“Council couldn’t have been impartial”
"100 million drams for the implementation of cultural programs"-this news motivated representatives of different spheres of culture in Armenia months ago.
That sum allocated by Gagik Tsarukyan was supposed to have been owned and distributed by a cultural council consisting of several well-known Armenian cultural figures created specifically for that purpose. The chairman of the council was President of the Union of Composers of Armenia R. Amirkhanyan who headed several sessions. However, according to individuals who submitted appeals to the council, none of the members reached consensus on the funding for any project. As a result, the tremendous budget that was allocated wasn't used, and now there is a lack of trust in the council.
Yesterday it was officially announced that Tsarukyan had decided to disband the council, but maintain the budget for the projects and increase it in case of need. From now on, the sums will be distributed through the Gagik Tsarukyan Benevolent Fund.
How will the change of the mechanism of distribution have an impact on the projects? One of those who submitted an appeal to the council, pianist, RA Distinguished Artist, Professor Anahit Nersisyan finds that it would only have a positive impact.
"I welcome Tsarukyan's decision on providing a tremendous sum for cultural projects and also welcome the disbandment of the council. That council couldn't have made impartial decisions and subjectivity would have been a huge factor. It was very right to hold Tsarukyan Benevolent Fund responsible for holding tenders and providing funding. There is no doubt that I trust the objectivity of that fund," she said.
