YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The East Torch 16th international festival under the title "To See Ararat" started on September 10 in Yerevan. As Hideo Sakata, festival's Chairman, said, Armenian artists have always distinguished themselves with their unique way of thinking, therefore the proposal to hold the festival in Armenia was accepted. It was mentioned that the festival was founded by artists of Asian origin. It is organized in different countries each year, for the artists taking part in the festival to get acquainted with different nations' cultures. Razmik Hajikian, festival's Armenian Co-chairman, said that more than 40 painters and sculptors from the U.S., Germany, France, Japan, Thailand, South Corea, and other countries take part in the festival. A number of exhibitions will open within the framework of the festival, as well as educational events will be held, pottery trainings will be held for children having eyesight disorders at Yerevan special school N 14, giving disabled children the possibility to be engaged in crafts and to easier integrate into society with the help of crafts.

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