Nine cultural projects in Armenia will receive a total of $256,011 from the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation. The grants, awarded for the second-quarter 2025 cycle, support both creative new works and institutions that sustain Armenia’s cultural life for the long term. This cycle drew a record 263 applications, underscoring both the demand for and vitality of cultural programming in Armenia. Many of the selected grantees are state and community institutions, reflecting a growing effort to strengthen local infrastructure while fostering artistic innovation.
Preserving Heritage & Telling Stories
Several projects will focus on safeguarding Armenia’s tangible and intangible heritage. Culture for Democracy will document 15 endangered traditional songs from Artsakh by recording, transcribing, and archiving them, culminating in a music video and public concert. The Factum Documentary Center will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Great Repatriation of 1946–49 with a multimedia exhibition featuring oral histories, archival records, and film, accessible both in person and online.
In Gyumri, the Avetik Isahakyan Museum will undergo long-needed renovations, including new display cases, restored windows, and improved floors and lighting. These upgrades will protect its collections while creating a brighter, more welcoming space for visitors. In Old Khndzoresk, Save Armenian Monuments will restore historic trails and add facilities such as benches and rest stops, improving safety and accessibility as the site develops into a hub for cultural tourism.
Expanding Spaces For Performance & Creation
Several theaters and cultural institutions will upgrade their facilities to better serve artists and audiences. The Yerevan State Chamber Theater will equip a new hall with lighting and sound systems to launch a year-round program for young directors, including training, mentorship, and productions. The Abovyan Dramatic Theater will purchase and install a modern lighting system and projector, enhancing technical quality and boosting attendance.
In Lori, the Sos Sargsyan Palace of Culture in Stepanavan will receive upgraded lighting and sound systems, expected to increase the number of annual events by at least 30 percent and strengthen community engagement.
Innovating In Education & The Arts
The Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences will produce an educational animated film, ‘Vahag and the Dragon,’ in collaboration with OnOff Animation Studio. The project also includes youth awareness campaigns and booklets on Armenia’s ancient Vishapakar (Dragon Stones). Meanwhile, the Komitas Conservatory will partially furnish its library, with additional funding still needed to complete the space and enhance its research and learning environment for students and faculty.
Strengthening Armenia’s Cultural Landscape
“These projects demonstrate the richness and diversity of Armenia’s cultural sector,” said Anahit Hakobyan, (Grants) Program Manager at the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation. “We are proud to support innovative new projects and longstanding institutions that safeguard and transmit our cultural heritage. The record number of applications shows the strength of Armenia’s artistic community and its determination to grow.”
Full details of the Foundation’s grant program and future calls are available at: hovnanianfoundation.org/en/armenia-grants
About The H. Hovnanian Family Foundation
The H. Hovnanian Family Foundation was established in 1986 by American-Armenian philanthropists Hirair and Anna Hovnanian. Since its founding, the Foundation has earmarked over $100 million for hundreds of initiatives and projects for charitable, educational, scientific, cultural, and related purposes, with a primary focus on assisting Armenian communities worldwide, as well as organizations in Monmouth and Ocean Counties in New Jersey.
