A University of the West of Scotland (UWS) academic has been appointed to join the Barvalipe Academy.  Professor Colin Clark was nominated and elected by peers for the three-year term of office, which began on 1 November 2024.

Based in Berlin, the Barvalipe Academy is the agenda-setting and strategic body of the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC).

Professor Clark, who teaches Sociology and Social Policy at UWS was nominated in recognition of his research and contributions to the discipline of Romani Studies. His research is mainly located within the connected fields of Romani Studies and Ethnic and Racial Studies, with a special interest in issues of migration, identity and citizenship. He said, “I am honoured and humbled to have been nominated and elected by my peers to join the prestigious Barvalipe Academy of the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture. 

“I am excited to be a member of the Academy and to help contribute to new and critical approaches to Roma knowledge production and how this applied work can make an impact in European legal, policy, and practice areas.
Professor Colin Clark

“There is still a lot of work to be done to combat anti-Roma racism and discrimination across Europe. To achieve equality and integration for our connected communities, the Academy can play a leading role in shifting the political landscape."

In addition to his work at UWS, Professor Clark sits on the Board of Directors of the Glasgow-based anti-racist organisation, the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights, and he is also a Trustee of the Roma Rights group Romano Lav (Roma Voice). He is also a member of the Research Advisory Group of the Scottish Human Rights Commission and sits on a Steering Group that advises the Scottish Government on matters relating to Gypsy/Traveller accommodation. On 29 August 2024 he received a research award from the Scottish Association of Minority Ethnic Educators (SAMEE) for his work with Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities in the UK and Europe.

The ERIAC is a joint initiative of the Council of Europe, the Open Society Foundation, and the Roma Leaders’ initiative, which acts as an international creative hub to support the exchange of creative ideas across borders, cultural domains and Romani identities.