Newspaper BRIDGE of HOPE
NEW SOCIETY, NEW THINKING
The “Teryan” Cultural Center NGO has developed a wide range of activities for the dissemination of cultural, literary, educational, publishing, Armenological, ethnographic, research, nation and spiritual values preserving. With the support of the center, the small stone-tablet with short-note on it “Here will be placed the statue of Vahan Teryan”, which was for 20-25 years in the Yerevan Ring-Shaped Park has been replaced at last by a statue of the great poet. In the homeland of Jivan were placed the statue of the great poet, in Akhalkalaki — one of the great political figures of the 19th century, Karapet Bagratuni. Numerous cultural events were held in Armenia, diaspora, Georgia, particularly in Javakhk. By the forces of the organization has been carried out, then shown on TV-channel H1 the feature film “Teryan”.
About the details of the cultural center’s activities we learned from the center’s director, Lilit Melikyan.
— What is the role of the cultural center “Teryan” in cultural reality?
— We contribute to the formation of a new way of thinking in society. A thinking according to that an Armenian must do certain things to remain Armenian: listen to the right Armenian music, speak pure Armenian, dance Armenian dances, dress Armenian, and so on. In other words, we contribute to the preservation of national values.
— Who can participate in the Teryan days?
— Those who want, there are no barriers or restrictions. Every year at the end of July we visit Gandza, visit Teryan’s house-museum, try to communicate more closely with the great poet in that wonderful nature.
— To what extent does this cultural center imbued with Teryan?
We are the only ones who have some materials from Teryan’s archive, we publish them regularly. This issue became a topic of discussion due to a journalistic mistake, that is why I don’t want to touch upon it. Nevertheless, there will be news and everyone will know about it.
— How far are the children involved in your activities?
— The “Teryan” Cultural Center is like a master school. We work with children if they have a special talent or a great love for culture, because if we have to teach a child from the very beginning, it is a difficult process, so we have to be a teacher, that is we try to work with those people, who have chosen the road to success. We carry out very good cooperation. For example, “Karin” ensemble presents its dances in our center, i.e. those who love the national dance can come to us to dance.
— What are the gaps in our cultural reality today? Are the finances the right solution of this problem?
— The fact that we study the national costume, armenianize its elements, does not require huge sums of money from us. It takes about as much money as a regular fashion designer or stylist needs to create his/her own collection. As an artist-designer, I carry out a job for which there is no need for separate investors. Students studying in our cultural center have the opportunity to sell their works. Personally, I do not treat well people who try to have an “author” initiative, for that purpose they apply to state bodies for financial assistance.
— Do you think that our culture is gradually becoming provincial?
— You know, I think those who talk about the provincialization of culture should work on themselves first. I think that the part of the culture that was provincial at the beginning is going to provincialization, the people who have such thinking, taste and at the same time are in the field of culture, naturally create an adequate culture. In our cultural center, for example, work such of selected people, none of whom certainly does not create provincial value. For example, a film may be good, but it will be used provincial clothes in it. Provincial are the people who sing folk songs, but wear Azerbaijani costumes.
Today it is very difficult to find people who can identify the difference between black and white. It is a pity that good specialists are disappearing in our country.
— What prospects has a person in Armenia who wants to specialize in a cultural filed?
— In our country, earning money in the field of culture is as possible as in any other field. I do not agree with the idea that there are no jobs in our country today․ There is a lack of specialists in every field. There is no job for people who dream of doing what they can never, of course, based on their intellectual abilities. For example, it is impossible to be a beginner journalist and get a very high salary․ It should be strived for and deserved.
In other words, a person who acts in the field of culture, and if he/she thinks that his/her work is not valued, should think that it is possible that he/she does not achieved the required level yet. One must fully assess his/her own abilities: often we look in the mirror and see someone else instead of us.
— What would you wish to the culture-loving society?
— I invite everyone to “Teryan” Cultural Center to study in the daytime and dance in the evening. I’d like that Armenians, in order to remain Armenians, do not be stayed in the traditional way of thinking and stereotypes, but to sing cleaner, dress more correctly, dance better and keep their language and speech alive, to know and remember their masters, and of course to follow their advice.
Armen Sargsyan