AraratBank Supports Launch of the 15th Anniversary “Faces of Memory” Seminar

The 15th international seminar, “Faces of Memory: Newest Technologies for Preservation and Restoration of Manuscript and Printed Heritage”, has officially been launched at the Matenadaran, with the co-financing of AraratBank and the support of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, as well as the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia.

For the third consecutive year, the Bank has been providing financial support to the annual “Faces of Memory” scientific and practical seminar, a key platform dedicated to the preservation and restoration of written heritage. As part of the international seminar, leading experts from museums, libraries, archival institutions, and specialized centres worldwide deliver lectures and engage in professional discussions, while also facilitating knowledge exchange and organizing masterclasses in collaboration with specialists from the Matenadaran and other institutions in Armenia.

This year’s seminar sessions will place particular emphasis on the mission of written heritage preservation institutions in conflict and post-conflict countries, including those in the Middle East, highlighting their critical role in safeguarding and transmitting cultural heritage.

As part of the seminar, the opening of the Matenadaran’s Laboratory for the Study and Restoration of Arabic-Script Manuscripts also took place.

AraratBank was the first financial institution to initiate cooperation with the Matenadaran. Two years ago, with the Bank’s support, the Matenadaran’s biochemical research laboratory was set up and upgraded, significantly enhancing the institution’s manuscript restoration capacity and advancing it to a higher standard of excellence.

With the support of AraratBank, another major initiative has been successfully delivered, focusing on the upgrade of the Matenadaran’s video surveillance and security infrastructure. The modernization strengthens the protection of its unique and valuable Armenian and foreign-language manuscript collections, while also ensuring a higher level of safety for visitors, tourists, and staff.

“The Matenadaran has the full potential and capacity to evolve into a truly international institution in the practical sense of the word. And in this regard, state support alone is not enough, the involvement of the private sector is equally vital. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to one of our most valued partners, AraratBank, which over the years has become an institution that enhances the system of preservation of written heritage and raises the level of security,” emphasized Ara Khzmalyan, Director of the Matenadaran.

“Today, every business has a responsibility to stand alongside society in addressing a wide range of challenges across scientific, environmental, educational, and healthcare sectors. Notably, more than 50% of AraratBank’s CSR portfolio is dedicated to educational initiatives. This serves as an important indicator for us, reflecting the strong commitment of AraratBank to science and education, which, of course, can and must play a significant role in shaping the future of our country,” stated Anna Allahverdyan, Head of Communication and CSR Programs Coordination Division at AraratBank.