Hye Cultural Outreach Program
For over a decade, the Shahan Natalie Family Foundation, a California-based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, has been organizing events which educate, enrich, and foster appreciation for Armenian culture in international communities worldwide. In the spring of 2011, we embarked on a fresh initiative, Hye Cultural Outreach Program, to expand our outreach efforts.
Objectives
As a primary objective, artists, scholars and other professionals are being invited to the U.S. to share their knowledge and expertise about the millennial Armenian cultural heritage, enhanced by state-of-the-art technologies. These lectures and presentations are recorded and made available online with the purpose of reaching local and international audiences.
How?
The initial phase of Hye Cultural Outreach Program (May-June, 2011) took place in Northern and Southern California cities through Komitas All-In-1 presentations. Garegin Chugaszyan, Executive Director of the Information Technoligies Foundation, was invited from Armenia to present award-winning CD/DVD-ROMs: “Komitas: the Life & Works,” “Aram Khachaturian: the Life & Works,” “Paruyr Sevak: Those Are My Words,” and “Armenian Genocide: 1915-1923.”
Encouraged by the success and popularity of the California Tour of Komitas All-In-1, we are now planning an East Coast Tour in October 2011. The 18-day tour is anticipated to travel to six cities in RI, MA, CT, NJ, NY, and PA, along with members of the Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble performing live the well-loved folk tunes and compositions of Komitas Vardapet, the founder of modern Armenian classical music.
We say: “Pick a school, and we will deliver your gift of knowledge“
One way to contribute to the dissemination and popularization of the best of the Armenian cultural achievements, we believe, is ensuring their availability at libraries and universities across the world. We strongly encourage our donors to obtain these materials (such as “Komitas: The Life & Works,” “Aram Khachatrian: The Life & Works,” “Armenian Genocide: 1915-1923″) and donate to their choice of educational institutions. Consult these lists of schools, universities and libraries in the U.S. We can deliver your gift outside the U.S., as well. Our donation forms provide you with the option of donating your choice of gifts (such as “Komitas: The Life & Works,” “Aram Khachatrian: The Life & Works,” “Armenian Genocide: 1915-1923″) to an educational/cultural institution.
Action!
The first program that the SNFF implemented within the Hye Cultural Outreach Program is the California Tour of Komitas-All-In-1, featuring “Komitas: the Life and Works,” a multimedia DVD-ROM, comprising of a digitized collection of songs, photographs, texts and videos related to Komitas. The first phase of this program took place in April-May, 2011. Garegin Chugaszyan, co-founder and president of ITF CJSC, specializing in the development of multimedia products for education in Yerevan, Armenia, gave a series of presentations of “Komitas: The Life & Works,” “Aram Khachatrian: The Life & Works,” “Armenian Genocide: 1915-1923″ in San Fransisco, Fresno, and Los Angeles, CA.
The second phase was the continuation of the California Tour (June 4-9, 2011). Once again, the SNFF hosted Garegin Chugaszyan in Los Angeles, CA. We successfully presentated the multimedia products in a number of venues throughout Greater Los Angeles. Below is the schedule of past events.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, June 4, 2011 — 7 pm
AGBU Silicon Valley
Calvary Armenian Congregational Church
725 Brotherhood Way, San Francisco, CA 94132
Sunday, June 5, 2011 — 1 pm
Armenian Apostolic Church of Crescenta Valley
Western Prelacy “Dikran & Zarouhie Der Ghazarian” Hall
6252 Honolulu Ave, La Crescenta CA 91214
Sunday, June 5, 2011 — 4:30 pm
Ararat-Eskijian Museum
15105 Mission Hills Rd, Mission Hills, CA 91345
Monday, June 6, 2011 — 7 pm
Glendale Central Library Auditorium
222 E Harvard Ave, Glendale, CA 91202
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 — 7:30 pm
Homenetmen Western Region Executive Committee
2324 Colorado Bl, Los Angeles, CA 90041
Thursday, June 9, 2011 — 8 pm
Organization of Istanbul Armenians
19726 Sherman Way, Winnetka, CA 91306
Gifts for Donations
To carry out our outreach programs, such as the California Tour of “Komitas: The Life and Works,” we need your financial support. Be it $1 or $1,000, your tax-deductible contribution will help us cover the organizational expenses, Mr. Chugaszyan’s housing and travelling expenses, as well the cost of advertising (newspaper, television, and other news media). We’re also looking forward to honoring him with a modest stipend. You can choose to receive gifts for your donation of $45 and up in the form of the multimedia DVD- and CD-ROMS — “Komitas: The Life & Works,” “Aram Khachatrian: The Life & Works,” “Armenian Genocide: 1915-1923.” (Click here to learn how)
Alternatively, you can choose to have us donate your choice of the multimedia products to an individual or an organization, such as a library, a school, a community college or a university. (Click here to learn how). This will be an invaluable to contribution to the dissemination and popularization of the Armenian cultural riches.
Alternative Support
Please help us spread the word by involving your colleagues, friends, family, as well as your online social network, and encouraging them to contribute to and support this inaugural Armenian outreach effort. Let’s bring out the best in us!
