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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

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