ABSTRACT
Sibiu is one of the most ethnically diverse counties in Romania and it is characterised by a vivid cultural realm. The Roma minority represents the largest ethnic group encompassing 12,808 individuals self-declared as Roma during the latest census conducted in 2021. Their participation in festivals dedicated to Roma cultural heritage and the general population's attitudes towards such festivals are not sufficiently documented in the literature. It is arguably relevant to consider festivals as particularly telling evidence of the public presence and visibility of ethnic groups. Festivals constitute socio-cultural mechanisms for celebrating diversity within a multicultural setting inviting the non-discriminatory participation of attendees, regardless of their ethnicity, social class, gender, and other attributes. Social attitudes towards ethnic festivals serve as a crucial indicator measuring the level of the acceptance of ethnic groups as integral components of the local cultural heritage at the community level. Building on the social equity perspective in participation to cultural life, this study discusses relevant factors shaping the attitudes of Sibiu's inhabitants and stakeholders' views towards festivals dedicated to Roma population and their representation in the local heritage.
