CAMBRIDGE-YEREVAN SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION RECEIVES GRANT

Cambridge Chronicle
April 8 2008
MA

Cambridge – The Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City Association (CYSCA)
has received a grant funded by the USAID and administered by World
Learning Inc. for training of 10 theater managers from Armenia under
the U. S. government Community Connections program. The group will
visit the area from June 12 to July 3 for a three-week training
program aimed at improving theater management in Armenia. Included
in the group will be theater directors, administrators, producers,
art directors, educators, playwrights, fund raisers, public relations
and marketing specialists and others from Cambridge’s sister city,
Yerevan, and the regions of Armenia.

Despite the history and legacy of excellence in the performing arts,
theaters in Armenia have fallen on hard times. The economic crisis
following independence in 1991 has had a serious impact on theaters
and performing arts in Armenia, which are still nearly all state
funded. Many theater managers in Armenia are not familiar with new
developments in theater management and education. It is the principal
goal of this project to expose the participants to modern practices
in the theater and arts, to introduce U.S. cultural and management
policies, and encourage international cooperation.

The program will include meetings with leading theater companies in
Cambridge and Greater Boston, as well as university theater programs
and professional associations. CYSCA president, Suzanne Pearce, said,
"We are particularly excited to show off the new Central Square
Theater, which is in the process of completion (a hard-hat tour has
been promised). Visits will include seminars, roundtable discussions,
talks and hands-on training covering specific objectives of the
program which include modern best management practices in the theater,
fundraising techniques, public relations and marketing, innovation
and new techniques, education and the theater, cooperation with
universities and businesses, attracting young and talented artists,
etc. Also included in the program will be a visit to New York City
to meet with performing arts professionals.

CYSCA program director, Jack Medzorian, said, "We are privileged to
have been selected to organize this exciting project and look forward
to hosting our visitors with great anticipation. We are confident
that this will be another successful project, our 16th since 1997,
hosting professionals from Armenia and are confident the participants
will return to their native country with many new ideas and concepts
to implement in their society."

Another aim of the program is to expose the participants to American
history, culture, values and everyday life as they visit historic
and cultural sites in Greater Boston. Housing will be provided by
local volunteer host families. To host a guest, call Taya Battelle,
program administrator, at 617-277-9548. For more information about
the project, call Ara Ghazarians, project manager, at 781-646-3090
or visit

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress