Actually, the gallery’s pre-history dates back to the 1968, two years before it was established. It was back then that the exhibit called the “World through the Eyes of Children” opened in the Artists’ Union of Armenia. The exhibit was opened upon the initiative of art expert Henrik Igityan. Afterward, the gallery was established. Five years after that, British Prime Minister donated 100 paintings to the gallery. The paintings were all painted by British children.
Presently, the gallery includes over 200,000 exhibits, out of which the 100,000 make up a unique collection of works by children from over 130 countries. Among the works exhibited in the gallery you will find colorful rugs, paintings, sculptures, graphic works, rugs, carpets, ceramics and so on. Some of the artwork has been regularly sent to exhibitions held in the US, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Japan and France.
In 1978 the National Aesthetic Education Center was established, and due to that the Gallery became an Armenian Museum of Children’s Artwork. The center later established branches in other Armenian cities among them Spitak, Meghri, Goris, Vanadzor, Kapan, and it currently comes with a movie studio, a symphony orchestra and painting and decorative applied arts studios.
The works presented in the gallery are created by children aged between three to sixteen, that is by children who don’t yet study at school and those who are to graduate soon. The Gallery never fails to organize annual exhibitions of drawings. The exhibitions of works by school kids who wish to enter an art institute are organized as well.
Each year May 20 is a day full of excitement and fun all around the square in front of the Opera House. That’s when the “Children Draw” Festival is held with the entire pavement covered with nice chalk drawings. It’s something not to miss.
Children’s Art Gallery is located on Abovyan Street. It’s open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. Note that for tourists and Armenian citizens alike the ticket will cost 500 Dram, while for kids only 200 Dram.
Location: 13 Abovyan Str., Yerevan
Tel.: (374 10) 520 903
