Curriculum Vitae
1981
Prizes & Awards
1980
1st prize in the Golden Harp -competition in Dublin for TV-play the Red Garden.
1991
1992
2002
2000
2011
1999
2017
2019
2008
The Theatre Action of the Year.
Awarded by Finnish Theatre Center.
The Art award of the Province of Kuopio.
The 3rd prize in the international Amico Rom competition in Lanciano, Italy.
The 2nd prize in the international Amico Rom competition in Lanciano, Italy.
Arvo Turtiainen Literature Prize.
Mikael Agricola Medal awarded by Tammi Publishers, honoring 40-year literary career.
The honorary title of kulttuurineuvos (Cultural Counsellor) granted by the President of Finland Tarja Halonen.
Finalist and honorable mention in European Roma Spirit Award, Bratislava, Slovakia. International recognition for 50-year activity for the benefit of the European Roma.
Artist pension, granted by Arts Promotion Centre Finland as recognition for meritious artistic activity.
The Overall Winner prize and the 1st prize in painting and sculpture, poetry and short story categories in the international Amico Rom Arts Competition, Lanciano, Italy.
1969
1968
The Burning Road (Polttava Tie)
1969
1970
1990
1988
2008
1978
2019
2019
2000
Swedish translation Brännande Väg
The Engagement of Blood (Verikihlat)
Mari
The Crystal Ball of Black Sarah (Mustan Saaran kristallipallo). Novel for children.
The Snake Trial Stone (Käärmeenkäräjäkivi)
The Black Tango (Musta Tango)
Phuro
In love and war (Sodassa ja rakkaudessa)
Slovakian translation Krvna Pomsta
Croatian translation U Ratu i Ljubavi
Literary Production
Novels
Tammi Publishers
Norstedts
Tammi Publishers
Tammi Publishers
Tammi Publishers
Tammi Publishers
Tammi Publishers
Tammi Publishers
Tammi Publishers
Trio Publishing
Sandorf
2014
2012
Kokemuspohjainen filosofia
2014
1979
1974
1998
1979
1980
English translation Towards Experiential Philosophy
The Seven-String Guitar (Seitsemän kielen kitara). Poetry Collection 1964–2014.
The Ballad of the Gypsies (Mustalaisballadi) Movie. Director, actor
The Red Garden (Punainen Puutarha) Short film. Director. The TV-movie won the 1st prize in the Golden Harp – competition in Dublin.
The Crystal Ball of Black Sarah (Mustan Saaran kristallipallo) Listening program to the Swedish radio.
Djengiba. Listening program to Finnish radio.
The Engagement of Blood (Verikihlat) with Ilkka Vanne.
ntamo Publishers
ntamo Publishers
ntamo Publishers
YLE Channel 1
YLE Channel 1
Nonfiction
Poetry
TV and radio manuscripts
Movie manuscripts
Whose Son (Kenen poika) 1997. Short movie. Written and directed.
Karma
1997
1994
Librettos
1996
1999
ORLI
The Celebration of Blood (Veren juhlat)
1979
Vappu. Short story on Uma Aaltonen´s anthology The Horse and I (Hevonen ja minä).
2016
2001-19
1994
Excerpt from the novel The Engagement of Blood pp. 105-109. The World from Home. Book of Encounters. (Maailma kotona: Kohtaamisen opas) Anthology of Finnish authors.
Siihen ei ole sanoja (Pauliina Pohjanheimo). The album was broadcasted on TV1 in 1996 (Sinun Tähtesi – kotimaista: Pauliina Pohjanheimo)
Lyrics for Drom orchestra
Otava Publishing
Lecti Book Studio
EMI Group Limited
Other literary works
Baltzar's poems composed by Toni Edelmann have been recorded and performed:
Numerous short stories, pamphlets, poems, etc. Published in different newspapers and journals.
1987
Vera Telenius laulaa Toni Edelmannin lauluja
1976-
Founder of Roma Theater Drom (also known as Theatre Baltzar and Integration Theatre Baltzar)
1982
1991
1983
1993
1993
1992
The Hungry Cranes (Nälkäkurjet)
I’ll Forge Stone to Be a Horse (Taon kivestä hevosen)
Iron Horses (Rautaratsut)
The God Is Great (Jumala on suuri)
The Paradise of Gods (Jumalten Paratiisi)
The Gang (Jengi)
Drom Theatre
Drom Theatre
Whole night plays: written & directed
The Dance (Tanssi)
The Forest of Women (Naisten metsä)
1993
1997
1994-97
2004
Love & Mary (Rakkauteni Maria) Oratory
ORLI, Folk opera
Theater director
1981
The Black Scourge (Musta ruoska)
Roma Theatre Drom
Drom Theatre
Teatteri Vihreä Omena, Helsinki
The Crystal Ball of Black Sarah. A play for children.
1980
Männistö Church, Kuopio
Kuopio
1993
Backyard Carmen (Takapihan Carmen)
Helsinki Deaconess Institute
Pieksämäki
Pieksämäki
1996
Never Leave a Buddy Behind (Kaveria ei jätetä)
Adult education centre of Helsinki
International Church Festival of Lappeenranta
Imatra Cultural Centre
Finlandia Hall, Helsinki
2009
2011
2013
2016
The Paradise of Gods (Jumalten Paratiisi)
BOTOX
The God is Great (Jumala on Suuri)
With the Seven-String Guitar (Seitsemän kielen kitaralla)
Sin (Synti)
Multiple venues (e.g. Snåre Hall, Tammisaari)
Cultural Centre Caisa & STOA, Helsinki
The Rock Church, Helsinki
Alexander Theatre, Helsinki
Poetic plays
1979
1982
1983
1985
2005
Gypsy Poetry Theatre (Mustalaisrunoteatteri)
Black Curls (Mustat Kiharat)
The Red Horse (Punainen hevonen)
The Road (Tie)
Remembrance of my Life (Muistan eläneeni)
Theatre Baltzar
Theatre Drom
Theatre Drom
Theatre Drom
Helsinki
1970-73
Taught literary writing at the adult education center of Helsinki
1989-91
1997-98
1995-96
2012
1968
2011-12
Various literary writing courses, e.g., at Adult Education Centre of Sisä-Savo.
Art college of Imatra
Teacher at Theatre Academy of Helsinki.
Pedagogical Director in the research project of Intercultural Experiential Education at HUMAK University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki.
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.
Roma Conference, Helsinki
The "Novel 69" Event, Old Student House in Helsinki
University of Helsinki, about Finnish literature, together with writers Kjell Westö and Marja-Leena Mikkola.
1969
2000
2007
2008
University of Helsinki, Renvall Institute, about Romani literature.
Helsinki University, Master’s programme for Intercultural Encounters, a panel discussion about multiculturalism.
1981-84
Teacher at Theatre Academy of Helsinki
Teacher of drama course in the Christian Institute of Pieksämäki.
1993-94
1998
University of Jyväskylä, about Romani literature.
2009
2010
2013
2014
About the novel In love and War. Library of Karjaa and Library of Itäkeskus, Helsinki.
Lecture The forgotten sufferings of Roma, Villa Hakasalmi, Helsinki.
Writer, the voice of his people, lecture at the international seminar “The Roma and the Holocaust.” The House of Sciences, Helsinki.
Who’s afraid of the White Man? The problematics of equality. Lecture at the National Museum of Finland.
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.
Lectures in Finland
2014
2014
2015
2019
Panel discussion on the international Romani day at the Nordic Culture Point.
Where are the values? Unequal multicultural Finland. The panel discussion, 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.
The untapped resources of cultures. Panel discussion together with historian Jukka Relander and researcher, director of Cupore Foundation Pasi Saukkonen. Tikkurila Library, City of Vantaa.
The life of an author – lecturing tour in municipal libraries of South Finland.
Other teaching activity & lectures
Teaching
1981-84
The leading teacher of Roma theatre course in the Theatre, Academy of Helsinki
2014
The Conscience of Europe, lecture at a 2-day international minister-level conference (organization by Veijo Baltzar), Little Parliament Annex, Helsinki, Finland.
1970
Performing at the ceremony of Nordic Council as a representative of Liberal Party’s Youth Association, Stockholm.
2004
2007
2006
2010
2017
2009
As a representative of International Romani Writer Association, International Ars Baltic Conference. Gdansk, Poland.
Nordisk Museum, Stockholm. About the meaning of language, culture, and literature to Roma identity.
Book Fair in Sibiu, Representing International Roma Writers Association. Romania.
Romskt kulturcentrum, Stockholm. Lecture about the Roma Holocaust and the book “In love and war.”
Prague international book fair (Book World Prague), Czech Republic.
International writer symposium together with authors George Blecher (US), Mikael Niemi (SE), Maria Peura (FI), Jean-Marie Blas de Roblés (FR) and Sarah Waters (UK). Interviewed by Ph.D. Kari Senius (FIN) about the novel ”In love and War.” Prague.
The Holocaust amidst the cross-currents of multi-culturalism (lecture). National and University Library in Zagreb, Croatia.
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.
2017
2000
Lecture at Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust: Conference on Education, Remembrance, and Research. Stockholm.
Umeå University, Sweden. About Romani literature and its situation in Europe.
2005
2019
Panel discussion at the Frankfurt Book Fair, Germany, stage Weltempfang.
1997
A guest of German Roma Theatre Pralipe - lecturing about Drom theatre, Hamburg.
Lectures abroad
2017
International Book Arsenal Festival, Kiev, Ukraine. International Discussion on Roma Literature.
1970
Exhibition
1975
1977
1976
1991
1992
1981
Gallery Exhibition
Exhibition
Exhibition
Exhibition
Behind the Iron (Raudan takaa) Exhibition with Oili Marski.
Exhibition
Exhibition
The Road of Gypsies (Mustalaisten tie)
Photography and visual art exhibition.
1993
2004
2010
2012
Barvalo Drom – Viable Roma culture.
Miranda – the Roma Holocaust. A wandering exhibition.
1970
Exhibition
Exhibition
1976
1994
Exhibition
2013-17
2014
2014
2017
Miranda – The Roma Holocaust. Who's Afraid of the White Man?
Do you ask, who I am? A personal exhibition of 50 works.
The Nordic Tango. A personal exhibition of 50 works. Openers of the exhibition: Foreign deputy minister of Czech Republic Petr Drulák and Ambassador of Finland in Czech Republic Helena Tuuri.
Miranda exchibition's World Tour opened by president of Finland Tarja Halonen.
1970
Exhibition for young artists
2017
Miranda - The Roma Holocaust Exhibition starts World Tour.
Visual arts exhibitions
Suvi-Pinx, Sysmä
Ateneum Art Museum, Helsinki
Artist residence of Eliel Saarinen
Stockholm Old Town
Helsinki Community College
Gallery Leo Kallio, Helsinki
Gallery Kasanpartinen, Helsinki
Gallery Kristell, Helsinki
Rautalampi Library
1991
The Time of the Stone (Kiven aika) Exhibition with Oili Marski.
Gallery Vintti, Kuopio
Cultural Centre Poleeni, Pieksämäki
City Gallery of Lappeenranta
Cultural Centre Gallery, Imatra
Cultural Centre Caisa, Helsinki
Cultural Centre Caisa, Helsinki
Kouvola, Lappeenranta, Mikkeli, Tuusniemi, Pieksämäki, Jyväskylä, Turku, Rauma.
National Museum of Finland, Cultural Centre of Iisalmi, Vantaa, Tikkurila Library, Vaasa Cultural Centre Fanny, Kokkola Main Library, Rautalampi Library
Kellarikalleria, Suonenjoki
Latin Art Gallery, Prague, Czech Republic.
Espoo Cultural Centre.
Estonia, Latvia, Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Denmark, Belgium.
1991
Restoration of doctor’s house from 15th-18th century, Rautalampi.
2002
2007
2007
2013
2017
2009
Old school of Brasby, basic repair into modern villa, Karjaa.
Apartment Helsinginkatu, basic repair, interior design, Helsinki.
Architectural design of Writer’s Atelier House. Brasby, Karjaa.
Sauna. Architectural design. Brasby, Karjaa.
House and Atelier, building and design in Espoo
Villa Baltzar in Tammisaari, basic repair and interior design
Oskar Centre in Haminanlahti, Kuopio, building on 1800's basement
2018
2000
American Villa in, basic repair into the artist’s house, Pohja.
Apartment Lönnrotinkatu, basic repair, interior design, Helsinki.
2005
1992
Atelier House, Rautalampi.
Architectural design
2016
Apartment in Helsinki, basic repair and interior design
1967-74
One of the founders of the Finnish Roma Association, board member.
1970-73
1970
1970
1972
1981
1971
Suomen Kansan Ryhtiliike, hallituksen jäsen
The Roma children and youth educational fund, founder. Charity gala evenings for its benefit in Helsinki and Tampere, organizer.
First Roma as candidate for Parliamentary elections in Finland, Liberal party.
The Roma housing issues committee, appointed by Finnish Ministry of the Interior, member.
The International Roma conference, one of the organizers. Hanasaari, Finland
The Finnish Playwright Union, member
The Culture board of the town of Karkkila, member.
Rotary club of the town of Suonenjoki, member.
1987
1992-
1994
2000-
The Arkadia society, member (For the members of the parliament of Finland and for notable culture persons).
PEN Society, member.
1970
The Finnish Writer Union, member
The Theatre Society in Helsinki, vice-member.
1970-73
1989-92
The Culture Society of the town of Rautalampi, active member.
2002-05
2004
2008-
2009-12
International Romani Writers' Association, founder and President.
Ars Baltica -International Romani Writer Conference 2-4.7.2004, organizer. Snåre-Hall, Tammisaari, Finland.
Finnish Cultural Association of Raseborg City, vice-chairman.
A member of the Finnish committee of International Holocaust Task Force (ITF), Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, member.
1968
The Roma Conference, organizer. Helsinki, Finland.
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.
Societal activity & membership
1976
Drom, Association for Creative Arts and Culture, founder and chairman. Chairman of Drom Association’s strategic steering committee founded in 2009. Members: former Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen, 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.
2010
2014
2017-21
2018
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
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 European Commission.
International Roma Writer Association (IRWA), elected president for a next 5-year rule
Ugrade2018! Seminar for renewing European culture policies organized in Riga, Latvia, and Vilna, Lithuania, by Drom Association. Head speaker and initiator.
2019
Gypsy & Roma Pavilion at the Frankfurt Book Fair, project initiator and leader
1996
Research and documentation project about Finnish Roma together with photographer Henrik Schütt.
1969-70
1970-71
1970
1970-72
Permanent assistant in newspaper Aftonbladet.
Permanent assistant at Nya Pressen
Finnish Gipsy Mission, publicist
Journalist, newspaper Kotitiellä
Permanent assistant in newspaper Hyvinkään Sanomat.
1986-87
2001-02
Interview research on Roma survivors of the Holocaust. Interviews conducted in Sweden, Germany and Italy.
Cultural & historical research
Press work
In different kinds of labour from the age of 12. "Handyman" in the identity card. Jobs including for example:
Summer work at the fields of the Mansion of Rastila, Suonenjoki.
Lumberjack in Suonenjoki
Stacking plancks at the Sawmill of Peura, Iisvesi
Roadworks in Helsinki
Digging ditch in Suonenjoki
Working at the Finnish Silk Weawing Corporation in 1966-67
"The labourer"
Emergency works, building the highway of Kuopio
Marking clothes at Elanto Oy
Plocking dishes at a cafe in Stockholm
Working in tailpipe production in Stockholm