From Urartian burnished wine jugs to Kochar’s Painting in Space and Kond’s street art, Armenian art is majestic and vital, representing a nation that went through war and peace, repressions and revival.The exhibitions at the museums, galleries, and famous Vernissage in Armenia celebrate the Armenian culture's long-lasting legacy and diversity. Colorful and impressive, these collections include manuscripts, textiles, khachkars (cross stones), ceramics and jewellery that mainly attest a Christian world.Illuminated ManuscriptsThe Matenadaran, Institute of Ancient Manuscripts in Yerevan will impress you with an unmatched collection of ancient books and manuscripts. Today, it houses about 20 000 illuminated manuscripts. These are handwritten books with painted miniatures and ornaments usually containing precious metals such as gold or silver. The pages were made from the skin of animals, usually calf, sheep, or goat. The Matenadaran's most ancient manuscript is Vehamor Gospel (Our Lady's Evangelium) that dates back to the 8th century.Msho CharentirThe Matenadaran's greatest treasure is the giant book, Msho Charentir that was created between 1200 and 1203. Mush's Homilies in English, it is the largest manuscript in this series, 55.5 cm wide and 70 cm long, weighing 28 kg.It was kept in Arakelots Monastery, present-day eastern Turkey until 1915. During the Armenian Genocide, two Armenian women saved the manuscript by dividing it into two parts and bringing to Eastern Armenia. It is rich in miniatures whose colors are vibrant as if the ornaments were newly painted.Carpets and rugsOnce saw, always loved. Armenian carpets and rugs hold centuries-long traditions, values and stories that have been passed down from generation to generation.It is difficult to imagine a traditional Armenian home without carpets. Before and now, Armenian carpets are made of high-quality wool and dyed with natural colors (flowers and vordan karmir, a carmine dye from a scale insect). Each region and province has its specific style, design and diverse ornaments that mostly depict the tree of life, flowers, birds and horses.The world’s oldest rugThe oldest surviving knotted carpet is the Pazyryk rug, incredibly excavated in Siberian frozen tombs and now exhibited at the Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia. It dates from the 5th to 3rd century BC. Many experts find this square tufted carpet, almost completely intact, to be of distinctly Armenian origin.If you want to take a piece of Armenia home, you can buy a carpet or rug at Megerian Carpets or Vernissage, an open-air market in Yerevan. Megerian Carpets offers a unique opportunity to explore the history of Armenian carpet weaving, cuisine and music.Taraz – Armenian folk costumeLike carpets and rugs, Armenian traditional dresses mirror the vivid and warm colors of Armenia’s nature and symbols and values locals have cherished for centuries.Though these dresses are no longer worn in Armenia, you can visit Vernissage, Teryan Cultural Center and Photo Atelier Marashlyan to discover the story behind garments and jewellery. There are many variations of a folk costume on the basic styles depending on the area, class identity and fashion. You might even know the marital status of a person by the dress and accessories they wore. A married woman used to wear a ‘tower’, head accessory that was more intricate and covered half her forehead. The first basic materials were wool and cotton, while the majority of the accessories were made of silver.Armenian artistsArmenian contemporary art often has elements from the illumination of medieval religious manuscripts. Diverse in genres and concepts, these artworks reflect the bright spirit of Armenians and captivating scenery they live and thrive in.To make the most of your time in Armenia, make sure you visit the National Gallery of Armenia, and multiple museums that showcase works by Armenian and foreign artists. Here is a short list of artists you should get to know better during your stay in Armenia:Vardges Sureniants is officially deemed the founder of historical Armenian painting. His paintings' key themes include Armenian legends and myths, fascinating historical events, characters, and fairy tales.Martiros Saryan is one of the notable Armenian painters ever. His masterpieces depict Armenia and its nature with a most vibrant palette.Minas Avetisyan’s canvases and frescoes will immerse you into the rural life of Armenians, depicting the true Armenian spirit and charm – colorful, warm and peaceful.Arshil Gorky, along with Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning and others is regarded as one of the influential leaders of abstract expressionism.Ervand Kochar is a founder of the Painting in Space art movement that combines all the possibilities of painting, graphic and sculpture.Apart from the National Gallery, Saryan’s and Kochar’s museums, Sergei Parajanov Museum, Modern Art Museum and several others, Yerevan is home to a unique collection of modern art exhibited at the Cafesjian Center for the Arts. The center brings together an impressive variety of artworks by such renowned contemporary artists as Botero, Libenský and Brychtová, Chihuly, Khanjian and others.

In recent years Armenia has vigorously accepted the prospects and possibilities of the digital age. Armenia’s intellectual potential puts the country in a prime position to achieve a global tech hub status. TUMO Center for Creative Technologies is a key step in these efforts to integrate state-of-the-art technology with local cultural values to provide free education to young people.  It all started with a dreamEstablished in Yerevan in 2011, TUMO Center for Creative Technologies is a non-profit initiative of Sam and Sylva Simonian, a Lebanese Armenian couple who now live in the United States and work in the field of information technology. The Simonians aimed to educate Armenian teens and empower them with 21st-century skills.The center got its name from Tumanyan Park (named after Hovhannes Tumanyan, a prominent Armenian poet) where it is located.The winning formula for non-school education used by TUMO is now exported. The first two international centers opened in Paris and Beirut in 2018, with new centers expected to open in Tirana, Berlin, Tokyo, and Kyiv soon.Today, TUMO has centers in Yerevan, Gyumri, Dilijan, and Stepanakert, with the team planning to add two new locations in the village of Koghb and Masis.Unrivaled learning experiencesTUMO's teaching approach is highly innovative: it merges tech and art, delivering independent learning activities (e-learning), hands-on workshops, and project labs. From graphic design to animation, film production and game development to programming and 3D modeling, TUMO's curriculum includes 14 major specializations for school-age children. Students develop a variety of transferable skills ranging from creative thinking, teamwork to empathy, and effective communication.Find out more about Computer Science and Information Technology Degree Programs in Armenia.Around 19,000 students currently attend TUMO centers. They have had several opportunities to engage in workshops led by Armenian and foreign experts and business representatives.  Celebrities and politicians also like to visit TUMO when they are in Yerevan.  Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Angela Merkel, Serj Tankian, Goran Bregovic, Charles Aznavour, John Malkovich, and others have been TUMO’s guests. Many delivered master classes and lectures sharing insights on technology and art with students. 

UWC Dilijan is 14th among the UWC movement's 18 schools and colleges. A group of investors and entrepreneurs with a shared vision founded the school in 2014, welcoming young people from diverse geographies, cultures and history backgrounds. Now these young people live, study and grow together in the beautiful Dilijan forest on the northeast tip of Armenia.UWC Dilijan brings cultures togetherToday, UWC Dilijan is a two-year pre-university school with a community of over 230 students and 400 graduates from 105 countries, 80 staff members and 40 teachers from 15 countries. The school and students have easily got involved in the community and continue to have significant influence in the Tavush region and throughout Armenia.Aligned with the UWC Mission: “To make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future,” UWC Dilijan teaches the International Baccalaureate Diploma, one of the most recognized and respected high-school diplomas in the world.Its admissions policy strives to make UWC Dilijan affordable because they want to bring the brilliant students to the school regardless of their financial circumstances.Learn more about bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in Armenia.The faculty includes about 40 experts from 15 nations. This is the cornerstone of the school - education that does not recognize nationality or religion.Four generations of alumni from 2016 to 2019 many of whom continue their education at leading universities worldwide – Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Columbia, UCL, Duke, Berkeley, McGill, University of Edinburgh, Minerva School at KGI and more.UWC Dilijan offers students the opportunity to embrace a whole education — robust learning experiences including curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities that help them develop their strengths and reach their potential.Dilijan is transforming Dilijan is transforming into an educational and cultural hub in Armenia, where UWC Dilijan has played a crucial role in empowering locals to start their family businesses and contribute to the economic development of the city.Designed with the spirit of creativity and use of the top-notch technology, the UWC Dilijan building has educational and leisure facilities, labs, and separate residential buildings. Tourist companies have added the school to their itineraries, bringing tourists from around the world to enjoy the city’s untouched beauty and lush green surroundings.Dilijan is a truly amazing place to visit. If you want to know what you can see and do there, check this post. 

Armenia has hosted several major events that have brought together tens of thousands of participants from across the globe. WCIT 2019 and World's First AI ConcertTop technology and business leaders from around the world ascended in Yerevan, Armenia for the 23rd World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2019) on October 6-9, 2019.Focused on the Power of Decentralization: Promise and Peril, this year’s conference became one of the most comprehensive discussions on technology and its impact on society in the 40-year history of the WCIT, said Yvonne Chiu, Head of WITSA, organizer of WCIT series.Kim Kardashian, Alex Chung, GIPHY CEO, Gary Vaynerchuk, Alexis Ohanian, Founder of Reddit, and IBM, Pixar, Yandex, Ericsson and Boston Consulting Group delegates how tech is changing the environment and our lives, both for the better or the worse.WCIT 2019 included panel sessions on governance, economy and security, democracy, support for creative tech startups and the problems of 'increased' humanity. Arkady Volozh, Yandex Founder and CEO, shared thoughts about the future of transport in mega-cities and drones. Kim Kardashian spoke about her SKIMS lingerie brand and her hopes to move the production to Armenia.Find out more about Engineering and Technology Degree Programs in Armenia.The event opened with the World’s first AI concert on Sunday evening at Yerevan's landmark Republic Square. The orchestra, which included over 100 musicians from all 15 countries that have hosted WCIT during its 40-year history, played under the tutelage of renowned Armenian maestro Sergey Smbatyan. The musicians played classical music composed in real-time by AI technology, derived from the musical DNA of all the 15 countries. A set by the electronic music pioneer Armin Van Buuren completed the show.Francophonie Congress 2018A full-fledged member of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) since 2008, Armenia was one of the first non-francophone countries to be granted such an honour as hosting a Francophonie Summit.The 17th international summit gathered the French-speaking community in Yerevan on October 07-12, 2018 though there are just around 10,000 French-speakers among Armenia’s three million population.The two-day meeting attracted 100 delegations from OIF states and governments, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.The delegations included representatives from Belgium, Switzerland, Haiti, Niger, Mali, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Gabon, Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Ecuador, and the Central African Republic and many other countries. In his speech, French President Emanuel Macron thanked the Prime Minister of Armenia adding: "You know how deep your country is in the hearts of the French. In the souls of the French people in Paris, Marseilles, Lyon or elsewhere, the word Armenia evokes very delicate and touching feelings."Now Armenia chairs the summit before the 18th Francophonie Summit is held in Tunis, Tunisia, in 2020, marking the 50th anniversary of the International Francophonie Organization.

The 2018 Velvet Revolution in Armenia that swept Serzh Sargsyan from power and brought Nikol Pashinyan to power as Prime Minister marked the beginning of ongoing major cultural, legal, political and educational reforms.Armenians dubbed the revolution ‘velvet and non-violent’. As many say, this is a unique revolution in every sense. It is the first full-on revolution in a post-Soviet state that legitimately boiled up from the streets, free of influence from outside forces.Following the revolution in 2018, The Economist named Armenia as its country of the year, saying ‘the South Caucasus nation has a chance of democracy and renewal after street protests led to a peaceful change of government’.The country’s economy has grown steadily over the past two years, by eliminating corruption at the highest levels of government, modernizing and simplifying investment regulations. Doctors, teachers, servicemen, social workers, and lecturers regularly receive pay raises.Impact on the educational systemMore than 20 memoranda were signed between employers and institutions of primary and secondary vocational education. As a result, universities and colleges are now training specialists for these organizations, creating new professions while private sector companies are supplying technical equipment and laboratories for students.The current interest rates for student loans are set at 6% for undergraduate students while postgraduate students will pay 7% interest rate. The maximum amount a student can borrow increased by over 30%.Armenia and the European Union signed five agreements regarding education, justice, democracy, territorial development and economy, with a total value of EUR 36 million.

The main religion in Armenia is Christianity and it is practised through the Armenian Apostolic Church. And, yes, Armenia was the first country to make Christianity its official religion in 301 AD. Holy apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew preached Christianity in Armenia and now the Armenian Apostolic Church honours them as its patron saints. For more than 1700 years the Armenian Apostolic Church had preserved the nation’s culture and identity in Armenia and abroad, in the Diaspora, serving as ‘the depository of patriotism and faith’. The Armenian Church is still united in all its values, principles, ideas and attitudes although Armenians are scattered all over the world. Interestingly, the Jerusalem Patriarchate and the Constantinople Patriarchate were established based on the Armenian Apostolic Religion.Armenia was the first kingdom to officially convert to Christianity in 301 AD.Thousands of old and modern churches, monasteries, and monastic complexes throughout Armenia are among the major tourist attractions in the region. The principal church complex in Armenia is the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, with the Etchmiadzin Cathedral built in 301-303 AD. The Armenian Apostolic Church is a member of the World Council of Churches and has close relationships with all Christian churches, particularly the Catholic Church.In 2001, as a token of unity between the Apostolic and Catholic Churches, Pope John Paul II visited Armenia, and in 2016 Armenians were honoured to welcome Pope Francis.Though Christianity is dominant, a relatively large number of adherents of other different churches live here. Armenia has always welcomed foreigners and people of other religions. The country's constitution guarantees freedom of religion for all people and protects personal religious rights.In Armenia today there are the Russian Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches, Jewish Synagogue and Shiite Blue Mosque which opened in 1768 and is one of Armenia's favourite places for Shiite Muslims. During the Persian rule in 1766, Hussein-Ali Khan built the mosque which remained abandoned during the Soviet period. The Iranian Government restored the mosque after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Blue Mosque today includes a library, a museum and offers Persian language classes.