“The Faces of Memory” the Fifth International Seminar was devoted to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which this year had headline “Revived Cultural Heritage, Survived Manuscripts”. During the frames of seminars on October 27-29, 2015, at the “Matenadaran” Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts of Yerevan were specialists of leading centers of conservation sphere of manuscript and printed heritage from Russia, the USA, Austria, Holland, Germany, Latvia, Kazakhstan and Georgia.
“This conference is an occasion to sum up our modern achievements in manuscripts preservation and restoration, digitization and research. In addition, in the frames of the conference the contracts with authoritative institutions of European and CIS countries will provide further opportunities for cooperation,” in his speech mentioned the Director of Matenadaran Hrachya Tamrazyan. The international conference was attended by Minister of Culture of the Republic of Armenia Hasmik Poghosyan, who stressed the importance of this event and said that this conference was held for five consecutive years and already contains clearly established traditions. German restorers Robert Shtehle and Margaret Yashke were awarded by Minister the “Gold Medal” for free of charge repairing of more\ than 200 manuscripts’ silver covers and for significant services to the Armenian culture for 15 years. The Minister of Culture awarded also the Matenadaran’s longtime guides Amalya Shahumyan, Evelina Pirodova and Maya Yavuryan a certificate and “Grigor Narekatsi” Medal.
Within the three-day seminar “The Faces of Memory: The Newest Technologies of Preservation and Restoration of Manuscript and Printed Heritage” took place more than two dozen presentations, held master classes, took place the presentation of monograph “Akhtala Monastery Frescoes” of academician of the Russian Academy of Arts Alexei M. Lidov.
The project was carried out in the competition frames by Youth Foundation of Armenia and providing grant project to common organizations from the RA President’s staff.