Last year, the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), with the support of the Vahē & Lucie Foundation, hosted seven dynamic art workshops at the COAF SMART Center. These workshops aimed to spark a passion for art among Lori youth and foster the region’s artistic development.
Covering a range of areas, including performing arts, digital drawing, dance, musical instruments, vocals, sound design, and drawing, these workshops achieved remarkable success. Esteemed industry professionals from Armenia and abroad, such as Serge Avedikian, Henry Hovhannisyan, Arina Araratyan, Miqayel Voskanyan, Gor Sujyan, Eduard Peshtmaljyan, and Kevork Mourad, led the sessions. Their dedication and expertise enabled COAF SMART Center students to rapidly hone their artistic skills. Participants were selected from the center’s programs, showcasing the best of their talents.
Building on this initiative, COAF and the Vahē & Lucie Foundation launched an art competition titled “Armenian Modernization” for Lori children ages 11 to 18. The inspiration for integrating art into the SMART Citizenship education system hails from the medieval Sanahin University, where seven liberal arts were taught in the 11th century. Today, a millennium later, COAF, supported by the Vahē & Lucie Foundation, revives these traditions, promoting the arts and propelling Armenian culture into the modern era.
The competition drew 231 entries from over 20 Lori localities, resulting in 52 winners. The aim was to spark interest and awareness for professional pathways in the arts. Winners were announced across seven categories and two age groups, with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards and honorable mentions.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants, the professional jury, our special guest artists, and the COAF team. A special highlight of the award ceremony was the inaugural “SMART Graduate of the Year” title, awarded to the exceptionally talented Nvard Petrosyan.
Join us in celebrating the artistic journey of Lori’s youth, and stay tuned for more inspiring stories of creativity and growth!
