What a delightful afternoon we had celebrating the launch of "Pass:ages", the debut volume of acclaimed mezzo-soprano Ruxandra Donose, just out from Tango Publishing House in the translation of Matthew McMillan. Opened by RCI London Director Aura Woodward, the event brought together an enthusiastic audience for an afternoon that moved seamlessly between reflection, storytelling and music. In conversation with celebrated soprano Nelly Miricioiu, translator Matthew McMillan an

Last night, the Romanian Cultural Institute in London became a meeting place for some of the most exciting literary voices of the diaspora from the Republic of Moldova, in a celebration of contemporary writing that crossed borders, languages and lived experiences. Our guest authors were Anda Vahnovan, Vica Demici and Stela Brinzeanu. The evening opened with a welcome address by RCI London’s Deputy Director Raluca Ioana Cimpoiasu, who acknowledged the growing international rec

A powerful and deeply moving presence at this year’s European Writers’ Festival, Liliana Corobca opened the festival’s second day with the panel Personal Histories, introduced by the chair of the festival’s programming panel, European Literature Network director Rosie Goldsmith. Joining writers Fabio Andina (Switzerland) and Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs (Faroe Islands), in a conversation moderated by broadcaster and artist Bidisha Mamata at the British Library, Liliana brought extr

Last night, we marked the Romanian Monarchy Day with an event dedicated to King Carol II, one of the most complex and debated figures in modern Romanian history. The event was opened by RCI London Director Aura Woodward, followed by a well-documented lecture delivered by Dr. Lia Chisacof. Her presentation explored King Carol II’s foreign policy, his friendships and diplomatic circles, his 1938 visit to London, as well as his cultural policies and the ways in which his controv

Delighted to reunite with Artexim, organiser of the George Enescu International Festival and Competition, for our May recital in the Enescu Concerts Series. The event celebrated last Thursday the upcoming 20th edition of the George Enescu Competition taking place in Bucharest this autumn. The evening opened with a welcome address by RCI London Director Aura Woodward, followed by a conversation between Cristina Uruc, Executive Director of the George Enescu Competition, and jou

An absolute joy to welcome Vlad Drăgulescu at Romanian Cultural Institute in London to get a peek preview of the 15th edition of the Festival, about to start in less than two weeks' time. This is the biggest Shakespeare festival in the world, this year offering 450 shows and events across the city of Craiova. Centre stage will be theatre productions from 71 countries. In a conversation with Director Aura Woodward, Vlad Drăgulescu, President of the festival, has also highlight

Yesterday, 29 March, we had the pleasure of screening the Romanian short film "If I Float" (2024), directed by Bogdan Alecsandru, as part of Cambridge Festival at Jesus College, Cambridge. The programme featured a diverse range of short films from across Europe, celebrating cultural diversity, creativity, and contemporary storytelling. Audiences had the opportunity to experience films from countries including Romania, Estonia, Lithuania, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Cyprus, the

Last night, we were delighted to partner with Thaddaeus Ropac Gallery for a special event dedicated to Constantin Brâncuși as a photographer, held within the exhibition space showcasing remarkable works from David Grob’s collection. As the third event in our Brâncuși 150 Season, the conversation, introduced by RCI London director Aura Woodward and expertly moderated by art historian Dr. Jonathan Vernon, brought together an engaged audience and offered fresh perspectives on Br

Last night, at the Romanian Cultural Institute in London, we had the pleasure of hosting “Whispers of Seduction: Romania’s Orchids Revealed” — a truly unique project shedding light on a little-known fact: Romania is home to an extraordinary diversity of wild orchids, a hidden natural treasure that remains largely unknown to the public. Following her successful participation at the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society Orchid Show last week, researcher and photographer Nora

We had a wonderful time at the beautiful RHS - Royal Horticultural Society Garden Wisley yesterday, for the closing day of the popular RHS Orchid Show. 🌸 Researcher and visual artist Nora De Angelli presented a captivating glimpse into Romania’s wild orchids through a striking selection of photographs and an engaging talk attended by specialist horticulturists and a wider audience. Following a first successful day at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Orchid Show, where resea

Another wonderful evening with celebrated author Tatiana Țîbuleac last night, this time at UCL discussing her books and identities in Moldova, Romania and the diaspora. Here, Tatiana was in dialogue with Associate Professor Ramona Gönczöl and the journalist, author and publisher Paula Erizanu, as well as UK-based Romanian and Moldovan students Maria Popa, Ecaterina Rotaru and Cristina Bradescu. The event concluded our programme at this year's London Book Fair and it was organ

What a memorable evening we shared at the Romanian Cultural Institute London, celebrating the launch of Ludovic Bruckstein’s “Maybe Even Happiness” and a double anniversary: 15 years of Istros Books and 20 years of the Romanian Cultural Institute’s Translation and Publication Support programme. The evening was opened by Aura Woodward, RCI London director, setting the tone for an event rich in emotion, reflection, and literary camaraderie. Although Alfred Bruckstein, Ludovic B

🌿📚 Still under the spell of The Summer My Mother Had Green Eyes Last night at Hatchards, the oldest bookshop in the United Kingdom and official bookseller to the Royal Household, the Romanian Cultural Institute in London hosted the central event of its programme for the London Book Fair 2026: the launch of the English edition of Vara în care mama a avut ochii verzi / The Summer My Mother Had Green Eyes, the nineteenth translation of Tatiana Țîbuleac’s acclaimed novel. It wa

📚 Last night, in the wonderful setting of the Waterstones bookshop on the King's Road, the Romanian programme associated with The London Book Fair 2026 officially began. The first event, “Romanian Literature Now: Translation, Voice, Identity”, showcased recent titles by Romanian authors published in English, either in the original or in translation. The following titles were presented: 📖 Pain is a Foreign Country: An Anthology of Recent Romanian Poetry, ed. Paul Doru Mugur

Last Friday, the Romanian Cultural Institute in London hosted the second event in the Brâncuși 150 Season, an evening that also marked International Women’s Day by celebrating the remarkable women whose civic vision helped bring one of Romania’s most iconic artistic projects to life. The event explored the extraordinary role played by the women of Gorj County who commissioned Constantin Brâncuși’s monumental ensemble in Târgu Jiu, a sculptural tribute to the heroes of the Fir

Last week, we had an inspiring evening at our INFOCUS: Melancholia Pictures – Short Film Screenings & Conversation! 🎬✨ Opened by RCI London director Aura Woodward, the event brought together a captivating programme of contemporary short films curated by Melancholia Pictures, including Fine (Bine), Celebration Day (Zi de Sărbătoare), The Boy’s Gaze and Near Light, each offering unique perspectives and powerful storytelling. Following the screenings, we were treated to a rich

The Romanian Cultural Institute in London recently hosted a special evening marking the publication, by Doubleday, of Fiona Sampson’s "Becoming George" - an outstanding new biography that has already attracted significant critical acclaim and excellent reviews. The event was opened by RCI London director Aura Woodward, who welcomed the audience and presented the dynamic structure of the evening, emphasising the value of such initiatives for Romanian–British cultural dialogue

Last week, the Romanian Cultural Institute in London hosted a deeply meaningful and courageous conversation on a chapter of history that has long been overshadowed: the Roma Holocaust during World War II. The event, organised with the support of the Romanian Embassy in the UK, brought together scholars, activists, diplomats, and community members for a moving evening of remembrance, education, and collective responsibility. The room was filled to capacity, with attendees list

🌐 A look back at a vibrant day of ideas, dialogue and cross-cultural exchange at the Victoria and Albert Museum this weekend, where the Romanian Cultural Institute in London was delighted to be a partner for a wide-ranging Symposium entitled “Fluid Futures: Recalibrating Land and History in Global Eastern Europe”. Romania was represented by curator and art critic Raluca Voinea, co-director of Tranzit Romania, and by Ileana Selejan, lecturer in Art History, Culture and Societ

The UK tour of acclaimed Romanian author Mircea Cartarescu has ended but the butterflies in the tummy are still there. The tour ended on Thursday with a grand finale at Romanian Cultural Institute in London in front of a full house. Mr. Cărtărescu took us on a memorable journey of his writings, and literature in general. Everything from matrix, quantum physics, 16th century paintings in Naples to his writing habits was in the mix as we celebrated the publication into English