On May 16, the 5th International Crafts Festival, held under the theme “Creative Community, Sustainable Future,” opened in Meghri. The festival brought together around 20 master artisans from Armenia and 24 artisans from CIS member states, Georgia, and Iran. Throughout the two-day program, Meghri, designated the CIS Cultural Capital for 2026, became a vibrant celebration of traditional crafts, music, dance, and local cuisine.
Among those attending the opening ceremony were Zhanna Andreasyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia; Deputy Minister Alfred Kocharyan; Head of the Meghri Community Khachatur Andreasyan; and other officials. Accompanied by Lusine Toroyan, Director of the Hovhannes Sharambeyan Folk Arts Museum, they toured the festival pavilions, viewed the artisans’ works, and met with participants.
Visitors had the opportunity to explore the traditions of Armenian cuisine and discover the region’s distinctive culinary heritage. The festival showcased traditional crafts from Armenia and other countries, including carpet weaving, embroidery, lace-making, doll-making, woodworking, pottery, blacksmithing, jewelry-making, straw weaving, and more. The program also featured traditional music and dance performances, master classes, and a craft fair.
The festival’s primary objective was to foster a creative community by revitalizing Meghri’s unique cultural identity and creative potential, while bringing together participants from Meghri, various regions of Armenia, and CIS countries on a shared cultural platform.
Specially designed activity zones hosted a variety of educational, cultural, and entertainment events, including shadow theatre performances, puppet shows, storytelling sessions, and other engaging activities filled with memorable experiences. A traditional tightrope-walking performance was also presented.
The festival concluded with evening concerts featuring performances by the Katil Band, the Manel Choir of the Folk Arts Museum, and the educational and cultural initiative Vary Varenk.
The festival was organized on the initiative and with the financial support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia, in cooperation with the Hovhannes Sharambeyan Folk Arts Museum, and with the support of the Meghri Municipality, the Cultural Development Foundation, and the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS Member States.