ARMENIA’S FIRST CULTURAL THINK TANK

Research & Policy Analysis

We conduct research on cultural policy, creative industries, and sector development. To inform advocacy, guide strategic initiatives, and contribute to evidence-based policymaking.

Advocacy & Government Engagement

We advocate for creators' rights, cultural funding, and creative economy policies. We engage with government officials, and international institutions to advance cultural sector interests.

Capacity Building & Knowledge Sharing

We build capacity across Armenia's creative community through training, mentorship, working groups, professional development.

Network & Convening

We bring together creators, cultural leaders, researchers, officials, donors, and diaspora members to co-create solutions.

Resource Mobilization

We help connect creators with opportunities, and ensure resources reach impactful cultural initiatives.

Advisory Board

Artyom Naghdyan

Artyom Naghdyan

Artyom Naghdyan is an Armenian cellist and cultural manager, serving as Director (CEO) of the Armenian State Philharmonia and Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall.

Haykuhi Muradyan

Haykuhi Muradyan

Haykuhi Muradyan is a cultural anthropologist and lecturer at Yerevan State University, specializing in cultural policy, applied anthropology, and the cultural heritage of Artsakh, where she has also worked on research and monitoring initiatives.

Karen Avetisyan

Karen Avetisyan

Karen Avetisyan is an Armenian film critic and cultural journalist, currently the Artistic Director of the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival and the Director of the Cultural Development Foundation of Armenia.

Lilit Grigoryan

Lilit Grigoryan

Lilit Grigoryan is an Armenian arts professional and programs manager at ICA Yerevan (Institute of Contemporary Art), where she coordinates and co-leads contemporary art education and capacity-building programs for emerging artists.

Marine Haroyan

Marine Haroyan

Marine Haroyan is an Armenian museum professional and curator, serving as Scientific Secretary at the Yeghishe Charents Museum of Literature & Art and the Director of the National Committee of ICOM Armenia, where she leads research-based exhibition and museum education projects.

Marine Karoyan

Marine Karoyan

Marine Karoyan is an Armenian musician, curator, and cultural policy expert, founding artistic director of ARé Cultural Foundation and the National Coordinator of EU4Culture in Armenia, leading research-driven contemporary art and cross-innovation projects in Armenia and internationally.

Nairi Khatchadourian

Nairi Khatchadourian

Paris-born Armenian art historian and curator, Nairi Khatchadourian is the founding director of the Yerevan-based AHA collective and has been actively curating contemporary art projects in Armenia since 2015.

Sanasar Gevorgyan

Sanasar Gevorgyan

Sanasar Gevorgyan is an Armenian intellectual property lawyer, founding director of Point of Law LLC and a licensed patent and trademark attorney working on copyright, trademarks, and unfair competition matters, including for clients in the cultural and creative sectors.

Svetlana Sahakyan

Svetlana Sahakyan

Svetlana Sahakyan is the Head of the Contemporary Art and Publishing Department at the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, where she oversees policy and programs in the field of modern and contemporary art.

Vahan Badalyan

Vahan Badalyan

Vahan Badalyan is an Armenian theatre director, Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia, Director of the Henrik Igityan National Centre for Aesthetics and founding Artistic Director of the innovative inclusive NCA Small Theatre in Yerevan.

Anna Gargarian

Anna Gargarian

Anna Gargarian is a Curator, Creative Industries Expert and Cultural Strategist. Gargarian has worked globally as both a cultural actor and enabler—producing cultural projects while also enhancing cultural infrastructure. Her work in infrastructure spans cultural policy reform, business and entrepreneurship education in the arts, and the intersection of arts and technology. She was the founder and director of HAYP Pop Up Gallery, a nomadic art space from 2014-2018, and designed and lead the seminal AGBU Katapult Creative Accelerator Program from 2022-2025 to catalyze Armenia’s creative economy. Today she is working as a strategic consultant for the internationalization of the State Academy of Fine Arts of Armenia.

Our Team

Linn Paravyan

Linn Paravyan

Linn Paravyan is an entrepreneur, strategist, and cultural policy expert, known for coordinating local and international arts projects and leading strategic development of cultural organizations, including ASA. She provides an immense input to Armenia’s ongoing development of creative industry clusters, cultural policy frameworks, and international collaborations in the arts and culture sectors.

Marina Oganesova

Marina Oganesova

Marina Oganesova is an experienced administrative and operations professional with over 10 years of expertise in education and cultural initiatives, currently serving as an Administrator at ASA. She has a strong track record in coordinating complex projects, managing processes, and supporting the effective delivery of programs. Her work focuses on creating structure, efficiency, and impact across diverse initiatives.

Seda Grigoryan

Seda Grigoryan

Seda Grigoryan is a documentary filmmaker and independent producer based in Yerevan. She holds degrees from Florida State University (USA) and the University of West London (UK). Formerly Head of Video Production at CivilNet TV and Video Producer and Lecturer at Hetq Investigative Journalists, Seda has extensive experience in media production and storytelling. From 2018 to 2021, she led the Creative Europe Desk Armenia, enhancing her skills in CCI management and European networks.

Shoghakat Mlke Galstyan

Shoghakat Mlke Galstyan

Shoghakat is one of the most active cultural leaders. As a co-founder of Mihr Theatre, she has plays a pivotal role in pioneering contemporary dance in Armenia. She is a prolific project leader, educator, and advocate, involved in festivals, international collaborations, and community arts development. Mlke-Galstyan’s influence is felt not only through her performances but also through her support for emerging artists and dedication to the broader contemporary art ecosystem in Armenia.

Dato Abuladze

Dato Abuladze

Dato Abuladze is ASA Armenia's Social Media Manager and a media professional based in Yerevan, coordinating the social media presence for Hetq Online, Hetq Media Factory, and ASA Armenia. A graduate of Yerevan State University's Faculty of Journalism with excellence, he also holds foundational training from the Young Journalist School of the Union of Journalists of Armenia. From 2014 to 2020, Dato served as the Communications and Social Media Coordinator for the Wikimedia Armenia Scientific-Educational NGO and has been an active Wikipedia editor since 2012, with extensive experience in digital communication and platform management.

Lilith Margaryan

Lilith Margaryan

Lilith Margaryan is a multimedia journalist, writer, and photographer focused on narrative-driven storytelling. She studied fine arts at Yerevan State College of Fine Arts after P. Terlemezyan and multimedia journalism at Hetq Media Factory. She also completed the Kolga Tbilisi Photo mentorship program in documentary photography and visual storytelling.