RA ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan and Head of the European Union Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos visited the Armenian office of “Creative Europe” and got acquainted with the work carried out in 2023 and upcoming programs.

ESCS Deputy Ministers Arthur Martirosyan and Daniel Danielyan also participated in the visit to the Office.

Within the framework of the visit, Head of the “Creative Europe” Armenian Office Sona Hovhannisyan introduced the key achievements.

Program Coordinator Ani Hovsepyan presented the Office activities aligned with its strands and the outcomes achieved.

It was noted that between 2023 and July 2024, the website www.creativeeurope.am was relaunched, and pages were created on social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Individual meetings were held with more than 80 organizations and individual creators, and a regularly updated information database was created (museums, festivals, theatres, libraries, publishers, artists, etc.).

During the specified timeframe, around 10 applications were submitted to medium and large-scale cooperation projects of the EU “Culture” department, and 30 group and individual applications were submitted under the “Culture Moves Europe” individual mobility action. The winner from Armenia was “Yerevan Music Week” project. The results of the “Perform Europe 2024” program have also been summarized. About 2.1 million euros will be awarded to 42 performing arts partnerships to implement various projects and promote performing artworks in the countries of “Creative Europe”.

RA ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan expressed gratitude to the Armenian Office of “Creative Europe” representatives for the work done and the efforts made. The ESCS Minister also thanked the EU delegation to Armenia represented by Ambassador Vassilis Maragos for productive collaboration, which ensures Armenia's participation in various European platforms.

“Progress is really noticeable, which is very important. We consider it a priority to submit more applications for participation, and in this regard, we need to understand the main issues and challenges the applicants face in participating in the programs,” said the Minister.

According to her, the Ministry is willing to discuss the enhancement of support in this direction, which will further expand the opportunities for participation in the program from Armenia and ensure higher participation from regions.

The ESCS Minister also highlighted the alignment of programs and initiatives from young creators and groups with the RA Strategy for Preservation, Development, and Promotion of Culture 2023-2027.

“Engaging and ensuring the participation of a greater number of creators is a priority. Moreover, the participants can collaborate on a shared application on the same topic, which, I think, will enhance their chances of winning,” said the ESCS Minister.

Head of the EU Delegation, Vassilis Maragos, also greeted the participants and thanked them for the work carried out, highlighting the efficiency of cultural cooperation with Armenia.

“The “Creative Europe” offices aim to enhance intercultural relations in European cultural spaces, increase program awareness, enhance the capacities of cultural structures and individuals, and build partnerships. I am sure that we will contribute to achieving these goals through our joint work,” said Vassilis Maragos.

The ‘Creative Europe” Armenian office has been operating since 2023 based on the “Agreement for the Participation of the Republic of Armenia in the “Creative Europe” Program (2021-2027) between Armenia and the EU”, ratified in December 2022.

Note that the new call for participants of the "Culture Moves Europe" program will be launched on August 1. The program provides mobility grants to artists and cultural professionals in the fields of architecture, cultural heritage, design and fashion, literary translation, music, performing and visual arts.