Minister Asta Vrečko Opens the European Museum of Roma Culture and History in Murska Sobota
The new location in the city centre symbolically affirms that Roma culture, history, and identity belong in the central public space – as an equal and indispensable part of our shared social story.
In her address, the Minister emphasized the broader importance of the museum for the local community and the country: "Cultural rights are human rights. Coexistence is not merely about living side by side. It also means cooperation, respect, and shared decision-making. The history of the Roma community is also a tragic one, yet Prekmurje shows us another side as well. Here we see a story that stretches from immense poverty and difficult living conditions in the interwar period and after the Second World War to a connected, modern, and diverse community today. A museum is a space of democracy and is therefore a location of dialogue, development, and culture in Prekmurje, Slovenia, and Europe."
On this occasion, the Minister thanked the President of the Union of Roma of Slovenia, Jožek Horvat Muc, and the President of the Forum of Roma Councillors, Darko Rudaš, for their many years of work and cooperation with local and national institutions.
The European Museum of Roma Culture and History is dedicated to preserving, researching, and presenting the rich history, language, traditions, and arts of the Roma people, as well as their contribution to the development of European society. It will operate as a location of knowledge, education, and dialogue, and as a central point for the systematic collection and presentation of Roma cultural heritage.
The President of the Union of Roma of Slovenia, Jožek Horvat Muc, emphasized that the new location is not merely an organizational achievement but a powerful symbolic message. According to him, the museum is not just a collection of objects, but a living space for meeting, research, and co-creation.
At the beginning of the current term, the Ministry of Culture signed a Detailed Sectoral Programme for the Implementation of Measures under the National Programme of Measures for Roma 2021–2030. Each year, the Ministry of Culture publishes a call for tenders for cultural projects in the field of the Roma community. In 2025, €142,115 was allocated for this purpose, and 54 projects received co-financing. The funds support projects across all areas of culture, from literary works, Roma language education, symposia, and workshops to radio programmes and activities for children and women. During this term, the Ministry also launched the call for tender "Connected with Culture," aimed at employment in Roma associations, the establishment of a project office, and strengthening competencies for the preparation of high-quality projects. A total of €400,000 has been allocated for this purpose. In this way, we are ensuring the systemic empowerment of the Roma community for long-term, professional, and stable operation in the field of culture.