What is the Armenian American Museum?
The mission of the Armenian American Museum and Cultural Center of California is to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Armenian American experience. The vision is a cultural campus that enriches the community, educates the public on the Armenian American story, and empowers individuals to embrace cultural diversity and speak out against prejudice.
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What is the location of the museum?
The Armenian American Museum will be built in the heart of Southern California and serve as an arts and cultural destination for local patrons and visitors from around the world. The City of Glendale, home to one of the largest Armenian Diaspora communities, has dedicated premier land for the historic project in downtown Central Park. The museum will neighbor major downtown attractions including The Americana at Brand, Museum of Neon Art (MONA), and Downtown Central Library.
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How will the museum improve Central Park?
The Glendale City Council has budgeted $18 million for the makeover and expansion of the Central Park. The project includes the creation of a new central lawn connecting the museum and library, an outdoor amphitheater for live performances, a children’s park with playgrounds and splash pads, and outdoor recreation amenities for the community. The City of Glendale and the Armenian American Museum will be establishing a joint committee to plan the outdoor programming in Central Park. The museum campus promises to serve as the new heart of the city with exciting outdoor activities that will be curated for the local community and visitors from throughout the world.
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What is the construction timeline for the project?
American Museum is a two-phase project including the Phase I Foundation Phase featuring the one-level semi-subterranean parking garage and foundation of the building followed by the Phase II Horizon Phase featuring the two-level 50,820 square foot museum complex. Phase I construction was completed in 2023. Phase II construction is in progress and expected to be completed in 2026.
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What is the construction budget for the project?
The construction budget for the Armenian American Museum is $67 million. The construction budget includes hard costs for the core and shell construction of the two-level building and one-level semi-subterranean parking garage as well as the soft costs consisting of the architecture and engineering costs.
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How much funds have been raised for the project?
The Armenian American Museum has raised $51 million for the construction of the building through generous donations, pledges, and grants. The State of California has contributed $19.6 million, the County of Los Angeles has contributed $1 million, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has contributed $950,000 in government grants. Naming Opportunities donors and Donor Program members have committed more than $29 million to the historic project through legacy gifts.
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What type of programming will the museum offer?
The Armenian American Museum will offer a wide range of programming hosted through the Permanent and Temporary Exhibition Galleries, Auditorium, Learning Center, Demonstration Kitchen, and Archives Center in addition to virtual opportunities for audiences across the country and around the world.
The museum will produce and host a wide range of powerful, immersive, and thought-provoking exhibitions, present engaging public programs to lead meaningful dialogues and conversations, connect people and communities through diverse programming, celebrate arts and culture on a global stage, provide educational opportunities for families, youth, and children, serve as a repository for heritage and history, and host memorable experiences, gatherings, and celebrations as an iconic venue.
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How will the museum benefit children and youth?
Children and youth are at the heart of the Armenian American Museum’s mission of education and preservation. K-12 public and private school students will experience impactful exhibitions during memorable field trips with educators, children and youth will be immersed in the arts, music, and dance through performances hosted in the museum’s Auditorium, and families will enjoy a wide range of educational opportunities and activities in the museum’s Learning Center. The museum will be a center for children and youth to connect to their roots and celebrate the rich culture and history of their heritage. The museum will transcend generations, passing on valuable knowledge, memories, and traditions to future generations of young people who will be inspired and filled with a sense of pride as they discover and peel back the layers of their own identity. As more generations of children grow up in America, it is imperative to have a space that celebrates, preserves, and shares culture, history, and heritage.
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How will the museum strengthen and collaborate with community organizations?
The Armenian American Museum will serve as a cultural and educational bridge to Armenia. The museum will seek to establish collaborative relationships with fellow museums and educational institutions based in Armenia with the goal of showcasing artifacts from Armenia through its exhibition programs, co-producing events and programming with Armenia-based individuals and organizations, serving as a platform for Armenia-based artists, thinkers, and ideas, and presenting Armenia to a wider audience across the United States of America. The museum will play a vital role in sharing the sights, sounds, and experiences of Armenia with children and youth who will be inspired to begin an exciting journey of cultural curiosity and discovery.
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Will the museum serve diverse communities?
The Armenian American Museum will be an inclusive center that welcomes broad and diverse audiences to be part of the institution’s family of patrons. The museum will be a place to learn more about the Armenian American community and learn more about each other by building cross-cultural connections. The museum will offer a wide range of programming to serve people of all ages and backgrounds. While the museum’s Permanent Exhibition will be dedicated to the Armenian American experience, the museum’s Temporary Exhibitions Gallery will host a series of exhibitions throughout the year that will feature diverse cultures and subject matters. The museum’s Auditorium will host lectures, performances, and film screenings that are representative of the Armenian American community and the multitude of cultures that comprise the rich diversity in Southern California. The museum’s Demonstration Kitchen will bring communities together through food from all over the globe and the Learning Center will greet diverse students from schools across the region.
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How will the museum serve as a bridge to Armenia and the Diaspora?
The Armenian people are a nation of builders who have built churches, schools, and community centers to serve thriving communities throughout the world including in the United States. The Armenian American Museum will complement the established community infrastructure in Southern California and across the country by building on it as a public facing institution with national and global reach. The museum will present, showcase, and elevate stories, experiences, and contributions to a broad and diverse audience throughout the world. The museum will preserve, share, and celebrate Armenian American heritage while serving as a bridge between a multitude of communities to foster global understanding and connection. Your generous contributions will support the creation of the first world class cultural and educational center of its kind in America.
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How does the museum plan to educate the public on the Armenian Genocide?
The Armenian American Museum was founded by the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee Western USA who adopted the landmark project to honor the memory of the 1.5 million martyrs who perished in the Armenian Genocide and to help build and define the next centennial of the community as a message of strength, perseverance, and hope for future generations. The museum will educate the public on the Armenian Genocide, one of the darkest chapters of history, highlighting not only the crime and great loss but also the survival and perseverance of the Armenian people. The museum will also educate the public on the Armenian people’s thousands of years of rich and vibrant history, their vast contributions to society throughout the world, and the road ahead as they chart a new course for the future. Ultimately, the museum will be an institution that honors our past and helps build our future.
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Why is the museum worthy of financial support?
The Armenian American Museum will serve to preserve, maintain, and grow the community’s connection to its culture, history, and heritage – which is crucial to the survival of cultural, religious, and educational organizations in the community who rely on the patronage of community members. Inspiring an appreciation for Armenian culture will protect against cultural apathy which will inevitably lead to diminishing support for charitable institutions. Moreover, the museum will be a valuable asset by developing collaborative partnerships between community organizations, hosting memorable community events, meetings, and celebrations in one of the world’s most unique venues, growing and expanding the reach of the Armenian American community far beyond the walls of the museum, and fostering the next generation of community leaders through educational and career opportunities.
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How will the museum sustain operational costs?
The Armenian American Museum will generate ongoing revenue to support operations through its admission fees, proceeds from the Museum Shop, parking fees through the museum parking garage, and the rental of museum spaces that will serve as a premier event venue for the public. As a non-profit museum, the center will support operations through its endowment funds and grants from foundations, corporations, and government agencies.