The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s Armenian Communities Department hosted a landmark event in Lisbon in July, bringing together some of the most esteemed intellectuals of the Armenian Diaspora. This three-day gathering, entitled Հաւասարում նորոգ | Renewed Equation: An Intergenerational Dialogue, reinforced the Diaspora’s rich intellectual legacy while fostering a dynamic conversation across generations.

The event, held from 15 to 17 July 2024, at the Foundation’s headquarters in Portugal, was the culmination of two years of careful planning. The gathering, a first in its kind, featured 36 participants from 14 countries, representing three different generations of diasporan intellectuals. The title referenced and drew inspiration from Haroutioun Kurkjian’s (1943-2024) seminal 1968 essay «Երկրորդ հաւասարում բազմաթիւ անյայտներով» (A Second Equation with Multiple Unknowns).

The gathering provided a rare opportunity to think through some of the main issues facing Armenians today while placing the Diaspora at the forefront. It was also a space where the Armenian language was the medium of thought and expression. In addition to the presence of veteran figures and influential mid-generation intellectuals, the meeting benefited from a strong contingent of promising and accomplished youth.

The event was comprised of several components. First were the seven spotlight interviews, where younger and mid-generation participants engaged in curated conversations with leading diasporan thinkers including: Haroutioun Kurkjian, Jirair Libaridian, Khachig Tololyan, Krikor Beledian, Marc Nichanian, Silva Kuyumcuyan, and Vehanoush Tekian. The conversations illuminated these distinguished figures’ personal journeys and intellectual contributions, offering insights into the evolving Diasporan experience since the 1960s.

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In addition to being an homage to those who have shaped the intellectual fabric of Armenian communities worldwide, Հաւասարում նորոգ was a crucial platform for inter- and intra-generational discourse through six in-depth roundtable discussions. Each focussed on a key theme: culture and literature, education, diasporan politics, the broader diasporan condition, the youth’s perspective on the Diaspora, and the transfer of intellectual heritage. There also was a presentation on the Armenian Diaspora Survey. The entire event was simultaneously a reflection on the past and a dialogue for the future.

A series of video recordings, including the spotlight interviews and a documentary film by Ara Madzounian capturing the essence of this unique gathering, will soon be made available to the public. An analytical report by Vicken Cheterian, highlighting the key discussion points, will also be published.

Հաւասարում նորոգ was more than just a seminar; it was an occasion to explore the potential and unique possibilities of the Armenian Diaspora. As participants left Lisbon, there was a shared recognition that such gatherings are crucial for the intellectual development and long-term sustainability of the Armenian Diaspora as an entity in its own right.

However, many attendees noted the lack of platforms for deep discussions, which could foster meaningful connections and knowledge transfer across generations. It became clear that more individuals or organizations within Armenian communities must take responsibility and step forward to strengthen these essential connections and promote intra-Diaspora dialogue.

The participants of Հաւասարում նորոգ | Renewed Equation: An Intergenerational Dialogue were:

Participating staff from the Armenian Communities Department:
Razmik Panossian, Shogher Margossian, Kayane Madzounian, Ani Garmiryan.

The programme of the event can be found here.