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AGBU Applauds 10th Anniv of Gyumri Branch of Yerevan Fine Arts Acad.

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  • AGBU Applauds 10th Anniv of Gyumri Branch of Yerevan Fine Arts Acad.

    AGBU Press Office
    55 East 59th Street
    New York, NY 10022-1112
    Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
    Fax: 212.319.6507
    Email: [email protected]
    Website: www.agbu.org

    PRESS RELEASE

    Friday, January 18, 2008

    AGBU Applauds 10th Anniversary of Gyumri Branch of Yerevan Fine Arts
    Academy

    The Gyumri branch of Yerevan Fine Arts Academy celebrated its 10th
    anniversary on December 21, 2007 at the Hoktember movie theater in
    Gyumri, Armenia. Republic of Armenia Education and Science Minister
    Levon Mkrtchian, Rector of Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts Aram
    Isabekian, AGBU Armenian Representation Director Ashot Ghazarian, other
    officials, local authorities, and representatives of higher educational
    institutions were present at the festive celebration.

    Coinciding with the celebration was the opening of an exhibition of
    various works, including fine arts, graphics, sculptures, ornaments, and
    textile designs, by academy students in the halls of the institute. Also
    on exhibit in the nearby Aslamazian Sisters Hall were art works by
    academy professors.

    "This building was renovated by the funds provided by 'Hayastan'
    All-Armenian Fund, AGBU and the money raised by the people during the
    pilgrimage of composer Loris Tjeknavorian to Gyumri in 1991." This
    sentence is inscribed on the plaque at the entrance of the building
    unofficially called the Academy of Fine Arts, which houses the Gyumri
    branches of three state art institutions of Yerevan: the Yerevan Fine
    Arts Academy, the Yerevan Conservatory and the Yerevan Institute of
    Movie and Theater. This educational center, which started with less than
    10 students a decade ago, today has 192 specialists in six departments.

    "I'm very glad that the building, which resembled a pile of stones back
    in 1994, breathes today and creates art. It reflects the soul of the
    people of Gyumri - fine arts, music and theater. These are things that
    have always been strongly characteristic of the people of Gyumri and
    have fed our culture. I remember the days when this building was
    half-ruined and a sign on it said, 'An arts academy will be built here.'
    People used to bring their children here even before it was fully built.
    And I remember once I heard a woman saying, 'My child will study here.'
    Thank God, AGBU had the opportunity of investing here and establishing
    this cultural center," said Ghazarian.

    "We are so happy," said Isabekian. "The establishment of this
    department, as well as the other two, was of vital importance back in
    the 1990's. The atmosphere in Gyumri after the disastrous earthquake was
    very depressing, people felt abandoned. And even though there were a lot
    of other unsolved issues then, time proved that the establishment of
    such a cultural center was a very right decision. It brought enthusiasm
    to the city, to the youth. And today we have a beautiful 10-year-old
    cultural center. I want to mention with admiration about our lecturers
    working in Gyumri, amazing painters, wonderful people, who organized all
    this work, who overcame all the difficulties. And certainly, I would
    like to underscore the great contribution of the Armenian General
    Benevolent Union in all this."

    Established in 1906, AGBU (www.agbu.org) is the world's largest
    non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City with an
    annual budget of $36 million, AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian
    identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian
    programs, annually touching the lives of some 400,000 Armenians on six
    continents.
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