The Living Album - Hampshire's Gypsy Heritage

This project aims to help members of Hampshire's wider Gypsy and Traveller community to discover and access relevant museum and archive collections in a creative as well as an informative way. It will also help to raise the profile of Gypsy culture within schools, especially those who have Gypsy children in attendance. Furthermore, the development of a 'Living Album' website relating to the history and contemporary culture of Gypsy children and their families, to which they will contribute directly, will open up the history of Gypsy culture and lifestyle in Hampshire to a worldwide audience.

Aims of the project

• To raise esteem of Gypsy children in schools, through activities which incorporate their heritage and culture
• To encourage Gypsy families to experience family learning environments in museums and libraries
• To improve and extend schools' knowledge of Gypsy culture and lifestyle as part of the National Curriculum by providing free resources including a learning pack and DVD
• To bring the many positive aspects of cultural history of the Gypsy community in Hampshire to a wide audience

Heritage Lottery Fund have made an award of £48,800 (80.72% of the total eligible project cost of £60,454) towards a project to raise awareness of Gypsy heritage in Hampshire.