The Art of Restoration in Armenia

On September 12, the Cafesjian Center for the Arts will host “The Art of Restoration in Armenia: A Professional Forum.”
2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Grigor Khanjyan, a prominent figure in Armenian visual art. As part of the celebrations marking Khanjyan’s 100th anniversary, the Cafesjian Center for the Arts is hosting a series of events dedicated to the artist and his legacy.
Events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Grigor Khanjyan will continue this autumn. On September 12, as part of the European Heritage Days, the Cafesjian Center for the Arts will host The Art of Restoration in Armenia: A Professional Forum in the Special Events Auditorium.
The Forum aims to present current practices in art restoration in Armenia, provide a platform for professional discussion and exchange of experience, and give greater public visibility to the important and often unseen work of restorers.
The Art of Restoration in Armenia: A Professional Forum is organized by the Cafesjian Center for the Arts in collaboration with the Restorers Association of Armenia.
The Forum is open for students of art colleges and universities, restorers, museum and cultural professionals, as well as anyone interested in the field of art restoration.
September 12, 2026 — Special Events Auditorium
12:00 Registration
12:30 Welcome and Opening Remarks
Vahagn Marabyan, Executive Director, Cafesjian Center for the Arts
SESSION I
12:40 Premiere of the Documentary Film on the Restoration of Grigor Khanjyan's Mural Dedicated to the Centenary of Grigor Khanjyan
13:00 Presentation by the Restoration Team of Grigor Khanjyan's Mural
Speakers
Nikolay Mikhailov, Author of the restoration methodology and Project Director
Artist-restorers: Avetis Stepanyan, Aram Aslanyan, Emily Barkhudaryan, Geghetsik Gyurjyan, Lusine Tumanyan, Andranik Sahakyan
Moderator: Yelizaveta Shirinyan, Director of Education, Cafesjian Center for the Arts
14:00 Q&A and Discussion
14:30 Break
SESSION II
Presented by the Restorers Association of Armenia
15:00 Opening Remarks
Lilit Bachachyan
Secretary of the Restorers Association of Armenia Senior Restorer, Department of Restoration, Mesrop Mashtots Research Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran)
15:10 The Restoration Profession in Armenia Astghik Melkonyan Senior Restorer, Department of Restoration of Archaeological Findings, Scientific Research Center of Historical and Cultural Heritage
15:30 Restoration of Written Heritage at Matenadaran Gayane Eliazyan President, Restorers Association of Armenia Head of the Department of Restoration, Mesrop Mashtots Research Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran)
15:50 Production of Traditional Armenian Handmade Restoration Paper Artavazd Ayvazyan, Arthur Petrosyan Senior Restorers, Department of Restoration, Mesrop Mashtots Research Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran)
16:10 The Restoration of Salome Artashes Abrahamyan Senior Artist-Restorer Department of Restoration and Conservation, National Gallery of Armenia
16:30 Challenges in the Cleaning and Restoration of Archaeological Ceramics Tigran Petrosyan Head of the Museum Objects Restoration Laboratory Service for the Protection of Historical Environment and Cultural Museum-Reservations
16:50 Dialogue with Stone: Material, Chemistry, and Environment in Conservation Liana Ghukasyan Cultural Heritage Conservator-Restorer, qualified by the Ministry of Culture of the Italian Republic in the PFP1 specialization field (Italy)
17:15 Q&A and Discussion