Category: 2021

On November 23, in partnership with the EU4Business “Innovative Tourism and Technology Development for Armenia” (ITTD) project, Creative Armenia officially launched the creative incubator Artbox, which will provide comprehensive support to creative ideas with potential for commercial success. The program is accepting applications until January 21, 2022.

Inspired by innovative models in business and tech, Artbox is a reinvention of the incubator model for the art world — a dynamic entrepreneurial system that supports artists in developing their creative ideas in theatre, cultural tourism, film, music, design, and across all fields into commercially viable and investable creative products.

“It is not enough that an idea is brilliant,” said Creative Armenia founding director Garin Hovannisian. “Every idea needs an Artbox.”

The application is open for creators with projects from across the world to be realized within the boundaries of the Republic of Armenia. Preference is given to projects that have potential to: 1) contribute to the development of the three northern regions of the Republic of Armenia’s (Shirak, Lori and/or Tavush regions); 2) create synergies between the creative industries and tourism; 3) reach commercial success and excite investors.

“We contribute to the sustainable development of an innovative tourism sector in Armenia,” said Wilhelm Hugo, team leader of GIZ EU4Business Innovative Tourism and Technology Development for Armenia Project. “And by supporting art, culture and the creative industries, we help bring an inspiring and inviting atmosphere to the tourism destinations.”

Through a 12-week incubation process in the spring of 2022 — conducted digitally through a cutting-edge online platform — 25 selected projects will be given an unprecedented opportunity to work with prominent business leaders and renowned cultural figures to develop a comprehensive package around their projects, including a business plan, marketing strategy, website, video pitch and financing plan. Once this package is ready, the artists will have the exclusive opportunity to present their projects for financial support, including possible grants and investments by high-profile cultural investors.

Creative Armenia is a global arts foundation for the Armenian people that discovers, develops, and champions innovative talent across the arts. Artbox is supported by the EU4Business “Innovative Tourism and Technology Development for Armenia.’’ The EU4Business “Innovative Tourism and Technology Development for Armenia’’ project is co-funded by the European Union and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by German Development Cooperation GIZ through the Private Sector Development and TVET South Caucasus Programme. The project is part of the EU4Business initiative of the European Union.

GLENVIEW, Ill. – The Chicago “Christapor” Gomideh organized a series of events on November 20-21 to mark the 131st anniversary of the founding of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), including educational lectures, a community celebration and a memorial service.

The weekend began with the Gomideh sending a video message to the community marking the organization’s founding and promoting a message of unity in demanding justice and accountability from Armenia’s authorities. The message, delivered by Gomideh representative Hagop Soulakian, called on the community to remain active and vigilant.

Chicago ARF members (l-r) Mike Demirjian, Armen Alexanian and Khajak Arakelian preparing lunch items for Taniel Varoujan Armenian School students and staff.

On Saturday, November 20, the Gomideh arranged for special ARF-related lessons to be presented to the students of the Taniel Varoujan Armenian School. In addition, Gomideh members prepared and served lunch to the student body as well as teaching staff, faculty and school board members, continuing a long-standing tradition that was only recently broken in 2020 due to the pandemic. 

Taniel Varoujan Armenian School kindergarten students preparing their ARF Coats of Arms in a class taught by U Anoush Bargamian.

The educational component of the day began with Anoush Bargamian leading art classes for the kindergarteners and students in lower elementary. Students celebrated the ARF’s birthday by doing rubbings of blocks with raised Armenian words such as Union (unity) and freedom (freedom) and learned about their meaning and how the ARF has fought for these values. They also created the ARF coat of arms by fashioning its individual elements out of paper and then assembling them together. During the lesson, Bargamian discussed the significance of each component of the coat of arms, conveying the message of what the ARF stands for and how the organization is based on a diverse membership united to work for a common cause.

Greg Bedian discussing with 4-7 grade students from the Taniel Varoujan Armenian School on how the Artsakh liberation struggle impacted the ARF.

Greg Bedian made a presentation to grades 4-7 and teachers’ assistants on the topic of “The ARF Then and Now.” Bedian spoke about how the mission and methods of the ARF have evolved over its 131-year history while the ARF has stayed true to its core value of pursuing justice. He demonstrated how seven critical events, such as the takeover of Armenian churches by Tsarist authorities, the establishment of Armenia’s first independence and the creation of the modern diaspora forced the ARF to adopt new approaches and tactics.

On Saturday evening, an “agoump” night was held in Shanasarian Hall in the Armenian Community Center marking the ARF’s 131st anniversary. The event was co-sponsored by the Chicago ARF, Armenian Relief Society (ARS), Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), Hamazkayin and Homenetmen. This was the first evening event held inside the community center since the advent of the pandemic. Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to share dinner and socialize with friends and family while listening to Armenian music. Gomideh representative Armen Papazian delivered brief remarks, discussing the many challenges facing the Armenian nation today and thanking community members for their ongoing support of the ARF. In honor of the ARF’s 131st anniversary, over $8,000 was raised, both during the event and online. The funds will be split evenly to benefit the Lebanese Armenian community and the Armenians of Artsakh.  

On Sunday, November 21, a special requiem service was held by Der Vahan Kouyoumdjian at Armenian All Saints Apostolic Church in memory of the soldiers who perished during the 44-day war as well as those that were killed in recent attacks, and for the deceased members of the Chicago “Christapor” Gomidehoutyun. Following church services, the Ladies Guild prepared a traditional madagh memorial dinner to honor the fallen soldiers and ARF members. 

The ARF established its first Gomideh in Chicago in 1896, only six years after the ARF was founded in Tiflis in 1890. Over the years, Chicago has been home to several Gomidehs based in various parts of the city. These Gomidehs were instrumental in the creation of libraries, community centers, schools and churches. The “Christapor” Gomidehoutyun was formed in 1959 upon the merging of the Chicago “Dro” and “Vahan Navasartian” Gomidehoutyouns.

Katarina Terzyan

The Society for Armenian Studies (SAS) is pleased to announce that Katarina Terzyan has been appointed its executive secretary. The appointment comes at a time when SAS has dramatically expanded its activities in the United States, Armenia and Artsakh. Since 2018, SAS membership has doubled, and its projects have multiplied in all dimensions in the field of Armenian Studies, from its prestigious journal the Journal of the Society for Armenian Studies (JSAS) to its podcast series and from its cooperation with chairs and directors in the US to its joint projects with academic institutions in Artsakh and Armenia.

Terzyan will be responsible for managing the day-to-day activities that include membership outreach, the SAS website, mailing list, SAS publicity, SAS relations with affiliated institutions/organizations, SAS Zoom lectures and meetings and annual EC elections.

Terzyan works as an elections assistant with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, where she assists in completing special projects geared toward preparing for upcoming Los Angeles County elections. She previously served as a program specialist with CivilNet – a non-profit news organization based in Armenia, where she maintained the organization’s email list, edited text for video reports, and created content for social media outlets. She holds a B.A. in international relations from the University of Southern California, where she had the opportunity to work with the USC Institute of Armenian Studies. During her time at the Institute, she became engaged within the field of Armenian studies and was exposed to the complexities of language and culture within the diaspora. Having immigrated to the United States at a young age, she has continued to hold a particular interest in the social structures of communities and the ways in which they are affected by policies and politics around the world. In her spare time, she likes to read books focusing on personal growth, mental cultivation and women’s experiences – subjects often found within her favorite literary genre of coming-to-age novels. Given the chance to stray from her computer, she enjoys ballet, cooking and exploring new restaurants in search of affordable meals which don’t compromise on quality.

“I am very much looking forward to taking on the role of executive secretary of the Society of Armenian Studies,” said Terzyan. “The role seems to be dynamic in providing opportunities to interact with SAS members, affiliated institutions and the community while providing support within handling internal operational duties. I hope to continue to work in finding creative methods of engagement by utilizing social media platforms as well as by providing well-sourced information to individual members of SAS. I am excited to work among experts who contribute to promoting Armenian studies by sponsoring research initiatives and panels/conferences, which facilitate the exchange of scholarly information. Over the past year, having seen how powerful open-source information can be – at a time particularly challenging for Armenia as it recoils from the political, economic, and social impacts of war, I look evermore towards supporting an organization which aims to foster unity and research within the field of Armenian studies.”

“We are all elated to hire such a qualified and energetic person as Katarina Terzyan,” said SAS president Prof. Bedross Der Matossian. “Her background and experience will be extremely crucial in taking the Society for Armenian Studies to the next level. With its limited resources, SAS has been able to gain wide popularity and fame in the field of Armenian Studies. Our membership has multiplied reaching some 350 members from all parts of the world. Our activities too have unprecedently expanded. As the organization continues growing, the need for a professional person to administer SAS became apparent. I am sure that Terzyan will play a key role in advancing the Society on all dimensions.”

The position of the Executive Secretary of SAS was made possible by a generous donation by longtime SAS member Dean Shahinian.

A WFA training

Women’s Fund Armenia (WFA) has launched its teen girl campaign, which provides grants to young girls aged 14 to 21 in Armenia, with consideration to applicants in border communities where there are few options and limited opportunities. 

WFA’s support of teen projects helps build self-confidence and initiative. These grants also foster entrepreneurship as the teenagers become stewards of the money and take ownership of the success of the project. 

Grants are given to project proposals in the areas of STEM and IT related fields; art and creative initiatives; economic resilience; and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Each grant is for $2,000; half of the funds are provided at the start and half provided mid-way after interim reports and updates are submitted. A final narrative and financial report are also required. The grant recipients also receive training and mentorship throughout their project and are welcome to join all future workshops and seminars. 

Continually providing opportunities to teens through grants is the goal of the WFA teen campaign. 

Established in 2018, Women’s Fund Armenia is a grant-making organization that supports women and girls in Armenia through capacity building, providing financial support and development of feminist movement. 

The Fund’s mission is to support building the women’s movement in Armenia by providing necessary resources and tools to women’s organizations, women’s initiatives, feminist activists, and researchers and scholars to design and implement projects that advance women’s rights and feminist efforts.  

The Fund’s goal is to develop a sustainable feminist philanthropy to support the strengthening of feminist discourse, safe spaces and collective initiatives addressing main challenges that women and girls are facing today in Armenia. 

Since 2018, WFA has funded 115 projects, awarded $135,000 to support women and girls, and 95-percent of awarded grants are to projects in the regions of Armenia, outside the capital city of Yerevan. 

WFA is aimed at the improvement of women’s conditions, advocating for their rights, anti- militarism, enhancement of women’s visibility and representation.

Der Mesrob, Yn. Ojeen Lakissian and their daughter Taleen

NEW YORK, NY—Following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, November 21, parishioners, guests and a spirit of merriment once again filled Pashalian Hall marking the welcome return of St. Illuminator’s traditional Thanksgiving luncheon, for the first time since 2019. 

As in years past, the luncheon was hosted, prepared and served by the Ladies Guild of St. Illuminator’s and was attended this year by nearly 80 people.

Anais Tcholakian, chairlady of the Ladies Guild, welcomed the attendees and thanked the community for its support. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian offered the opening prayer.

A highlight of the luncheon was a short program of Armenian songs, beautifully performed by choirmaster Anahit Zakaryan and accompanied on the piano by Vagharshak Ohanyan. Ohanyan closed the artistic program with a stirring performance of Komitas Vartabed’s Groonk, which he dedicated to Der Mesrob on the 16th anniversary of Der Mesrob’s ordination to the holy order of the priesthood.

Tcholakian also joined in congratulating Der Mesrob on his ordination and expressed particular gratitude for his tireless work at St. Illuminator’s beginning from the days of the Cathedral’s renovation and all the years since.

In his remarks, Armen Morian, chairman of the Board of Trustees, paid tribute to Der Mesrob, Yn. Ojeen, their daughter Taleen and his sister Tamar for their dedicated service to St. Illuminator’s and wished Der Mesrob many more fruitful years of ministry, especially as the hoviv (shepherd) of St. Illuminator’s. Morian also expressed particular appreciation to Zakaryan and Ohanyan for making Armenian song echo again within the hallowed halls of St. Illuminator’s as it so often did in years past, a cultural tradition Armen stressed the importance of reinstituting.

The luncheon program also featured a raffle for prizes ranging from a handwoven rug to jewelry to elegant housewares, all donated by friends of the Cathedral.

In his closing remarks, Der Mesrob thanked the Ladies Guild and everyone who volunteers to serve at St. Illuminator’s and wished all a happy, healthy and blessed Thanksgiving.