Presentation of Carpet Museum to be held in Shoushi

On October 22, at 12pm, the presentation of the Museum of Carpets will take place at the Center of Arts of Shoushi. The museum was founded at the private initiative of Vardan Astsatrian who currently holds the office of the adviser to NKR president, according to the Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs of Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

The museum collection comprises over 250 carpets and rugs, woven during the period from the end of the 17th century to the beginning of the 19th century, which represent the peculiarities of the art of carpet weaving in Artsakh.

The aim of the museum is to preserve traditional Artsakhian carpets, rugs and textile from oblivion and destruction as well as to represent on a permanent basis the carpet weaving art of Artsakh in the best way, thus counteracting Azerbaijan’s consistent policy of appropriating the Armenian culture.

The Center of Arts of Shoushi /initially “Sargsyants” gallery/ was founded by Armenian benefactor Karo Sargsyan, now a Moscow resident, in 2012. In 2013 the ground floor of the building was donated for the storage and exhibition of Artsakhian carpets, rugs and antique household items.

Acknowledging the importance of preservation and protection of the cultural heritage of Artsakh, the Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs of NKR expressed readiness to assist the museum in its further activities.

Thus, with the cooperation of the government and the private sector another cultural institution has opened in Shoushi through which Artsakh can become a center of study and development of carpet weaving.