„Likewise, our language from many languages is gathered
and our speech is blended with the one of our surrounding neighbours,
because we come from Rim, and with their words ours are blended.”
Grigore Ureche, The Chronicles of the Land of Moldavia
The Romanian culture is based on a mosaic of material and immaterial values, with important influences coming from the ethnic minorities.
Among the material values we mention urban centres, traditional villages, fortifications, churches, art objects etc. The immaterial patrimony is even broader. Personalities from all minority groups have brought major contributions to literature, art, medicine and science. Specialized communities participated in the progress of trade, crafts, law, contributing to the political and administrative organization of nowadays Romania and to the interconnection with the cultural area from the West and the East.
Representing about 22% of the Romanian population in the interwar period, minorities have registered a constant decline, today only 10% of the citizens being part of an ethnic minority.
In order not to forget the contribution and impact that these communities have had on the Romanian culture, the project “Minor Minorities” presents cultural and historical elements inherited from 5 national minorities: Germans, Hebrews, Russians-Lippovans, Ukrainians and Turks.