Armenian Institute

The declaration of the First Republic of Armenia on 28 May 1918 inaugurated Armenia’s first modern statehood. Despite its brief existence and the immense hardships it faced, the republic’s institutions and international recognition provided an essential legal and cultural basis for subsequent Armenian statehood.

This day symbolises the courage, resilience, and steadfast spirit of those who fought for Armenia’s freedom and sovereignty. As we mark this historic milestone, we honour their legacy and take inspiration from their example as we continue to shape a prosperous future for our nation.

Image: Irzhi Nosek - Sardarapat, 1984, canvas, tempera. Sourced from National Gallery of Armenia/ Հայաստանի ազգային պատկերասրահ

Curious about these images?

Come see a lecture by Dr Vazken Khatchig Davidian on the work of Armenian artist Sarkis Katchadourian (1886-1947), who from the 1920s to the 1940s took inspiration from seventeenth-century fresco and mural paintings from Isfahan in Persia, as well as ancient Buddhist, Jain and Hindu wall paintings in Indian and Sri Lankan cave complexes including Ajanta, Badami, Bagh and Sigiriya.

It will be part of our event Armenian Heritage at our Doorstep: Exploring UK Collections - The Ancient India and Iran Trust,in Cambridge, on 6 June.

The programme will start with an introduction by Nouritza Matossian on Ruth Keshishian and her life, immersed in the world of books, art, and friendship. It will be followed by a discussion on the influence of Armenian manuscripts and the Aghtamar frescoes in the work of Arshile Gorky. Then we will have Vazken's lecture, followed by a rare opportunity to look closely at the Trust’s collection of Armenian manuscripts. In the company of distinguished experts, you will explore these precious volumes up close, and gain insight into their provenance, exceptional artistry, and growing significance to the study of Armenian manuscripts. Speakers include the Trust’s Honorary Librarian, Dr Ursula Sims-Williams, Lead Curator of Iranian Collections at the British Library; Dr Erin Piñon, art historian and operations manager at the Armenian Institute; and art historian Tatevik Davtyan.

We will end with a garden party in the charming gardens of the Trust's historic home in Cambridge. Enjoy an afternoon of conversation, light refreshments, and convivial company against a backdrop inspired by the timeless beauty of Persian and Indo-Persian garden traditions.

This event forms part of a new series dedicated to exploring Armenian manuscripts and material heritage in lesser-known UK collections. The Armenian Institute is pleased to partner with the Ancient India & Iran Trust for its inaugural off-site show-and-tell session.

This event series honours the memory of the late Ruth Keshishian, a lover of books, archives, researchers, and intellectual life, and dear friend and supporter of the Armenian Institute.

Book now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/armenian-heritage-at-our-doorstep-exploring-uk-collections-tickets-1986420106010?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

On 28 May at 6:30 PM, join scholars Vicken Cheterian, Laurence Broers and Armine Ishkanian at our office for the UK book launch of "The 44-Day War: Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Struggle for Nagorno-Karabakh" (February 2026), which offers a wide-ranging and interdisciplinary examination of the causes, conduct, and consequences of the war.

This volume, edited by Cheterian and bringing together chapters written by multiple experts, interrogates the collapse of the 1994–2020 ceasefire regime, the failures of diplomacy and mediation, Armenia’s strategic miscalculations, and the consolidation of authoritarian power in Azerbaijan. It probes the roles of external actors before turning to the war’s aftermath: stalled peace processes, the dramatic failure of the Russian peacekeeping mission, and the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh. It was published with open access by Bloomsbury Publishing and can be accessed in full online.

The book will be available for sale at the event.

This event is held in partnership with the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian

Book now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-44-day-war-armenia-azerbaijan-and-the-struggle-for-nagorno-karabakh-tickets-1986423492138?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

Today marks the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

This tragedy reshaped the Armenian nation and transformed its diaspora into what it is today. Survivors and descendants have carried the memory through generations, using art, literature, and cultural expression to share the story with the world and ensure that awareness continues.

Our Institute is committed to preserving this legacy, supporting cultural and educational initiatives.

Image source: - Jansem Hovhannes Semerdjian, Deportation.

Born near Brusa, Jansem’s family fled persecution in 1922, eventually settling in Paris. Exile and the memory of the Armenian Genocide defined his artistic vision, leading him to depict themes of suffering and resilience throughout his career. His lifelong engagement with these subjects culminated in his donation of 34 canvases titled Genocide to the Armenian Genocide Museum in 2001.

Last week, we had the pleasure of celebrating The Transcaucasian Trail 10th anniversary.

It was a full‑house evening, where guests not only honoured this important milestone but also discovered more about the projects currently underway.

The night was enriched by lively, generative conversations, complemented by delicious Armenian wine from Stork Wines and authentic Armenian cuisine from Jakobs

Our Institute extends its wishes for many more successful years ahead.

We are proud to have hosted an event with TCT in 2017, and now to share in marking such a significant occasion.

We also thank Trails For Change NGO for their partnership and incredible work in Armenia. And last but not least, we thank our volunteers for helping us ensure the event ran smoothly.

On 23 April, join us and the The Wiener Holocaust Library to mark the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The event will centre on the London launch of "Lives in Fragments: Self-Narrative Sources and Biographical Approaches to the Armenian Genocide", published in February 2026. In this volume, co-editors Eren Yıldırım Yetkin, Nazan Maksudyan, and Adnan Çelik explore a new angle through which to interpret the social dynamics that lead to acts of genocidal violence, their remembrance, and their denial.

The twelve chapters in this book, written by experts in the field, focus on life stories and self-narratives that were fragmented and shattered through the historical violence of the Armenian Genocide. It offers a nuanced understanding of genocide’s complex historical and social dimensions.

We are happy to host one of the co-editors, Nazan Maksudyan, who will guide us through its novel methodology and rich contents. In conversation with her, we are delighted to welcome Ayşe Parla, who will share insights into her current research on the art of writing as a survivor in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, tentatively entitled Peripheral Time: Writing as Survival in Bolis/Istanbul After Genocide.

Register here: https://wienerholocaustlibrary.org/event/book-launch-lives-in-fragments-with-the-armenian-institute/