Author: Gohar HAKOBYAN
Culture is the greatest capital in Armenia and cultural festivals are a great way to pave the country’s way to the worldwide audience.
“Yerevan Perspectives” International Music Festival is an independent cultural brand that has been hosted for the 17th time. The festival engages exceptional classical musicians. Despite the festival’s success, Sona Hovhannisyan, the Managing Director of “Yerevan Perspectives” believes that what the festival needs is sustainability to be able to deliver greater programmes. She says, “We can equally work with world famous festivals, as it is due to our professionalism, network and commitment that we can succeed in our work in Armenia. There are festivals whose directors are invited from abroad. In our case, we do our country credit, as the same workstyle would not reap any fruits in another country. We do need a board of trustees to maintain our sustainability, and to manage our funds, so that we do not have to think of ways retaining the project. The festival has been hosted for the seventeenth time and this time we should not think of retaining the festival but of coming up with ways of attracting about one million tourists to our country. We can definitely do this. “Yerevan Perspectives” can be one of the triggers for developing cultural tourism. We require additional resources and support for that. And the moment we have our board of trustees and make our festival a sustainable one, the picture will considerably change.” It is worth mentioning that “Yerevan Perspectives” could bring such musicians and orchestras to Armenia that have not even been to the region before.
“For instance, in 2004 we invited the Kronos quartet, a legendary American string quartet that had never been either to the Caucasian region or the Baltic countries before. The idea of the quartet coming to Yerevan was so incredible that the then US Ambassador to Armenia said that the Embassy would cover half of the quartet’s fees. After the quartet’s arrival in Armenia, the embassy did pay half of the fees, though throughout our negotiations, the amount to be paid had decreased a lot. The people who had previously worked with Kronos could not believe their eyes when they saw the advertising poster. We had a similar experience with Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra or Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw. We managed to bring such outstanding conductors as Lorin Maazel, Daniel Barenboim to Armenia, when our Estonian colleagues would not succeed in having them give concerts in their country. It was due to our festival that Evgeni Kissin came to the region for the first time after the collapse of the Soviet Union. He hadn’t visited Russia for several years back then and only next year is he planning to have a concert there.” says the Managing Director of “Yerevan Perspectives”. It is with great pride that she cites the words of European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Tibor Navracsics, who called the festival unique. It’s the credit of “Yerevan Perspectives” that the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the best orchestras in the world, will soon visit Armenia with its concerts. “They told us they knew our festival quite well. It’s our past success that secures the agreement of these orchestras to give concerts in Yerevan. Obviously, it’s not relevant for this kind of orchestra who gave concerts in the country before them. Sona Hovhannisyan believes that Martha Argerich, an Argentine pianist, is the next musician to visit Armenia. Armenia’s Dramatic Profile and the Indifference of Yerevan Municipality
“Highfest” International Theatre Festival has been hosted for already the fourteenth time. It is considered to be the main festival in former Soviet Union countries (with the exception of Moscow). Artur Ghukasyan, the President of International Performing Arts Festival, states that since 2007 the state support to the festival has decreased. Thus, in 2008, the festival budget made 35 million drams, whereas this year it makes 30 million drams. The Ministry of Culture has also cut “Highfest” budget this year. “The Ministry says it is not their own decision, but that of the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Finance in their turn claim that it is the Government’s decision.” Artur Ghukasyan emphasizes the fact that “Highfest” festival develops the field of performing arts. The festival hosts such performances, which are no included into the repertoires of Armenian theatres. Artur Ghukasyan believes that the original performances hosted within the framework of the festival can shape taste, develop new outlooks and be a real eye-opener, as they tend to push talented people to stage new and interesting things. Festivals make countries more open, they can even make an impact on those countries, which are among the most open ones. Festivals can develop the economy, attract tourists, and pave new ways for businesses. Earlier businesses would not even think of generating income through arts. Now we encourage businesses to act. Another important thing is that festivals shape the cultural reputation of the country. I have attended Edinburgh Art Festival, Scotland’s largest annual celebration of visual arts. At other times, Edinburgh leaves an impression of a grey, grim city which is glorious but at the same time closed to people. It is neither inviting, nor unwelcoming. However, on festival days, Edinburgh has a completely different picture to offer. About 2500 performances are played there daily and all the people smile. This is what festivals can do.”
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2016/10/19/182483/