Dilijan Arts Observatory launches in Armenia with Berlin and Paris exhibitions planned

On August 22, the Dilijan Arts Observatory will launch in the historic spa town of Dilijan, Armenia. Supported by philanthropists Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend, this initiative brings together artists, designers, cultural historians, and environmental scientists for a three-week interdisciplinary program. Curated by former Weltkulturen Museum director Clémentine Deliss, the project aims to foster Armenia's cultural and economic development amid concerns about unemployment and emigration. Approximately one-third of participants will be Armenian, with all presenting research on the country's cultural and scientific landscape during public events on September 10-11. These events will feature an all-night symphony, food tastings, performances, and exhibitions. A second phase is planned, culminating in exhibitions at Berlin's Hamburger Bahnhof in November 2017 and Paris's Centre Pompidou in summer 2018. Deliss emphasized that the observatory intentionally avoids being either a traditional biennial or a purely discursive summit, instead creating space for cross-disciplinary exchange without pressure for immediate artistic production.