The Future of Our Past
Armenian heritage preservation in the age of AI
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April 22, 2015
AGBU Melbourne Introduces Armenian History and Culture to an Australian Public at ArmeniaFest
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One hundred white balloons were released at ArmeniaFest to signify the one hundred years since the Armenian Genocide. -
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The Azad Gharibian Dance Group during a performance at ArmeniaFest.
ArmeniaFest “honors the fallen and celebrates the survival of the Armenian people”
On April 4, ABGU Melbourne welcomed nearly one thousand people to ArmeniaFest, a community festival in Melbourne, Australia dedicated to spreading awareness about Armenian history and culture. The festival—the first organized by the AGBU chapter—was held in honor of the centenary of the Armenian Genocide.
“It took the ArmeniaFest committee ten months of dedication, planning and hard work to successfully complete this project. We recognized that with the centenary of the Armenian Genocide fast approaching, it was important to have an event that would not only respectfully recognize the horrors of our past, but also celebrate the survival of the Armenian people. It was heartening to hear the Armenian national anthem, the poetry of Barouyr Sevag and Armenian music in such a public space,” said Maral Tchorbadjian, chairperson of the AGBU Melbourne chapter.
The event was launched jointly by AGBU Melbourne Executive Committee member Berdj Tchakerian and Monash City Councilor Robert Davies, a longtime friend of the Australian Armenian community. After Tchakerian’s opening address, one hundred white balloons were released into the air to signify one hundred years since the beginning of the Armenian Genocide. Throughout the day, guests at ArmeniaFest enjoyed numerous cultural performances, including a concert by the children of the Aginian Armenian Saturday School and a performance by the Azad Gharibian Dance Group.
ArmeniaFest also included an exhibit at the AGBU Heritage Centre, which showcased rare Armenian artifacts and historical items as well as photographs and videos highlighting the history of the Armenian people. The festival also included cooking demonstrations, dance classes and signposts around the festival grounds that acquainted guests with significant events in Armenian history.
“The event was a great success,” said ArmeniaFest coordinator Gloria Hotakorzian. “In addition to the large turnout, there was overwhelmingly positive feedback from both the Armenian community and the wider Australian public. The festival captured the very essence of everything Armenian. It not only showcased our story, but was a testament to our tenacity to survive and our spirit to soldier on.”
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