Closer to local heritage: Armenian-Austrian autumn school at the Arakelots Monastery complex

From September 18 to 22, the breathtaking nature and historical monuments of Tavush Province were in the spotlight of Armenian and Austrian students. The international autumn school “Exploring Local Heritage”, held in Tavush for the second time, brought together around 15 students and young researchers from Armenia and Austria. The choice of research site — the Arakelots Monastery complex — was no coincidence. The monastery and the surrounding settlement are included in the list of the 7 most endangered heritage sites in Europe, making the school an opportunity to study and appreciate Armenia’s unique culture.

During the school, participants explored local culture, focusing on both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. New approaches were outlined regarding numerous issues related to preservation, restoration, and research.

The five-day autumn school provided an exciting opportunity to unite students from different regions of Austria and from YSU Ijevan Branch around a common idea: to preserve, study, and promote Armenian cultural values.

The autumn school was organized by the “Interdisciplinary Studies of Armenian Cultural Heritage” laboratory of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and the University of Salzburg, in collaboration with YSU Ijevan Branch and Blue Shield Armenia. The program was also supported by Europa Nostra, the European heritage preservation association. Now in its second year, the school is becoming a beautiful tradition and promises to continue in the future.