Armenia and French Theater Company Saté-Âtre Sign Cultural Cooperation Pact

The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia and the French theater company Saté-Âtre have officially formalized their partnership. The memorandum was signed by Armenian Deputy Minister Tigran Virabyan and the theater company's director, Satenik (Saté) Khachatryan.

Goals of the Partnership

The agreement is designed to strengthen Armenian-French cultural relations by promoting Armenian culture in France and French culture in Armenia. The primary focus will be on contemporary dance and drama. For young artists, the parties plan to organize:

• Masterclasses,
• Creative laboratories,
• Discussions and festivals,
• Joint educational programs.

Under the memorandum, the Armenian Ministry will provide institutional support and assist in engaging local and international partners. In turn, Saté-Âtre will coordinate the creative and organizational aspects, helping to promote these projects on international platforms, particularly in France.

Building on Past Successes

Deputy Minister Tigran Virabyan highlighted successful past collaborations that laid the groundwork for this new agreement. Notable projects include a production dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the legendary filmmaker Sergei Parajanov, inspired by his famous work "The Color of Pomegranates." Another major initiative was the dance performance "Kochar 360°," dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the renowned Armenian artist and sculptor Yervand Kochar. Both projects featured choreography by Mourad Merzouki and were authored by Saté Khachatryan.

Additionally, the "Manouchian Week" project was successfully hosted at the Artashat Theater in Armenia. The new memorandum is expected to transform these individual initiatives into a long-term structural partnership, creating new and ongoing opportunities for both Armenian and French artists.