Funded by the European Union (EU) under its EU4Culture project, the EUDigitLAB, a cross-innovation initiative in Ijevan, Armenia, was finalised in July. It was implemented by an Armenian non-governmental organisation, the Tavush Innovation Centre, the EU-funded InnoIjevan project, and the Georgian Animation Association (SAQANIMA). Over the course of its action, the EUDigitLAB has created learning and networking opportunities for young local professionals interested in advancing their skills in graphic design and animation.
The project implementers created a computer lab in the InnoIjevan HUB featuring a youth centre and educational programmes for students. “EUDigitLAB now has 15 graduates who acquired technical skills and knowledge of graphic design and animation,” says Lilit Galumyan, founder of the Tavush Innovation Centre – the NGO, which implemented the EU-funded project. “We are trying to have our youth stay in Ijevan and work from here,” she says, “by providing them with an opportunity to master a profession, which allows them to work from anywhere, without the need to relocate away from the city.”
Origins
Ijevan is one of the winning cities of the EU4Culture programme. It has received support packages from the EU to create and implement the city’s Cultural Development Strategy through consultations with local stakeholders. “Our strategy includes the development of information technologies in Ijevan as a priority,” says Lilit, “along with protection of our nature and cultural heritage.”
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“We decided to combine these strategic priorities in the project,” she emphasises, “and focus on the topic of environmental conservation and modern technologies.” Hence the idea for EUDigitLAB was born. The project implementers conceptualised an eight-month graphic design and motion graphics educational programme in a well-equipped computer lab. A graphic designer and a motion graphics expert from Yerevan were hired to teach the course.
All the visual and audiovisual projects developed by the students during the eight-month period were about the environment, current ecological challenges, and their solutions.
As a result of the synergetic partnership between the Tavush Innovation Centre and the EU-funded InnoIjevan project, EUDigitLAB’s electronic equipment was set up in the InnoIjevan HUB. The computer lab is there to stay for the local creatives to use and improve their professional skills, which ensures the sustainability of the project beyond its completion.
Connections
The EUDigitLAB features an international component allowing young animators from Armenia and Georgia to get connected with each other. “We brought young Georgian animators from Tbilisi, Nikozi, and Zugdidi, Georgia, to Ijevan for the first time,” says Mariam Kandelaki, animated film director, producer, and the founder of SAQANIMA, an NGO, which was also involved in implementing the creative initiative in Ijevan.
“I am sure that our animators will find common ground,” she points out, “international collaborations are of high importance for the Georgian animation industry.” Lilit adds that “projects come and go but the connection between people stays, and it is our honour to host our neighbours from Georgia.”
One of SAQANIMA’s goals is to ensure that young talents do not leave the country. “We are now organising the Nikozi Festival for the 12th time in Nikozi village,” says Mariam, “which is next to the border where the war happened in 2008.” The village also has a school for 120 children who have the opportunity to study animation, as well as other art forms. Mariam also mentions an animator – Mariam Kortua, from Georgia’s regional city of Zugdidi – who, through SAQANIMA’s support, travelled to Annecy, France, established contacts with foreign producers and started a partnership with one of them to create an animated film.
“It is not at all necessary for an animator to go to France and live there,” Mariam points out, “they can live in Zugdidi and create a new film in line with European standards and in partnership with a French producer.” By connecting Georgian and Armenian animators from regions and capital cities with each other, the Tavush Innovation Centre and SAQANIMA are working toward a shared goal – reducing the brain-drain from their countries and cities.
Progress
The 15 graduates of EUDigitLAB’s first course demonstrated their newly acquired skills in graphic design and animation during the project’s closing event. Some of them will be employed by creative agencies from Yerevan, which provide services to clients beyond Armenia as well. “Some of the students have already received remote job offers from Yerevan,” says Lilit.
The Tavush Innovation Centre is now in talks with InnoIjevan and other partners, including SAQANIMA, to define how EUDigitLAB can continue offering courses to local youth to improve their competitiveness locally on national and international markets. The computer lab is to stay in the InnoIjevan HUB for the local creatives to use for professional growth, but there are no concrete plans yet for continuing the educational programme. “When we started doing the project,” she says, “we were planning to close it after the end of the course, but now we are thinking of collecting students again.” If EUDigitLAB continues its educational programme, some of its alumni will be offered work as mentors for the new batch of young animators and graphic designers from Ijevan.
“Friendships now remain,” Lilit says, “and we continue consulting on what can be done in partnership.” Mariam points out that “several projects are being discussed in partnership with the Tavush Innovation Centre,” and, she thinks, “the first steps made with EUDigitLAB will form a foundation for what will be done next year.”
“I believe that our partnership will deepen because it is not easy to implement projects in Georgia,” Mariam says. “By joining forces, we will be able to create more works.”
EU4Culture-supported Cultural and Cross-Innovation Projects in Armenia
In Armenia, to further support regional cities and the local creative and cultural sector in implementing their Cultural Development Strategies, three projects were selected by EU4Culture and received a total of €55,000 in cultural grants. The creative initiatives, which were implemented in the regional cities of Charentsavan, Ijevan, and Sevan, are now finalised. Aligned with the key priorities of the three cities’ Cultural Development Strategies, the three projects have provided local youth with educational, networking, and work opportunities locally.
