ESC: National Gallery of Armenia

The National Gallery of Armenia was founded in 1921, is the country’s major art gallery. Nowadays National Gallery of Armenia has about 40 000 pieces of art, but only 10% of its treasures is exhibited in gallery's halls. Its collection is displayed in 56 halls, which allow the Gallery to tell the story of national visual arts, decorative-applied arts as well as world culture from ancient times to our days. In the galleries of European, Russian, Armenian and Oriental art the visitors are introduced to the art of Aivazovsky, Sarian, Kandinsky, Donatello and other distinguished artists. The number of employees of the museum is around 150. The museum has scientific, curatorial, restorative, excursion, publishing, financial departments and library. The Gallery carries out a variety of events and a number of important cultural and educational programs. Every year students of History, Culturology and History of Arts Departments from the different Armenian and foreign universities have their professional practice courses in the museum. The Gallery not only promotes Armenian and world famous art in the country, but also one of the main purposes of this organization is to protect and conserve art masterpieces. Art is a national treasure and heritage, which we must protect for upcoming generations. According to this goal Gallery also makes and publishes scientific works, guidelines, catalogs, organizes permanent and temporary exhibitions, organizes and hosts science conferences. Starting from 2016 National Gallery of Armenia is also a unique education center. The National Gallery of Armenia invites all children aged 6-14 to participate in summer school programs. The programs are aimed at discovering the NGA collection as well as the masterpieces by the renowned artists exhibited in the leading world museums. They give them an opportunity to create themselves, to get an aesthetic education in specific museum atmosphere and to spend eventful time. Thematic- interactive and educational programs are organized for children including film and cartoon viewing, workshops and visits to some branches of the Gallery. The Gallery has an institute of interns and local volunteers participating in the museum's events and helping the staff to organize them- meetings, museum holidays and special programs. The experience of working with the local volunteers and with foreign visitors became a great start for the staff to think about including foreign volunteer in the gallery's daily work and routine.