KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

The 23rd General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 10 to 18 August. The event brought together participants

 from about 103 countries, including delegates from five Armenian museums who represented the Museum of Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU), Museum of Hovhannes Tumanyan, Memorial-Museum of Avetik Isahakyan, Museum of Russian Art and Yerevan History Museum.

 

 On the sidelines of the event, the Armenian representatives had an opportunity to communicate and exchange experience with museologists from Mexico (Lourdes Monges, ICOM Chairperson in Mexico), Ecuador (Jorge Albuja), USA, Argentina, Albania, France and other countries of the world who presented the work underway at the museums of their home countries.

 

During the seven-day meetings, the participants of the conference presented through posters and exhibitions the activities of the museums. 

 

Alvard Grigoryan, Director of the ASPU Museum, presented the activity of ASPU’s three-dimensional museum during the ICOM Rio 2013 General Conference which received the Council’s approval. The members of the Council shared the opinion of ASPU Rector Rouben Mirzakhanyan that each visitor of the Museum should be filled with a sense of pride after visiting the ASPU Museum and familiarizing with the history and traditions of the Armenian University.

 

While in Brazil, Alvard Grigoryan also met with members and chairpersons of the International Committee for Education and Cultural Action (CECA) and other committees to discuss avenues for further collaboration. Also, an agreement was reached to organize international workshops and exhibitions in Yerevan within the framework of the joint conference of CECA and YUMAK to be held in Alexandria in 2014.

 

“Participation in the conference was very important for us in view of developing museum activities in our country, ensuring exchange of international experience and organizing our future activities more effectively,” said Alvard Grigoryan. She was glad to say that the ICOM administration and representatives of different countries expressed a good opinion about the ICOM National Committee of Armenia which, as she said, was both pleasant and binding.

 

During their stay in Brazil, the Armenian delegates also visited the museums and places of interest of Rio de Janeiro.