In the public mind, Gypsies and Travellers are mainly associated with crime or rubbish. But misconceptions also abound about other aspects of Gypsy and Traveller life, such as the mistaken belief that Gypsies live on public sites rent-free, or that all Gypsies and Travellers are rovers and cannot settle down anywhere. Most people are also quite unaware that discriminatory behaviour towards Gypsies and Travellers could be unlawful.

As well as debunking the negative we need to emphasize the positives. Their influence on artistic achievements in music, story-telling, poetry, art and design and dance has been immense. Gypsies and Travellers have developed their own traditions in music, story-telling, poetry, art and design, and dance. They have helped forge such unique artistic expressions such as the art of flamenco in Southern Spain and sustain it today with their unique contribution - most of the leading exponents are Gypsy or are heavily influenced by them.

The Travelling community has always included some of the most talented musicians of any period. Most people have heard of the great guitarist Django Reinhardt, a Belgian Sinto Gypsy and one of Europe's first great Jazz musicians. In the present day Le Taraf de Haïdouks, Fanfare Ciocarlia and Hungarian Gypsy Orchestra are among the most popular orchestral performers in the world. The critically-acclaimed rock band Gogol Bordello and their frontman Eugene Hütz are fusing traditional Gypsy music with new forms for a wider audience to promote Romani rights.

In the past, many classical composers such as Debussy and Liszt were inspired by traditional Gypsy music. Now youth from the Travelling communities are starting to express their heritage through new musical forms: in the UK, artists such as Tommy Pearce and Jamal Jimenez are part of a growing Gypsy Rap movement which is taking GRT music in new directions.