RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan and Deputy Minister Arthur Martirosyan visited Tumo Studios at Aram 44 street, toured the workshops, and familiarized themselves with the conditions. Marie Lou Papazian, Director of the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, accompanied them.
Tumo Studios are designed for university-aged youth with a passion for artisanship and design. In particular, workshops, courses, and lectures are organized in fashion, jewellery making, embroidery, pottery, printing, and product design. The program is designed for individuals aged 18 to 28. Currently around 1,200 participants are enrolled.
The content of the educational programs, the admissions procedure, and the selection criteria were presented to ESCS Minister Zhanna Andreasyan. The Minister highlighted the significance of the structure's activities, emphasizing: “This project primarily changes our attitude towards crafts as part of our cultural heritage and reaffirms that, with their deep roots, they remain fashionable and contemporary today.”
The Minister attached particular importance to the potential collaboration of the Tumo Studios with vocational education institutions, such as colleges, as well as with museums, specifically for the purpose of organizing and promoting souvenir shops. Reference was made to the Armenian Cultural Heritage Institute's Armenian heritage scanning program, highlighting the digitization process as an important prerequisite for the preservation and dissemination of heritage. Future initiatives and prospects for cooperation were also discussed with leading organizations in the field.
Note that admission to Tumo Studios is conducted in two stages throughout the year. Each technical course has its schedule. Upon application, students have the opportunity to choose their course schedule and to attend more than one course at a time.