RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan attended the closing event of the “Katapult” Creative Accelerator Program and the release of an exclusive edition of “Yerevan” magazine.

ESCS Deputy Ministers Arthur Martirosyan and Daniel Danielyan and EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos also attended the event.

The “Katapult” Creative Accelerator Program was launched in 2022 in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of the Republic of Armenia and the European Union Delegation to Armenia.

The program aims to foster the growth of an ecosystem of cultural and creative industries in Armenia and to enhance the professional and networking skills of self-employed artists. Supporting the creative economy stems from the priorities outlined in the 2023-2027 RA Strategy for the Preservation, Development, and Popularization of Culture, as well as the Government's Action Plan for 2021-2026.

The partners of the EU-funded program, implemented in cooperation with the Armenian Office of AGBU, are also RA Ministries of Economy and High-tech Industry.

ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan thanked her colleagues for the cooperation that commenced 3 years ago, which, according to her, is changing attitudes towards culture. “The progress we have made enables us to have the confidence to tackle new challenges at each subsequent stage. In the field of creative industry, today, we can already talk about a new phase that should lead to publicly visible changes in the cultural sector. It is obvious that we drastically need to change the attitude of society towards culture, and, in this regard, collaborative efforts aim to increase the self-sufficiency of culture,” said Zhanna Andreasyan, emphasizing that the cultural sector may become one of the most significant driving forces in both society and the economy.

She emphasized that the “Katapult” Creative Accelerator Program reflects various layers of society in all its diversity and is accessible to all those who have good thoughts and ideas and are looking for a way to implement them.

In his welcoming remarks, EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos emphasized that the program has the objective to develop important components for Armenia's society and economy and aims to promote talent, innovation, and creativity. Armenia is a significant part of European culture and is recognized worldwide primarily for its rich cultural heritage, as well as for the talent and creativity of its people. We are here to support this process,” stated EU Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, noting that although the “Katapult” program is coming to an end, cooperation aimed at strengthening cultural ties will continue and become stronger.

The “Catapult” Accelerator Program was launched with a series of educational seminars - “ArtExpo” exhibition-sale, the “Artbox” sub-program implemented with “Creative Armenia”, a database of beneficiaries of the sector was formed, a needs assessment and economic analysis report on the “Cultural and Creative Ecosystem of the Republic of Armenia” was prepared, and the signing of numerous memoranda of understanding, which facilitated the establishment of fab labs in Yerevan and Gyumri.

In the past three years, thanks to the “Artbox” sub-program, numerous cultural organizations in Yerevan and the regions of Armenia have received support grants that have facilitated the development of their needs, the implementation of innovative programs and ideas, and the provision of technical re-equipment. In the scope of the mentioned program, grants were received by the G. Sundukyan National Academic Theatre (the “Panno” art house and cafe was established), the Henrik Igityan National Center for Aesthetics (the “Arthub” was established, the Universal Studio will open soon), the H. Sharambeyan Museum of Folk Arts, the Yeghishe Charents House-Museum, the Matenadaran, the Gyumri Technology Centre, the Koghb Art School, the Kajaran Culture House and the Kitchen Lab, the National Cinema Center of Armenia, the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia, and the National Archives of Armenia.