Guided by its long established mission to incorporate people with disabilities into the Armenian artistic context; to create a space and equal opportunities for their free expression and artistic potential; and to expose their talent and artistic capacities to the wider public, on April 20, at 17:00, the Naregatsi Art Institute Yerevan Auditorium will be host to a special solidarity event, “Embracing the Disabled,” comprised of a classical, spiritual and folk music concert featuring predominantly performers with disabilities, and an exhibition of fine arts and sculpture, again comprised of visual artworks made by artists with special needs and the physically challenged. A token of appreciation of the Naregatsi’s efforts, His Excellency John A. Heffern, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia, has expressed willingness to take part in the event, and will be our guest of honor. By initiating the event, the Naregatsi Art Institute seeks to convey that nobody’s personal circumstances should ever constitute an insurmountable barrier to inclusion and to the solidarity we owe to each other; and ensure thereby that we are unswerving in our efforts to defend the value of human diversity and our fight against exclusion based on any type of personal difference. This being the case, on the night of the event the Naregatsi Art Institute is going to donate two manual wheelchairs for primary mobility to two artists with spinal chord disorders. A third battery powered electric wheelchair has been contributed kindly by handicapped businessman Mr. Antranig Boghossian, which will be donated to the talented young female painter Monika Sahakyan, who, due to serious injuries in her spine, has a limited upper body strength and limitations in her daily activities. On the day of the event, special surprises are also in store for the Paros Choir of the People with Disabilities and the pianist Levon Karapetyan with visual impairments. The initiative is designed to be an open platform for anyone solicitous about the wellbeing and prosperity of people with special needs and willing thereby to make contributions, be it a wheelchair, a walker stick, stationary or any other item, in their support. Contribution which will be donated publically, Better yet by the contributors themselves, to yet another individual in need of such material support and moral encouragement. The concert program of the event is comprised of performances by the Naregatsi Folk Instruments Ensemble and the Paros Choir of Performers with Disabilities, pianist Levin Karapetyan, and vocalists Tsovinar Boghossian and Aleksandr Zhukov with featured piano accompaniments by pianist Artur Harutyunyan. The core of the exhibition is comprised of sculptures by businessman Antranik Boghossian who, as mentioned above, has donated an electric wheelchair to be contributed to the young painter Monika Sahakyan. The exhibition will also feature paintings by different artists with disabilities affiliated to the Bridge of Hope NGO, the "Prkutyun" Center for Disabled Children and Youth, the “Tsil Busats” Harmonious Development Center, the “Shogh” Creative Center of Support for People with Disabilities, and the Lady Cox Rehabilitation Center Being the only art institution in Yerevan with wheelchair accessibility, the Naregatsi Art Institute team has always been relentless in their efforts towards combating discrimination based on disability. By organizing annually, among other activities, at least 10 concerts and 10 exhibitions featuring performers and visual artists with disabilities; by giving people with physical disabilities equal opportunities of employment at the center, and by keeping constant collaborations with disability organizations and centers such as the Skarp, the Pilatelpia, the Paros, the Bridge of Hope, the UNISON and others, the Naregatsi Art Institute has always tried to promote their integration, their sense of dignity and unalienable right of equality. These ongoing efforts exerted by the Institute have resonated the appreciation and high acclaim of the Armenian government through a Prime Minister’s Medal awarded to the Institute in 2010 in recognition of the Naregatsi’s contributions targeted at the social integration of the people with special needs. These effort have also received the acclaim of Baroness Caroline Cox, Vice Speaker of the British House of Lords, who stated at an occasion: “Armenia has not been pretty good at incorporating people with disabilities yet, and you set an example there to make the people with disabilities to come to realize their potential, to enjoy the creativity of involvement in art. …I have nothing but admiration and appreciation.” Admission to the concert of the Embracing the Disabled event is with invitation, while the entry to the exhibition, on view until April 30, is free. CONCERT Naregatsi Folk Instruments Ensemble Paros choir Levon Karapetyan-piano Tsovinar Boghossian – vocal Aleksandr Zhukov- vocal Featured accompanist: Artur Harutyunyan - piano

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