Stories That Change the World and the Future

The third annual COAF × Vahé & Lucie Foundation arts collaboration.

Topics ranged from Thomas Edison’s inventions to artificial intelligence, from the art of Frida Kahlo and Coco Chanel to the music of Michael Jackson. There were 560 applicants, 7 competitive categories (dance, vocal, digital drawing, sound design, painting, theater arts, music), and 89 winners. This was how we wrapped up the third awards ceremony for the third COAF and the Vahe and Lucy Foundation’s co-organised arts competition.

Titled “Stories That Change the World and the Future”, the culminating evening of a months-long arts competition took place at the SMART Center in Lori. SMART students and teenagers from Lori ages 11–18 presented their stories of changing the world and the future through both individual and group entries.

The competition was preceded by workshops covering six areas of study in the SMART educational program. They were led by local experts as well as specialists from different countries. SMART field trips were also organized in between the workshops.

This year introduced several innovations to the program. First, informational visits were conducted in non-COAF beneficiary communities, including villages in the Tashir and Spitak regions, to raise awareness of the arts competition and encourage more youth to apply.

Also, and at the request of many applicants, the vocal category was reinstated.

Talented SMART alumni were not forgotten this year either, with a special category created specifically for them.

For the third consecutive year, COAF has successfully partnered with the Vahe and Lucy Foundation, whose mission is to promote the arts and encourage youth to pursue it.

“The competition is a strong launchpad for all art-enthusiast teenagers in Lori. Through this initiative, we aim to make SMART’s resources accessible to 11–18-year-olds across nearly 60 communities in Lori,” says Metaksyia Davtyan, manager of the Lori SMART Center, adding that the cash prizes help to show that it is possible to earn an income in the future through art—an equally important message.