Sona Harutyunyan

1989 - 1995	Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts, Department of Design (Free Listener)
1994	Free University of Humanities, Yerevan (Department of Arts)
1995	Armenian-German Conference and Scientific Expedition: Reports on “Haghartsin” Architectural Complex and Artworks of Hakob Hovnatan”
1996 - 2004	Albert - Ludwigs - Universität Freiburg, Germany, Faculty of Humanities. Major subject: Art History; Subsidiary subjects: Christian Archaeology and Classical Archaeology
2000 - 2004	Conferences and Scientific Expeditions to Greece, Italy, Switzerland, France and Germany
2004	Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany: Master’s Thesis on “Vardges Sureniants: Founder of Armenian Historical Painting”: Master of Arts in Art History, Christian Archaeology and Classical Archaeology
Since 2004	Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany: Doctoral thesis on “Narek Avetisyan: National Identity in Contemporary Armenian Art at the turn of the 21st Century”
Professional Experience
1989 - 1996	Museum of Modern Art, Yerevan
1995 - 2006	“Actual Art” Cultural Centre, Yerevan. “Actual Art” magazine: Articles on art and culture, translation (German / Armenian) of scientific research material and publications
1997 - 2000	Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany: Arts Library and Researcher (Department of Art History)
2003 - 2004	Museum of Modern Art, Yerevan: Researcher, German Excursion Guide Researcher at the National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan
2004	Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany: Arts Library and Researcher (Department of Art History) Research and study of Jacob Burckhardt’s “Private Collections” and translation of the work into Armenian in Basel (Switzerland)
since 2006	Organization and curation of numerous exhibitions public art projects and dieferent events with both armenian and international artists
2006 - 2009	Adviser to the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Armenia Major activities: Armenian - German cultural relations, International projects, art, museums, exhibitions, festivals
Major projects
2007	“5 Artistes Arméniens”, exhibition in the context of the Year of Armenia in France “Arménie Mon Amie”, Marseille, France. Supported by the City of Marseille
2007 - 2012	The rescue and the restoration of renowned frescoes by the Armenian artist Minas Avetisyan which were transferred to the Governmental Building Republic of Armenia as well as two frescoes were transferred to "Zvartnots" International airport, Yerevan
2008	International Art Festival “Karot” in Moscow, Russia Ensuring governmental support of 6th Biennial of Contemporary Art in Gyumri, Armenia Preparation and implementation of the international project “Arshile Gorky’s days in Armenia” in cooperation with the National Association of Art Critics Organization of the international conference “Historical Development and the Perception of Arshile Gorky’s Art within the context of Contemporary Modern Art and Critical Thinking”, Participation of professionals from the Florence Academy of Art at the National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan Exhibition “Van Embroidery from 17th – 20th Century” dedicated to the commemoration of Arshile Gorky and exhibition “…Mother’s Embroidered Apron is Opening in my Life” in History Museum of Armenia, Yerevan
2009	Organization of the international conference “Between the Past and the Present: Does Art Criticism have a Future in DE - territorialized Contexts?” in Yerevan; in cooperation with the National Association of Art Critics, AICA, the Open Society Institute and the Ministry of Culture
2009 - 2012	Head of the Department of Contemporary Art, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Armenia: Coordinator for the arts, music, literature, theatre, dance, cinema and the field of cultural education
Major projects
2010	Support and implementation of the international Animation festival "reAnimania" International Art Festival “Karot” in Moscow, Russia Participation in “Investing in People: Access to Local Culture, Protection and Promotion of Cultural Diversity” in the context of the new project announced by the European Commission “Beyond Boredom, Dust and Decay – Museums as Life Long Learning Spaces for Intercultural Dialogue (A-MUSE-ALL)” in Berlin (Germany) and Copenhagen (Denmark). Involved in the project were Armenia. Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Germany. In the context of the project, participation in the meeting of NEMO members discussing Armenia’s membership in the organization
2011	The exhibition “Armenian Contemporary Art” in Modern Art Museum of Kuwait City, Kuwait Initiation and implementation of the project “Simulacrum. 33 Transformations of ‘The Girl with the Pearl Earring’ by Jan Vermeer” by the Armenian artist Narek Avetisyan at the Armenian Centre for Contemporary Experimental Art Initiation, organization and implementation of Armenia’s first participation at the International Contemporary Art Fair “artbygenève”, Geneva, Switzerland. Presentation of the project “Simulacrum” by Narek Avetisyan in a special pavilion. Visited by Serge Sargsyan, President of the Republic of Armenia and French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour Initiating and ensuring the participation of Armenia in 54th Venice International Biennale in a new format. Coordination of the National Pavilion of the Republic of Armenia on behalf of the Ministry of Culture of Armenia Organization and presentation of the exhibition “At the Crossroads of Tradition and Modernism” in the context of “Days of Armenian Culture in China, i National Museum of China, Beijing, China The exhibition “Modern Armenian Art” at Art Association “Talstrasse”, Halle (Saale), Germany. With the participation of the Armenian Centre for Contemporary Experimental Art, Yerevan and the Ministry of Culture of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany EU-Eastern partnership Culture and Creativity Program. Discussion of opportunities pertaining funding projects on contemporary Armenian art Organisation of the exhibition “Glimpse. Modern Art of Armenia” in Artists’ Union of Armenia. Preparation and publication of the exhibition catalogue, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the independence of Armenia; in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program(UNDP) in Armenia
Since 2012	Member of UNESCO’s International Council of Museums (ICOM)
2012	Participation in the discussion of the cultural project “Inter-Cross-Culture”, involving Armenia in the project organized by the European Union by invitation of the Ministry of Culture of the County of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
2012 June 15th	Founding of Foundation KulturDialog Armenien Its intention is to create favourable conditions for Armenian and foreign artists as well as for representatives of artistic and cultural fields and also for specialized structures by initiating, organizing and carrying out numerous projects in Armenia and abroad in order to start intercultural and artistic cooperation and to promote artistic exchange Organization and implementation of Armenia’s participation in the format “Special Exhibition” in the context of the 5th Beijing International Biennale “The Future and Reality”. Responsible Commissar of Armenia’s “Special Exhibition” in cooperation with the Cultural Ministry of Armenia
Professional Awards
2009	Golden Diploma and Golden Medal awarded by “Karot” International Art Festival (Moscow / Russia) for the contribution to the development of Armenian culture. Diploma awarded by the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Economy and Yerevan Municipality for supporting and participating in “Winter Festival Armenia 2009”
2010	Golden Diploma awarded by “Karot” International Art Festival (Moscow / Russia) for preparing and implementing the Armenian participation
2011	Certificate of Appreciation, awarded by the Ministry of Emergency Situations for the selection of art works and for the organization of a large-scale exposition for interior decoration for the newly constructed building of the Ministry of Emergency Situations