Activities and volunteering tourism in Gyumri
There are various traditional celebrations and festivals throughout the year that will help you make arrangements of your visit in advance.
Go here to see the complete 2019-2020 event program
Linking Archaeology with Preservation in Armenia
Dates: May 24 – June 6, 2020
September dates coming soon.
Learn archaeology along with building conservation skills as you uncover the past and save historic architecture that holds the key to Gyumri’s economic future.
Thirty-two years ago, the Spitak earthquake rocked Gyumri. 25,000 people died, 140,000 were injured and 16,000 were rescued from collapsed buildings. This disaster was paired with the collapse of the Soviet Union, which brought industry to a halt and eliminated most jobs. The impact of these events is still a factor that drives current events in Gyumri today. Archaeology and preservation are key to revitalizing Gyumri through heritage tourism.
Project and Need
AiP began building conservation efforts in Gyumri in 2011. We continue to expand our ambitions and strive to make a greater impact on the extensive needs of Gyumri and surrounding rural communities. The focus must be on changing residents’ perspective while creating jobs that provide a sustainable income.
Gyumri’s 18th and 19th century architecture is beginning to generate tourism, boosting the sluggish economy and creating much-needed jobs. Join AiP as we continue work at the Gallery of Miriam and Yeranuhi Aslamazyan. Jammers will take on conservation of the beautifully detailed 1834 wrought iron entrance – removing rust and old paint, and repainting to restore the gate to its original beauty.
Miriam and Eranuhi Aslamazian were strong advocates of the women “libbers” movement in the 1950s, revered in Armenia and claimed by Moscow where they lived during the height of their careers. The architecturally significant gallery houses their valuable art collections and provides educational and hands-on programs for school children and the public. In 2017, roughly 4200 students and community members were served. The Gallery had 10,180 visitors.
The second week, we move a half-mile to an archaeological dig near the Black Fortress, where you will help uncover fascinating glimpses into a world seldom recorded. Excavations recently uncovered remarkable artifacts from the Kingdom of Urartu (or the Kingdom of Van), a civilization that developed in the Bronze and Iron Age of ancient Armenia from the 9th century BCE. Artifacts uncovered in Gyumri are from the 6th-3rd centuries BCE.
The goal of this project is to clarify issues connected with the ethnography and archeology of Gyumri. Experts are working to assign dates to artifacts found within the city’s ancient settlement. Work promotes the study of tribal history, helping to identify tribal leaders represented in Urartu inscriptions still remaining at various sites in the Shirak province.
To find out the cost and other details of the program, please, visit: https://adventuresinpreservation.org/gyumri