On 3 July 2026, the annual Armenian Heritage Forum, organized by the SIREH Foundation, brought together organizations dedicated to preserving Armenia’s cultural heritage. The event took place at the Charles Aznavour Cultural Center of Yerevan State University and opened with welcoming remarks by Vassilis Maragos, Ambassador of the European Union to Armenia. In his address, Ambassador Maragos emphasized the importance of promoting culture, safeguarding cultural heritage, and encouraging dialogue on these issues.

Gayane Kaznati, Director of the SIREH Foundation and a Board Member of Europa Nostra, highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts to preserve cultural heritage and strengthen cooperation among organizations working in the sector.

Koryun Davtyan, Head of the Kayt Cultural Hub, presented research findings showing that 72% of Armenia’s communities lack access to cultural education due to a shortage of qualified instructors and the absence of an adequate cultural learning environment.

Anush Martirosyan, President of the Media for Education NGO, referred to a study conducted by the Media Initiatives Center, the ARE Foundation, and the Institute of Contemporary Art as part of the “Art Audience: Bridging the Gap” project. The research analyzed coverage by five leading Armenian media outlets between September and November 2025 and found that 591 culture-related items had been published. Of these, 75% were event-driven stories, primarily news reports (63%), while 40% were republications of official texts, mainly press releases. Original editorial content accounted for 21% of all publications; however, only 6% of that content focused on cultural policy, while 13% consisted of educational or explanatory materials. According to the study, contemporary art continues to receive limited media attention.

The discussion also addressed the inadequate state of cultural education in schools, challenges related to teacher training, and the role of the media in promoting culture and preserving cultural heritage.