Collective reading of Leonardo Piasere's book on Roma history in Modena's Sinti community

On April 7, 2024, the artistic collective Ateliersi, led by Fiorenza Menni and Andrea Mochi Sismondi, organized a community reading event in the Sinti micro-area of Modena, Italy. The event featured a collective reading of "I rom d'Europa. Una storia moderna" by anthropologist Leonardo Piasere, who participated as a reader alongside scholar Eva Rizzin, actress Dijana Pavlovic, writers Morena Pedriali (Strega Prize candidate for "Prima che chiudiate gli occhi") and Simonetta Malinverno, debut author Virginia Spinelli, visual and performance artist Luna De Rosa, and activist Ervin Bajram. The reading took place from 14:30 until sunset, allowing attendees to freely enter and exit while exploring the space. The event concluded a free workshop series that began in October 2023, funded by the "Ad alta voce" call of the Centro per il Libro e la Lettura and supported by a network of libraries and associations including Movimento Kethane and Sucar Drom, under Bologna's Patto per la Lettura. Over forty participants, both Sinti and non-Roma, learned techniques of expressive reading aloud, focusing on vocal and relational aspects. The project aimed to counter prejudice and antiziganism by fostering direct dialogue and knowledge about Roma and Sinti history and culture. The event preceded the International Roma, Sinti and Travellers Day on April 8.