23.04.2010

This year is the 15th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute (AGMI). The museum-institute was founded in 1995 when the permanent exhibition of the museum was opened. The fifteen years activities of the museum are aimed at increasing the knowledge on the Armenian Genocide which in its turn greatly contributes to the ongoing worldwide process of the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide. During this period the museum continues its mission which is scholarly research of the Armenian Genocide problems and their introduction to a local and international audience through permanent and temporary museum exhibitions.

One of the key areas in the museum activities is the historical research of the Armenian Genocide, collection of photo materials and other sources referring to the communal life of the Western Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. During the recent few years the collections and library of the museum were enriched with valuable and unique materials including personal archives of the missionaries Jacob Künzler, Bodil Bjørn, Bertha Morley, personal libraries of Vartkes Mikayelyan and Mkrtich Nersisyan as well as Anahit Asilyan’s collection of needlework items. The above-mentioned activities were largely contributed to by Varujan Salatyan, Zaven Msrlyan, Ruth Tovmasyan, Patris Jololyan, Tigran Kalayjian, Jevan Cheloyants, Ralf Yirikyan, Yussi Bjørn, as well as the AGBU Foundation, Library and Museum of ARFD.

During the years 1995-2010 the book collection of the institution was enriched by almost 10,000 volumes of books in Armenian and other languages. Through donations and book purchase the AGMI rare book collection comprises nearly 1600 units of valuable old books part of which were acquired thanks to the support of the President of Armenia S. Sargsyan. Valuable materials were also added to the published and unpublished diaries as well as foreign press collections. By 2010 the number of registered collection items exceeded 60,000. Information about these materials as well as official delegations visits to the memorial presents in AGMI website, which are available in Armenian, English, Russian and Turkish.

As a result of those activities partial modifications were made to the permanent museum exhibition as well as temporary exhibitions have been conducted. The museum has constantly held public lectures, discussions and presentations. During the recent several years scholarly works of local as well as international researchers had been published.

During the 15 years of its existence the museum has accepted millions of visitors including school and university students, tourists from all over the world. Between 2005 and 2010 alone the museum had over one million visitors including foreigners from over 100 countries of the world. A visit to the Armenian Genocide Museum is also included into the official protocol ceremonies of the Republic of Armenia. In the mentioned period hundreds of official delegations visited the Armenian Genocide memorial complex including presidents of France, Lebanon, Russia, Belarus, Georgia, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Greece, Croatia, Serbia, Cyprus etc., heads and members of governments as well as members of parliaments of various countries, officials from international organizations and others. In the vicinity of the museum an Alley of Memory was set up where members of delegations plant fir-trees in memory of the Armenian Genocide victims.