There is a great need to establish an independent Roma art museum to give the institute's already sizable collection of Roma art a permanent home and also to offer the chance to expand the collection and to carry out research, Borbáth told a conference focusing on the Hungarian National Gallery's exhibition The Colourful Dreams of Remembrance - A Representative Exhibition of Hungarian Contemporary Roma Artists.
The National Gallery's exhibition of Roma art shows the importance of putting these works on permanent display, Borbáth said.
The Hungarian Institute for Culture and Art could become the venue for a Roma art museum, though this would require support from the state and civil organisations. Alone HUF 50-70 million would be required for research and publications at the start, but setting up the actual museum would take much more money, she said.
The initiative enjoys the support of the Ministry of Education and Culture, but it must still be decided whether to set up the museum in one go or over time. In principle, the doors could open in 12-18 months of the time a decision is made.
National Gallery director Loránd Bereczky said the museum is close to reaching agreements with four or five museums outside of Budapest on taking the current exhibition of Roma art.
Source: Múlt-kor / Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
