National Gallery of Armenia: benefactor Karen Vardanyan funds the renovation of the restoration workshop (122 million drams)
- Published
- Place
- National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan
- Event date
- Past event —
Summary
Paintings at the National Gallery of Armenia in Yerevan will now be restored in entirely new conditions. Thanks to financial support from benefactor Karen Vardanyan, the museum’s restoration department has been completely renovated and fitted with modern equipment, according to information released on 3 November. In all, 316 pieces of equipment, tools and accessories of 54 different types were purchased. Three of the museum’s specialists also received professional training in Lithuania and Russia. Karen Vardanyan put 122 million drams into the project, which aims to restore and preserve Armenia’s cultural heritage. The National Gallery, on Republic Square, holds one of the country’s richest art collections, from early icons to Armenian and European painting.
Analysis
A modern workshop is a game changer for a museum that holds thousands of works, many of them damaged by time. New equipment, such as the microscopes and imaging visible in the photos, makes it possible to study a work before touching it. Training restorers abroad matters as much as the hardware. The project also reflects the growing role of private benefactors, alongside the state, in protecting Armenian heritage.
Possible consequences
Restoration of National Gallery works will now take place in the renovated workshop, with staff trained abroad.
