The Center will be situated near the train station, in the old cultural center, which was destroyed by the earthquake. For this project Ballet 2021 is collaborating with award-winning Montreal architect Azad Chichmanian, who will fuse old and new to create a building that will turn any regular Gyumri Saturday into an experience that removes boundaries between art and audience, making Gyumri a sought-after destination.
Architectural plans include a performance house, three studios with nine dressing rooms, multi-functional conference room, library, gallery space, café-gift shop and a sculpture garden. With all these elements, we see the Center quickly becoming an inspirational place sure to revitalize Gyumri and reawaken a modern, innovative passion for world-class performing arts.
The Kharatian Experiential Centre for the Performing Arts is set to begin construction in 2019, and to open in 2022.
“What is interesting is that we’re talking about a place where gravity was once such a destructive force, where the earthquake brought such terror and loss. Now, in that same place, within those same walls, if we do things right, the building can literally float, even soar. At the same time, the people who use the building will themselves be lifted, both literally and spiritually.
Dance has that same vocation. We want to taunt gravity.”
Azad Chichmanian