The ArCH Initiative
A
Program of the Armenian Society of Fellows
A Call to Action
Armenian Cultural Heritage Under Existential Threats
The Challenges
❖ Armenian cultural heritage is being actively targeted and appropriated by hostile entities
❖ Immovable heritage is at risk also in Armenia due to lack of proper norms, gaps in the legal system and poor technical capacities
❖ The importance of Armenian cultural heritage and its economic and political potential are underestimated both in Armenia and abroad
❖ Armenian Cultural Heritage is central to defining national identity and securing sovereignty
The Answer: ArCH Initiative
On December 8, 2023, the ASOF Executive Board voted to establish an Executive Committee called the Armenian Cultural Heritage Council (ArCH) charged with coordinating the initiatives aimed at the protection and promotion of Armenian Cultural Heritage locally and internationally and acting as a focal point of collaborations for all stakeholders.
The Charge
❖ Project soft power internationally in a strategic and coordinated manner; Leverage International law to protect Armenian cultural heritage whenever and wherever possible
❖ Elevate the global recognition of Armenian Cultural Heritage and expand its economic and political potential, position heritage preservation as a catalyst for tourism, job creation, and investment in Armenia
❖ Empower institutions, existing organizations, and civil society, and coordinate their efforts for maximum impact internationally; engage in training, education, and awareness raising
ArCH is unique
❖ It is first and foremost a pool of highly qualified experts — selected among a network of more than 350 scholars from ASOF plus their connections with centers of excellence globally
❖ It is focused on coalition building amongst existing entities, by virtue of its solid relations with and representation from the Armenian government and other stakeholders
❖ It adopts a participatory approach, bringing together groups to avoid duplication and coordinating efforts across government, private institutions, and civil society
❖ It is a more efficient use of existing resources in Armenia and the Diaspora, bringing in a unified approach to cultural heritage preservation and promotion in Armenia and in centers of Armenian culture around the world.
❖ Support the introduction of international standards in Armenia to promote proper preservation of cultural heritage
The ArCH Initiative
A program of the Armenian Society of Fellows
ArCH: Armenian Cultural Heritage is an independent and apolitical committee created inside ASOF dedicated to the sustainable cultural development and protection of the cultural legacy of Armenians, both within Armenia and globally.
ArCH aims to unite and enhance the efforts of all stakeholders, as a strategy for the conservation and promotion of Armenia's endangered cultural treasures and contemporary artistic endeavors –highlighting the importance of awareness and academic collaboration for a peaceful and democratic society in the face of global challenges.
Guiding Principles
ArCH recognizes the role of cultural heritage in the construction of a peaceful and democratic society, in the processes of sustainable development and in the promotion of cultural diversity as described in the Faro Convention and has among its objectives the promotion of a greater synergy of competencies among all the public and all the institutional and private, local and international actors concerned.
ArCH intends to express the views of civil society and, with the promoters of heritage preservation and valorization, to support and facilitate the implementation of activities aimed at the research, preservation, enhancement, and management of the heritage of Armenians, both in Armenia and abroad.
ArCH promotes a participatory approach, based on the notion that the responsibility towards cultural heritage should be both individual and collective. The conservation of cultural heritage and its sustainable use have been proven to be crucial for granting human development and quality of life.
Objectives
❖ Encourage academic research aimed at the proper identification, study, and safeguard of Armenian cultural and artistic heritage wherever they might be located
❖ Foster collaboration and create synergies to avoid duplication and/or replication of projects, with a focus on the fruitful integration of Armenia and the Diaspora
❖ Assist Armenian institutions in the creation, improvement, and implementation of effective legal and regulatory frameworks for cultural heritage protection/promotion
❖ Promote vocational training and school educational programs focused on culture – to foster knowledge, preservation, and production of the arts
❖ Ensure a scienti fi c approach to the preservation of monuments and artifacts and improve local expertise in Armenia
❖ Ensure efficient allocation of resources to support the design, the funding, and the implementation of quality projects,
❖ Enhance the global knowledge and appreciation of Armenian arts and culture, and ensure proper identification of Armenian masterpieces
❖ Facilitate the mobilization of those people who care and promote the involvement of civil society and the younger generations
❖ Promote the natural attractiveness of territories and increase the quality of life of their inhabitants
❖ Promote artists and creative industry
The ArCH Initiative
Four Components Working Together, Each with its Own Focused Role
ArCH is delegated to lead and develop all cultural heritage and arts related activities within ASOF. ArCH consists of:
The ArCH Council
The ArCH Council is a committee appointed by the ASOF Board with executive powers in dealing with all matters concerning Armenian cultural heritage preservation and promotion. The Council consists of 17 prominent international experts and scholars of Armenian cultural heritage. The Council acts as a strategy development point for Armenian tangible and intangible arts- and culture-related initiatives, and as an umbrella for partner organizations engaged in such work, in Armenia and throughout the world internationally. The Council’s charge includes reviewing various new and ongoing projects, and, on an annual basis, endorsing a handful of strategic initiatives.
The Council maintains three ex-officio seats for the government of Armenia: one for the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports (ESCS), another for the Parliament, and a third for the Urban Development Committee.
SIREH
SIREH — Center for the Study, Preservation and Enhancement of the Armenian Heritage, is a foundation established jointly by ASOF and Gaianè Casnati of the Centro Studi e Documentazione della Cultura Armena — an institution with 50 years long experience in promoting and protecting Armenian cultural heritage. SIREH is the execution arm of the ArCH Council, it is grounded in Armenia and charged with managing the Council’s strategy and vision. It acts as a program manager by supervising the implementation of the projects proposed by ArCH’s partner organizations and by designing and
implementing projects to fulfill ArCH’s strategies. SIREH’s Board of Directors is appointed by the ArCH Council.
Advisory Group & Task Forces
The Advisory Group is a broad group of international experts, including representatives from government agencies, NGOs, Churches, and Diasporan organizations. It is a resource for the Council in its deliberations on strategy and project endorsements. It is meant to be a dynamic group that expands in time and scope as the needs arise.
The ArCH Council also sets up small Scientific Task Forces of scholars and experts to advise specific projects implemented within the broader ArCH strategy.
Partners
ArCH works in a continuous dialogue with main heritage organizations and stakeholders, connecting the world of the cultural sector with both the private and public sectors; as well as bringing together local and international experts. This entails two types of partnerships:
Project Partners
Organizations and entities that propose and own projects, and for which ArCH serves as a coordination point.
Financial Partners & Patrons
Organizations that finance and help fundraise for ArCH Councilendorsed projects.
Governance Model & Operations
ArCH Council
❖ Assessment of needs
❖ Networking
❖ Program management
❖ Project quality control and assessment
❖ Project management for its own projects
❖ Grant preparation and submissions
❖ Training and education activities
❖ Legislative lobbying
❖ Coordination — with scientific task forces, projects, and fundraisers
❖ Promotion & public outreach Board and Director
Partners and Patrons Advisory Group
The ArCH Council, 2024-25
Appointed by the ASOF Executive Board Ar CH
Levon Abrahamian
Head of the Department of Contemporary Anthropological Studies, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia
Armenia
Eva Aroutunian
Head of the Geneva Music Conservatory, President of Association
Ensemble Paul Klee (Bern), Vice-president of Foundation SIGG (Geneva), Board Member of Geneva Music High School, Board Member of FODAC Foundation (Geneva)
Switzerland
Antonia Arslan
Writer Italy
Peter Balakian
Pulitzer prize winning poet
USA
Gaianè Casnati
Europa Nostra Council member, Centro Studi e Documentazione della Cultura Armena Board member, member of ICOMOS Armenia, Toramanyan gold medal recipient and Europa Nostra award winner
Italy
Levon Chookaszian
Director of the Chair of Art History and Theory at Yerevan State University
Armenia
Marina Djabbarzade
Heritage Management Consultant
USA
Jasmine Dum-Tragut
University of Salzburg, Armenian Studies Division (head); Center for the Study of the Christian East (director); Senior scientist in Biblical Studies and Church History; Docent in General and Applied Linguistics; Blue Shield Armenia & Austria; Adjunct Professor in Interdisciplinary Armenian Cultural Heritage Studies, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography
Austria
Atom Egoyan
Oscar-nominated writer and director (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
Canada
Talinn Grigor
Professor of Art History, University of California, Davis
USA
Nina Hovnanian (chair)
Hovnanian International, CEO Vahakni Residence; Founding Board Member, Yerevan Biennial Arts Foundation; A1 Gallery Board Member; Orran Children’s Center Board Member; Treasures of Armenia / Nina Hovnanian Couture: Founder/owner
Armenia
Christina Maranci
Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University
USA
The ArCH Council, 2024-25 (continued)
Appointed by the ASOF Executive Board
Charles Personnaz Representatives from the Armenian Government
Center for the Study, Preservation and Enhancement of the Armenian Heritage
Governance
Board of Directors
Peter Balakian
Pulitzer prize winning poet
Emma Harutyunyan
Professor, NUACA; Chair of Theory and History of Architecture and Heritage
Lucineh Kassarjian
ASOF Armenia Executive Director
Haroutioun Khatchadourian
IT and Project Management expert; independent researcher and expert on khachkars
Anna Sirinian
Professor, Università di Bologna, Department of History and Cultures; Director of First Cycle Degree in Anthropology, Religions, Oriental Civilizations
Main tasks for 2024-2025
Executive Director
Gaianè Casnati
Europa Nostra Council member, Centro Studi e Documentazione della Cultura Armena board member, 30 + years of experience in promoting the safeguard of Armenian and European monuments
❖ Supporting the implementation of ArCH projects
❖ Promoting education and training initiatives
❖ Grant writing and networking with international institutions and foundations, supporting the involvement of Armenian experts in international projects
❖ Advocating for legislation that aligns local cultural heritage practices with international norms
❖ Promoting Armenian Cultural Heritage at international events, meetings and conferences
❖ Creating the framework for future communication and public outreach activities
A Hub for Armenia
ArCH was recently invited to become the Armenian Heritage Hub in the context of the European Heritage Hub project lead by Europa Nostra. Europa Nostra is an umbrella association that puts together 250 heritage associations and foundations from all over Europe, with a combined membership of more than 5 million people. Covering over 40 countries, Europa Nostra is recognized as the largest and the most representative heritage network in Europe. It maintains close relations with the European Union, the Council of Europe, UNESCO and other international bodies.
The Centro Studi e Documentazione della Cultura Armena
Center for Study and Documentation of Armenian Culture
SIREH is a continuation of the 50 year old legacy of the Centro Studi e Documentazione della Cultura Armena (CSDCA), building on a tradition of excellence in the promotion and protection of Armenian cultural heritage.
A Historical Context
The CSDCA was established in the late 1960s by Adriano Alpago Novello together with prominent Italian and Armenian scholars, with the support of the Armenian Diaspora, especially the family of Onnik Manoukian who had contributed to the restoration of Surp Hripsimé Church as early as 1965.
The CSDCA has played a pioneering role in the study, documentation, and conservation of Armenian heritage. From its inception, the CSDCA has fostered meaningful collaborations with prestigious academic institutions such as the Politecnico di Milano and Università Cattolica, and has worked closely with the Academy of Sciences of Armenia. This Italian-Armenian synergy laid the groundwork for landmark projects, including exhibitions on Armenian architecture, the translation of seminal works like Toramanian's "Elements of Armenian Architecture", the publication of a series of richly illustrated monographs, Documenti di Architettura Armena, and the organization of international Symposia on
Armenian art that had a crucial role in presenting Armenia to Europe and vice versa.
Over the decades, the CSDCA has expanded its efforts to the restoration of significant Armenian monuments, such as the cathedral of Marmashen and Ererouyk Basilica. Its dedication to academic research, capacity building, and public awareness has connected experts from Italy, Armenia, France, and beyond, and earned recognition from institutions like Europa Nostra and the Armenian Ministry of Culture. Through training programs, like those at the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia (NUACA), the CSDCA has also been instrumental in fostering new generations of heritage professionals.
A Europa Nostra member since 2015, the CSDCA promoted the participation of Armenian experts in the Europa Nostra programs and initiatives.
To further improve the dialogue and collaboration with Armenian institutions and civil society, and to make its role more effective in promoting international cooperation in the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage, the CSDCA joined the ArCH initiative and cofounded with ASOF SIREH, Center for the Study, Preservation and Enhancement of Armenian Cultural Heritage to convey its expertise to ArCH.
SIREH
Center for the Study, Preservation and Enhancement of the Armenian Heritage
SIREH projects for 2024-2025
Armenian Heritage Management System
❖ Publishing a book on the immovable heritage of Artsakh to be funded by Getty Trust
Armenian Heritage Hub
❖ Mapping Armenian heritage organizations, assessing their needs, and promoting their inclusion in the Europa Nostra network in coordination with the European Heritage Hub of Athens
❖ Publishing a study on Armenian legislation for cultural heritage
❖ Promoting the inclusion of Armenian sites in the 7 Most Endangered scheme of Europa Nostra and promoting the submission of Armenian projects for the Europa Nostra award 2025
❖ Allowing the participation of Armenia in the European project MERITA with the organization of concerts of a European quartet in Armenia
Enhanced Monument Preservation
❖ Organizing training and supervising the implementation of the preservation works for the basilica and the mausoleum of Ererouyk with the MESCS
❖ Supporting the organization of the Master in Monuments Preservation at NUACA with the promotion of workshops with international experts (i.e. digitization of Armenian epigraphy, seismic retrofitting of built heritage, budgeting preservation works, monuments preservation, etc)
❖ Preparing project proposals to the Small Grant Scheme of the American Embassy (education at Ererouyk; study of frescoes at Ererouyk with the Getty Trust)
❖ Supporting the Politecnico di Milano and the Fondazione Politecnico in the submission of a proposal for the preservation of an Armenian monastery affected by climate change (Kobayr)
Smaller projects
❖ Initiating a program for Wikipedia with Armenian high schools
❖ Designing a project for the realization of specialized first aid/ maintenance work on small monuments in remote communities
❖ Supporting the organization of a program for Environmental studies at NUACA with the University of Strasbourg
❖ Supporting small Armenian heritage organizations with small grants
SIREH Annual Operational Budget
Total: $84,000
A lean and expert operation
❖ director
❖ assistant
❖ accountant
❖ logistical support for activities and communication
The Armenian Society of Fellows P.
Société Savante Arménienne Bibliothèque Nubar, 11 Sq. Alboni, 75016 Paris, France
asof.am