RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan received today a delegation led by Laurent Le Bon, President of the Georges Pompidou National Center for Art and Culture in Paris.

ESCS Deputy Ministers Arthur Martirosyan and Alfred Kocharyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France to the Republic of Armenia Olivier Decottignies, and Director of the National Gallery of Armenia Marina Hakobyan attended the meeting.

A memorandum of cooperation has been signed between the National Gallery of Armenia and the Georges Pompidou National Center for Art and Culture in Paris.

Welcoming the guests, Zhanna Andreasyan highlighted that the friendly relations between Armenia and France are particularly strong, with culture serving as one of their key pillars. The Minister expressed gratitude for the ongoing and productive cooperation, emphasizing that new opportunities are being created to further strengthen Armenia–France cultural ties.

Zhanna Andreasyan also emphasized the significance of strengthening cooperation between the Georges Pompidou National Center for Art and Culture and the National Gallery of Armenia and organizing joint exhibitions.

The Minister also emphasized the holding of a retrospective screening of the films of Harutyun Khachatryan, a filmmaker, founder of the Golden Apricot International Film Festival, and president of the Union of Filmmakers of Armenia, at the Georges Pompidou Center in Paris, evaluating it as an important step towards the international recognition of Armenian cinema and strengthening cultural dialogue.

Zhanna Andreasyan informed that with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, since September 21 of last year, the History Museum of Armenia has been hosting an international exhibition entitled “Sacred Dialogues: from the Louvre to the History Museum of Armenia”, which has generated great interest among the public. The parties also discussed opportunities for advancing cooperation in the museum sector, particularly in the areas of collection conservation and restoration. Discussion also covered improving storage conditions, the exchange of experience and professional expertise between restoration laboratories, the implementation of training programs and the development of professional skills.

Laurent le Bon expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and the meaningful discussion. He presented the scope of activities of the Georges Pompidou National Center for Art and Culture in Paris, also touching on the valuable heritage of the renowned Armenian painter and sculptor Yervand Kochar, which is housed at the Center. Laurent Le Bon expressed his willingness to continuously enrich and develop the Armenian collection, enhancing professional collaboration. He also noted that he was impressed by his visits to cultural institutions and sights in Armenia and excited by the prospect of collaboration with the National Gallery of Armenia.

Under the memorandum of cooperation signed between the National Gallery of Armenia and Georges Pompidou National Center for Art and Culture in Paris, the parties plan to organize joint exhibitions in Armenia, as well as in France, to implement cultural and educational programs of mutual interest, including conferences, workshops, round tables and professional discussions. Exchange and training programs for specialists are also planned, promoting reciprocal visits and experience exchange among researchers, exhibition curators and other specialists.

The memorandum of cooperation was signed by Marina Hakobyan, Director of the National Gallery of Armenia, and Laurent Le Bon, President of the Georges Pompidou National Center for Art and Culture