Concluded projects

Artasfoundation, Zurich – Chambarak Project, Armenia (www.artasfoundation.ch)

The Artas Foundation is a Swiss foundation promoting the arts in conflict regions. It initiates its own art projects and is building a competence center for the research and discussion of art as part of conflict mediation, peacebuilding, and international cooperation.

The Thomas Abegg Foundation supported a trip by Swiss art students to Chambarak, Armenia on the border with Azerbaijan, where they worked together with local artists from Yerevan. Chambarak has experienced major population changes since the 1990s with the forced relocations of Armenians and Azerbaijanis and still suffers from issues related to emigration, structural weakness, and stagnation due to the ongoing conflict between the two countries. In close collaboration with the local population the 28 artists developed various pieces, ranging from drawings, to installations, photographic works and the organization of workshops for local youth. A second phase which seeks to promote solidarity and peaceful living together through art projects is in the planning stages.

The Thomas Abegg Foundation supported this project because art is an interesting approach to promoting communication in conflict regions, enabling participants to learn from each other across borders.