KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

This year Armenia has joined the pan-European event “The Night of Museums” for the tenth time. 2014 is a jubilee for the pan-European event as it marks the 10th anniversary of the project.

For the second year in a row, Armenian State Pedagogical University has joined the Night at the Museum project held under the motto “Ties are created by museum collections.”

In the name of the Rector’s Office, ASPU Vice-Rector for Educational and Scientific Affairs Ms. Srbuhi Gevorgyan congratulated visitors, wishing them a pleasant and interesting day at the University Museum. She emphasized the importance of museums as cultural, educational and research links. 

The Vice-Rector reminded that in the 19th century museums were engaged in research activities and in the 20th century they became centres of pedagogical activities. “Similar events help present museum resources to the public and attract more visitors to museums” she said. 

Within the framework of the Night at Museums event, ASPU also hosted Consul General of Armenia to Batumi Aram Grigoryan, who put on display the collection of puppets and Armenian national costume known as garb (taraz) made by his family. The 51-year-old collection consisting of at least 30 puppets was presented to the public for the first time. 

Aram Grigoryan congratulated everyone on the occasion. He did not conceal his amazement and admiration for the University Museum equipped with modern technology and the image of Khachatur Abovyan who ‘welcomes’ visitors against the background of Masis. 

The Consul General said the Museum presents the University’s history and the people who created that history in a new light which was impossible to do in the past. 

Students of the Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Geography presented the dolls and interesting facts about customs and life of the corresponding country - from European to Eastern civilization.

 Also, visitors had an opportunity to admire the works of students of the Faculty of Art Education which were showcased at the University hall, as well as the beautiful performance of the University pipe and kanon players. 

Among the displayed exhibits were also the dolls made by pupils of Secondary School of Dzoraghbyur community and one pupil of Zovk community: the four ritual puppets presented traditional and contemporary approaches. The schoolchildren introduced the puppets symbolizing different national holidays through songs and dances.

The series of events continued with the dazzling display of clothes made my students of the Department of Decorative and Applied Art – models stepped up to the podium to represent a combination of taste and skills, with ethnic and contemporary nuances.

At the end of the day, APSU students and graduates gave a training course to children, showing them different ways of making national puppets. 

Besides, Lecturer David Paryan, a graduate of Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture, accompanied by a group of students organized teaching of old Armenian games in the backyard of the University, with the aim of reviving old games and emphasizing their importance and place in the physical culture.