. 2008 Helsinki University, Master’s programme for Intercultural Encounters, panel discussion about multiculturalism. 2008 About the novel In love and War. Library of Karjaa and Library of Itäkeskus, Helsinki. 2009 Lecture The forgotten sufferings of Roma, Villa Hakasalmi, Helsinki. 2010 Writer, the voice of his people, lecture at the international seminar “The Roma and the Holocaust”. The House of Sciences, Helsinki. 2013 Who’s afraid of the White Man? The problematics of equality. Lecture at the National Museum of Finland. 2014 Panel discussion: Where’s the future? The future guarantee of multicultural youth (other panelists Deputy City Mayor Ritva Viljanen and professor Laura Kolbe), Cultural Centre Caisa, Helsinki 2014 The Conscience of Europe, lecture at 2-day international minister-level conference (organization by Veijo Baltzar), Little Parliament Annex, Helsinki, Finland 2014 The life of an author – lecturing tour in municipal libraries of South Finland (Autumn 2014) 2014 The untapped resources of cultures. Panel discussion together with historian Jukka Relander and researcher, direcotor of Cupore Foundation Pasi Saukkonen. Tikkurila Library, City of Vantaa. 2015 Where are the values? Unequal multicultural Finland. Panel dicussion, restaurant Juttutupa. Together with Speaker of the Parliament of Finland Eero Heinäluoma, CEO of the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE Lauri Kivinen and Candidate for Parliamentary elections Nina Castén

Performed at the Finnish Book Fair in different cities regularly since 1970’s, the latest performances:

2009 Tampere Book Fair. 2009 Helsinki Book Fair.

Abroad 1970 Performing at the ceremony of Nordic Council as a representative of Liberal Party’s Youth Association, Stockholm.

Various other presentations and lectures during the years 1970–2000, among the latest:

1997 A guest of German Roma theatre Pralipe - lecturing about Drom theatre, Hamburg. 2000 Lecture at Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust: Conference on Education, Remembrance and Research. Stockholm. 2004 As a representative of International Romani Writer Association, International Ars Baltica Conference. Gdansk, Poland. 2005 Umeå University, Sweden. About Romani literature and its situation in Europe.

11

2006 Nordisk Museum, Stocholm. About meaning of language, culture and literature to Roma identity. 2007 Book Fair in Sibiu, Representing International Roma Writers Association. Romania. 2009 Romskt kulturcentrum, Stockholm. Lecture about the Roma holocaust and the book “In love and war”. 2010 Prague international book fair (Book World Prague), Czech Republic. - International writer symposium together with authors George Blecher (USA), Mikael Niemi (SWE), Maria Peura (FIN), Jean-Marie Blas de Roblés(FRA) and Sarah Waters (UK). - Interviewed by PhD Kari Senius (FIN) about the novel ”In love and War”. Prague. 2017 International Book Arsenal Festival, Kiev, Ukraine. International Discussion on Roma Literature 2017 The Holocaust amidst the cross-currents of multi-culturalism (lecture). National and University Library in Zagreb, Croatia 2017 The Spirit’s on the move, but who stands in the way? (a speech) World-day of Romani language celebration and international conference, Zagreb, Croatia

SOCIETAL ACTIVITY AND MEMBERSHIPS

1967-1974 One of the founders of the Finnish Roma Association, board member. Communication Officer of Finnish Roma Association 1971-1972 1968 The Roma Conference, organizer. Helsinki, Finland. 1970– The Finnish Writer Union, member. 1970-1973 The Theatre Society in Helsinki, vice-member. 1970 The Roma children and youth educational fund, founder. Charity gala evenings for its benefit in Helsinki and Tampere, organizer. 1970 First Roma as candidate for Parliamentary elections in Finland, Liberal party. 1971 The Roma housing issues committee, appointed by Finnish Ministry of the Interior, member. 1972 The International Roma conference, one of the organizers. Hanasaari, Finland 1976– Drom, Association for Creative Arts and Culture, founder and chairman (www.drom.fi) Chairman of Drom Association’s strategic steering committee. Members: former Prime Minister , MEP Liisa Jaakonsaari, Members of Parliament Pekka Haavisto and Ilkka Kanerva, professor of multicultural education Fred Dervin, Youth Counsellor Olli Saarela and director of Aleksander Theatre Reima Jokinen 1981– The Finnish Play-writer Union, member. 1987 Representing Finland with Roma theatre Drom at the Theatre Festival in Hamburg 1989-1992 The Culture board of the town of Karkkila, member. 1989-1992 The Culture Society of the town of Rautalampi, active member.

12

1992– Rotary club of the town of Suonenjoki, member. 1994– The Arkadia society, member (For the members of the parliament of Finland and for notable culture persons). 1995 Candidate for Parliamentary elections in Finland, Green party. 1999– The member of Finnish Social Democrat Party’s YPSY-department. 2000– PEN Society, member. 2002–2005 International Romani Writers' Association, founder and President. 2004 Ars Baltica -International Romani Writer Conference 2-4.7.2004, organizer. Snåre-Hall, Tammisaari, Finland. 2008– Finnish Cultural Association of Raseborg City, vice-chairman. 2009–2012 A member of the Finnish committee of International Holocaust Task Force (ITF), Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, member. 2010 International event The Forgotten Genocide, Helsinki, dedicated to Roma Holocaust and the present situation of European Roma. The main event was international 2-day seminar The Roma and the Holocaust. -Initiator, project leader and one of the Chairmen of the seminar together with former PM Paavo Lipponen, Member of Parliament Pekka Haavisto and chairman of Romani Advisory Board Taito Lehmusta. 2010 Award ceremony ”Gipsy Spirit”, awarding Slovakian organizations and individuals for outstanding work for Roma communities (org. ACEC). -One of the five international jurors. Radio Building, Bratislava, Slovakia 2014 The Conscience of Europe project, supported by European Unions’ Europe for Citizens Programme. A series of events dedicated to the issues of multicultural Europe. The main event The Conscience of Europe 18-19 March 2014, a two-day international minister-level conference at the Finnish Parliament. Initiator and director.

Among the participants and speakers of the conference were former Finland’s President Tarja Halonen, Minister of Education Jaak Aaviksoo (Estonia), former Finland’s Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen, Ministers Krista Kiuru, Pekka Haavisto and Päivi Räsänen, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Petr Drulák (Czech Republic) and Minister of State for Social Inclusion Zoltán Kovács (Hungary). The conference issued 24-item set of proposals by Veijo Baltzar for reforming European policies of multiculturalism. Baltzar’s law proposals were sent to the .

2017-2021 International Roma Writer Association (IRWA), elected president for a next 5-year rule

The Conscience of Europe conference 18- 19 Mar 2014, Parliament Annex, Helsinki

13