Preservation and awareness-raising of moveable culture heritage of our country is one of the most important domains of the state cultural policy. Establishing an electronic information database of cultural values (Armenian treasury) which was launched upon the Decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia (2014) “On approving the procedure for establishing an electronic information database of cultural values and the list of organisations providing information to the database” is aimed at the solution of this issue. It is aimed at integrating, in a unified format in a single domain, the moveable cultural heritage of the Republic of Armenia and making it accessible both for the general public and the scientists-researchers studying that wealth. Integrated digitised data on museums, archives and handwritten and printed cultural values of both state storages (museums, libraries, archives) and non-state collections (upon the consent of the owners) are included in the database. The database is aimed at further including Armenian moveable cultural values available in different structures of the world and numerous institutions of the Armenian communities. All this will provide an opportunity to widely raise awareness of the cultural heritage of our country both in Armenia and abroad. 41 organisations under state and community subordination have currently joined the database. Data on around 156 586 cultural values are entered into the database and have been approved. Activities on uploading information to the database were launched in January 2016. The first stage of the process finished in 2020.
Since 2001, the National Library of Armenia carried out activities on establishing an Electronic Union Catalogue of the largest Armenian Libraries, which is available at: http://armunicat.am:8991/. The Armenian largest public, marz [regional] and academic libraries have joined the software. It also allows the provision of electronic services to readers. In 2018-2019, digitisation and preservation of 18 Armenian films was ensured through the project “Cinema-photo-phono collections preservation service”. Another digitization programme is the “Electronic Library” project, through which Armenian literature, teaching and popular science materials in the Armenian language, books published by the initiative, by order and assistance of the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia were digitised and uploaded on the website. The creation of virtual museums started with the “Virtual Museum of the History of the Armenian Diaspora”[1], exposing online materials and photos concerning the Armenian communities, pan-Armenian organisations and spiritual structures of the Diaspora, concerning Armenia, Armenian Genocide, dictionaries of Armenian names and surnames, Armenian cultural heritage and contributions of eminent Armenians in the world civilisation. To preserve and popularize the Armenian video and audio cultural heritage, digitisation of musical works, films, the so called “Golden Fund” of the Public Radio was implemented through the introduction of the latest technologies. In particular, A. Khzmalyan’s collection “Under the question mark” and souvenir collection of Armenian films “The cinema of our independence” were printed, activities on digitising and preserving 31 films are being carried out within the framework of the project “Cinema-photo-phono collections preservation service”, radio performance of V. Papazian’s “The Rock” and the recordings of Tatevik Sazandaryan’s 18 performances kept in “Golden Fund” of the Public Radio were restored and digitised. With a view to ensuring an appropriate level of TV airtime, with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia, the TV programme series of “Cultural Armenia” TV programme (64 programmes) and programmes within the framework of TV programme “On the Roads of Armenia” covering Armenian historical and cultural monuments, cultural centres and cultural events, national traditions, rituals and celebrations (56 programmes), “Arvestakirner” [Carriers of Art] (12 programmes), “Antsanot Yerevan” [Unknown Yerevan] (8 programmes), “Hayic hay” [From Armenian to Armenian] 18 (programmes) and “Octava” (8 programmes) marz [regional] and cultural programme were prepared and broadcast by Public Television. With a goal to identify and promote the creative potential in the republic, information databases оf educational tools for talented teens with and without disabilities, child and youth choirs of Armenia were replenished, as well as information databases of educational items necessary for the operating of fine arts schools and the Department of “Visual Arts” of art schools of the Republic of Armenia were established (2019).
Unfortunately, there is no particular research that would emphasize the trends and indicators of the development of digital policies.
[1] www.armdiasporamuseum.com
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