Strengthening cultural cooperation between Armenia and France: Memorandum signed

A Memorandum of Cooperation has been signed between the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia and the French theatre company Saté-Âtre.

The document was signed by Tigran Virabyan, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, and Satenik (Saté) Khachatryan, Director of the French theatre company Saté-Âtre.

The memorandum aims to strengthen and develop cultural cooperation between Armenia and France, particularly by promoting Armenian culture in France and French culture in Armenia, with a special focus on the fields of contemporary dance and dramaturgy.

Deputy Minister Tigran Virabyan highlighted the successful implementation of a number of important joint projects in the past, particularly the French-Armenian production “The Color of Pomegranates”, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Sergei Parajanov. The production was choreographed by Mourad Merzouki and based on an idea by Saté Khachatryan. He emphasized the strong foundation already established for cooperation and expressed hope that it would be further strengthened by implementing all the provisions outlined in the memorandum.

Under the memorandum, the Ministry will support the company at the institutional level in implementing joint projects, facilitate the involvement of international and national partners, and provide additional support. Saté-Âtre, for its part, will undertake the full creative, production, and organizational processes of the projects, contribute to their international promotion, particularly in France, and develop new projects in line with the Ministry’s priorities and cultural strategy.

The parties plan to jointly develop programs aimed at French-Armenian cultural exchange, expand educational opportunities for young artists, and organize masterclasses, creative laboratories, discussions, festivals, and other cultural initiatives.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports and Saté-Âtre, several projects have already been implemented, including the dance performance “Kochaar 360°”, dedicated to the 125th anniversary of Armenian artist Yervand Kochar and choreographed by Mourad Merzouki based on an idea by Saté Khachatryan, as well as the “Manouchian Week” project at the Artashat Theatre.