Armenian Museum in Watertown to open new gallery om November

August 30, 2018 By administrator

The Armenian Museum of America in Watertown is updating its space under the leadership of new Executive Director Jennifer Liston Munson. The museum will open its new gallery to public in November, Wicked Local reports.

Munson has an extensive art background and worked as a senior member of the Exhibitions and Designs department at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Before becoming executive director, she had collaborated on many projects and exhibitions with the Armenian Museum.

Munson wants the museum to be a place of discovery. A place where Armenian-Americans can connect to their heritage, and also a place where people of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds can learn how integrated the Armenian experience is with American culture and identity.

“We are creating a space to welcome people, to educate, and to enlighten,” she said.

Munson is also introducing new exhibition concepts. She wants to create a space that is dynamic rather than stagnant. To do this, she is organizing cultural events. Some might feature Armenian music, of Armenian cooking, but the idea is to bring art alive.

Munson is also creating an introduction gallery. The gallery will be at the front of the museum entrance and will highlight different Armenian artifacts every month. The artifacts will be accompanied by descriptions narrating their different histories, and how each came to the museum.

The museum has permanent collections that highlight Armenia’s ancient history and the genocide. Munson is also working to integrate more about the Armenia diaspora which is not a well-known tale.

Munson is a non-Armenian trying to tell the Armenian story. However, she believes that sometimes it takes somebody from the outside to help tell the story in a way that will connect with everyone. Her museum background and expertise, she believes will allow her to do this successfully.

Armenian American museum urges community to back historic project

March 27, 2018 By administrator

american armenian museum

The Armenian American Museum calls on the community to show its support for the historic project developing in Glendale by signing the newly launched online petition.

The mission of the Museum is to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Armenian American experience. The vision is a cultural campus that enriches the community, educates the public on the Armenian American story, and empowers individuals to embrace cultural diversity and speak out against prejudice, Asbarez reports.

The Museum’s program will feature a Permanent Exhibition on the Armenian American experience, telling the history of Armenia including the Armenian Genocide and the story of Armenians living in America. The Museum will feature Traveling Exhibitions on diverse cultures and subject matters that will engage broad audiences and serve as a bridge that connects the multicultural community.

The center will also feature a Performing Arts Theater to host exciting performances, conferences, lectures, and community events, a Demonstration Kitchen to learn, share, and experience diverse cultures through food and cooking traditions, and a Learning Center to provide innovative educational programs and opportunities for local youth to learn, engage, and grow.

The world class cultural and educational center will be located in the heart of Downtown Glendale’s Arts & Entertainment District in the redesigned Glendale Central Park block near the prominent corner of Brand Boulevard and Colorado Street. The proposed Central Park redesign will feature increased open space and improved amenities to serve the community as “Glendale’s new gathering place.”

The Armenian American Museum is a developing project in Glendale, CA with a mission to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Armenian American experience. When completed, it will serve as a cultural campus that enriches the community, educates the public on the Armenian American story, and empowers individuals to embrace cultural diversity and speak out against prejudice.

The governing board of the Armenian American Museum consists of representatives from the following ten Armenian American institutions and organizations: Armenian Catholic Eparchy, Armenian Cultural Foundation, Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, Armenian General Benevolent Union – Western District, Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenian Relief Society – Western USA, Nor Or Charitable Foundation, Nor Serount Cultural Association, Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Officials present updated plans, gather feedback on Armenian American Museum project

March 14, 2018 By administrator

Armenian American Museum project

By Jeff Landa,

Officials for the proposed Armenian American Museum held their first community meeting since announcing the museum’s relocation to downtown Glendale’s Central Park.

In 2016, city officials agreed to carve out an area in the Central Park block for the museum and also used the opportunity to reimagine the space so it could integrate nearby facilities as well as create new public and recreational spaces.

The museum was originally set for construction on a 1.37-acre, city-owned parking lot at Mountain Street and Verdugo Road, across from Glendale Community College and near a residential neighborhood.

However, it was relocated to a more nonresidential area after community pushback.

State Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) helped secure $3 million for the museum project last year, adding to the already $1 million approved by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The 10 participating organizations that constitute the board of directors and govern the project have already contributed $1 million and collected $1.8 million in 80 individual anonymous donations.

Berdj Karapetian, chairman of the museum’s project development committee, said museum board members hope to raise an additional $2 million by the end of this year, adding that they expect annual operating costs for the museum will total about $1.2 million once it’s open.

Layout plans for the three-story structure include a 300- to 350-seat auditorium on the first floor for performing arts, a still unplanned permanent and rotating exhibition space on the second level and a research learning center as well as a demonstration kitchen on the third floor. The rooftop terrace will include a sculpture garden.

About 20,000 square feet will be dedicated to exhibit space throughout the museum, said lead architect Aram Alajajian with Alajajian Marcoosi Architects Inc.

During the community-feedback portion of the meeting, people raised more questions than concerns. Questions included how much the museum’s admission price will be and who will dictate the theme of the permanent exhibit, but also there were concerns about how officials will compensate for the already limited parking in the area.

According to officials, admission will be free, the museum’s governing committee will decide the narrative for exhibits and the museum will have three levels of underground parking.

Karapetian admitted that the first three community meetings had quite a few negative responses, mostly taking issue with the former proposed location of the museum, but said he was pleased that the meeting on Thursday elicited mostly positive comments about the Central Park relocation.

“We were very pleased at the turnout. It was a good turnout for a community forum of this nature, and we had some very good feedback that will help guide us in finalizing the schematic design and plans for the building,” he said.

Should City Council approve the project some time later this year, officials expect the museum will open by 2023.

US $1m funding restored for Armenian-American museum

May 12, 2017 By administrator

US Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge) on Thursday said he is very pleased with one significant aspect of Governor Brown’s May revision of the California State Budget, the restoration of funding for the Pasadena Playhouse and the Armenian American Museum in Glendale, Asbarez.com reports.

“While others were declaring defeat, I got to work and advocated in favor of the budget allocations for these two laudable projects. I’m very pleased and grateful that the Governor responded to these requests and restored the funding for two outstanding projects in the 25th State Senate District,” commented Portantino.
The Pasadena Playhouse is the State Theatre of California. It is a showcase for world class theatrical productions and educational programs targeted to California’s diverse population. The Armenian American Museum, proposed to be built in Glendale, is a new facility slated to bring Genocide awareness and educational programming to our region. Both facilities were set to receive $1 million dollars from last year’s budget but had that funding initially suspended by the Governor in his January budget proposal.

Upon seeing the budget draft, Senator Portantino impressed upon the Governor’s office, the Department of Finance and the Senate Budget staff on the importance of these projects. The Governor agreed by restoring the funding for both.

Shushi Fine Art Museum welcomed 3,000 visitors last year

March 30, 2017 By administrator

Shushi Fine Art Museum opened its doors to 2,934 visitors, including 342 foreigners last year, Director at the museum Lusine Gasparyan has told Artsakhpress agency.

Mrs. Gasparyan referred to statistics, saying visitors mainly from Russia, the U.S., Iran and France attend the museum.

“One distinct feature of the museums is the rich list of donators and the wide geography of the exhibits from Artsakh, Armenia, Georgia, Russia. U.S., France, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Madagascar, etc.” Gasparyan informed.

The director underlined that the museum familiarizes and connects the public with displays of rare art works.

Armenian American Museum unveils concept design animated tour

March 16, 2017 By administrator

Asbarez – The Armenian American Museum unveiled a new animated tour video of the cultural and educational center’s concept design, providing a first look at the project’s iconic design and ambitious program. The video can we watched above.

The animated video tour begins with an aerial view of the Armenian American Museum in the proposed Downtown Glendale location adjacent to the Central Library and Americana at Brand. The tour continues with the interior of the Museum, revealing the grand lobby, state-of-the-art auditorium, and exhibition halls, where Museum officials plan to feature permanent exhibitions on the Armenian American experience and traveling exhibitions on diverse cultures and subject matters that will engage all audiences. The video concludes with an evening shot featuring the rooftop sculpture garden and Museum exterior.

“The Armenian American Museum will be one of the most historic cultural and educational centers built in the region and we are excited to share our vision through the concept design animated tour,” said Museum Executive Committee Chairman Berdj Karapetian. “The Museum will serve students, artists, historians, and diverse audiences from across the Southern California region.”

The vision for the Armenian American Museum is a cultural campus that enriches the community, educates the public on the Armenian American story, and empowers individuals to embrace cultural diversity and speak out against prejudice.

Museum and City officials are on schedule to complete the concept design, traffic, parking, economic, and environmental studies in time for the consideration of the ground lease agreement by the Glendale City Council during the fourth quarter of 2017.

Armenian American Museum unveils design for Glendale site

December 15, 2016 By administrator

The Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center (AAM) has unveiled the Concept Design of the museum for the location across from the Central Library in downtown Glendale at a gathering of more than 400 community members at the Brandview Ballroom, Asbarez reports.

The Museum envisions an iconic design that will depict the rock formations and mountain range found in Armenia. Alajajian-Marcoosi Artchitects described the design as also capturing the sensation one gets from the San Gabriel Mountains rising to the north of Glendale.

Over the next two months, the Armenian American Museum will implement its outreach efforts to obtain feedback about the Concept Design.

In March of this year, the Glendale City Council recommended that the Armenian American Museum consider locating the Museum and Cultural Center in what is commonly known as the Central Park Block Project area in the heart of the City near the Colorado Street and Brand Boulevard intersection. An Exclusive Negotiating Agreement was executed by the City and the AAM Governing Board in the summer to initiate the process for conducting feasibility studies, developing concept designs, and negotiating ground lease and development agreements.

The City and the AAM are on schedule to complete the concept design, traffic, parking, economic, and environmental studies in time for the consideration of the ground lease agreement by the City Council during the first quarter of 2017.

The Central Park Block Project envisions the construction of a new downtown public parking structure and repurposing the parking lots located to the south and east of the Central Library to recreational uses. The Concept Design calls for constructing a museum and cultural center on top of the subterranean garage.

The unveiled Concept Design demonstrates how the exhibit galleries, halls, theater, research facilities, learning center, demonstration kitchen, and archive space will connect to each other and the outdoor covered plaza. City and Museum officials are also considering improving the large area between the Central Library and the Museum’s building into a public plaza and paseo connecting the Central Park Block to the Museum of Neon Arts and the Americana at Brand.

City officials and community organizers believe the synergy between the Armenian American Museum and the neighboring Central Library, Museum of Neon Arts, and Americana at Brand could make the downtown area an extremely appealing location for the City’s residents and tourists.

Canadian Museum for Human Rights Produces Film about Armenian Genocide

October 18, 2016 By administrator

Discussion with renowned Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan (Photo: Armenian National Committee of Canada)

TORONTO, Ontario—In partnership with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR), the Armenian National Committee of Canada co-organized the premiere of the museum’s new film about the Armenian Genocide, “Acts of Conscience: Armin T. Wegner and the Armenian Genocide” on October 13th, 2016.

The event took place at the Armenian Youth Centre of Toronto and attracted hundreds of community members and supporters of the ANCC and CMHR. The event was also attended by Peter Farenholtz, Consul General of Germany in Canada, MP Arnold Chan. Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt and Chair of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group, Councilor Jim Karygiannis, Toronto City Councilor, TDSB Trustees and a large number of activists.

After the screening of the documentary, the event featured a discussion with renowned Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan, who narrated the short documentary which will play in the Museum’s “Breaking the Silence” gallery.

Subsequently, remarks were delivered by CMHR president and CEO, John Young, MP Arnold Chan – who also read a statement from The Right Hon. Justin Trudeau – and Councilor Jim Karygiannis, Toronto city councilor. Closing remarks were delivered by ANCC president, Shahen Mirakian. In his remarks, Mirakian said that it is only through our concerted efforts that we can stay true to our commitment and carry on the legacy of Wegner by standing up against any forms of injustice towards humanity.

The film “Acts of Conscience” looks at the genocide through the lens of Armin T. Wegner, a German war medic who photographed and documented atrocities against the Armenian-Christian minority that were occurring around him in the Ottoman Empire during the first World War – including forced “death marches” through the desert. In the 1930s, Wegner also voiced his opposition to the anti-Semitic policies of the Nazis and authored an impassioned plea to Hitler on behalf of the Jews of Germany.

Compelled by his conscience to take action despite great personal risk, Wegner’s story epitomizes the importance of efforts to combat the denial and minimization that often surround gross human rights violations.

An exhibit at the CMHR explores the efforts for recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Wegner and others. In 2004, the Canadian Parliament voted to officially acknowledge and condemn the Armenian Genocide.

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian grassroots human rights organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of issues and works to eliminate abuses of human rights throughout Canada and the world.

Museum of Science opens in Armenia

September 14, 2016 By administrator

museum-science-yerevan The South Caucasus region’s first-of-its-kind Museum of Science for children openings Yerevan, Armenia on Wednesday, September 14.

The museum was established by Little Einstein initiative, aiming to boost children’s interest in science by encouraging direct contact with the samples exhibited.

Some 25 items discovering electricity, magnetism, optics, mechanics and other branches of physics are currently displayed, the museum said.

The newly-opened museum targets children above seven, as well as adults.

California Governor: Brown Signs Budget With $1 Million Earmark For Armenian American Museum

June 27, 2016 By administrator

Gov. Brown signs state budget

GLENDALE—The Armenian American Museum Governing Board said said that it commends California Governor Jerry Brown for including a $1 million earmark for the Museum in the 2016-2017 California State budget.

“The funding from the State of California at this early stage of the Museum project will give an important boost to securing the approvals and funding needed for the construction of the Armenian American Museum in Glendale,” explained Governing Board Co-Chair Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.

“We are grateful to Senate President Pro-Tempore Kevin De Leon and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon for including funding for the Armenian American Museum in the compromised Budget negotiated with the Governor,” stated Co-Chair Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.

Archbishop Mardirossian and other representatives of the Museum met with Speaker Rendon (D—Paramount) and worked with Senate President Kevin de Leon (D—Los Angeles) to include the funding request submitted by Senator Carol Liu (D—Glendale) and Assembly Member Adrin Nazarian (D—Sherman Oaks).

Although the funding included in the compromised budget between the Legislature and the Governor is lower than the amount approved by the State Assembly, the Armenian American Museum’s Executive Committee Chair Berdj Karapetian described it as “a sizeable commitment by the State to make the Armenian American Museum a reality.” Karapetian additionally noted, “This is an important first step and we hope that more funding will be available as we move forward with this project.”

The Armenian American Museum is working closely with the City of Glendale to complete the due diligence requirements and feasibility studies for building the Museum in the Arts and Entertainment District of the City.

The mission of the Armenian American Museum is to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Armenian American experience.