Arthur Ghukasyan: "One man, even if he is a genius, is not able to do anything alone"

Actor and producer about the work on the High Fest — multi-genre festival for the Performing Arts in Armenia.

The most successful project, of course, is High Fest, which is held since 2003. High Fest festival is a multi-genre festival for the Performing Arts. The goal is to present innovative works of contemporary performing arts and exclusive international art productions. Here multi-genre performances from different countries are presented. But among the successful projects, I should also mention our first festival Nazenik. It didn’t have such a big success as High Fest because it was our first attempt, but this festival of mime and modern dance was the first such event in Armenia. High Street also was a successful project, and has been held in Russia, Germany and the Netherlands. Our next project is "Talking to each other" («Խոսելով միմյանց հետ»), which is held together with Turkey. In the scope of the project, exhibitions are organised, which includes memories of survivors of the genocide. It has been held in 4 cities of Armenia and Turkey. It was very important since the word "genocide" has repeatedly sounded in Turkey.

For a successful project, firstly, one needs to have the right idea, it should be exclusive, secondly, it must be of high quality, the project must be carried out by professionals. Team is also very important since one man, even if he is a genius, is not able to do anything alone. The project should be simple, specific, evaluable, attainable, realistic and timely. Each project should contribute to the socio-cultural development of the country.

High Fest has no equals in Armenia

I successfully attract and motivate people thanks to everything that I listed in my previous answer, and, in addition, I am such a nice person, charismatic guy (smiles). It is very important who is presenting, how he/she is speaking. Sometimes people ask me, why did you invite this man or that man, they tell me, to put it mildly, Arthur, take a hold on yourself, why do you want to bring the best directors. I answer because I want that, because it is essential, because thanks to it we will have high standards and the world will know what is happening in Armenia. For the same reason, High Fest was a success, it has no equals in Armenia. 

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Actor and producer. From 1988 to 1992 he studied at the Yerevan State Institute of Art and Theater at the faculty of Acting and Directing. In 1989 he studied at the London City University and in 1999 at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, in 2001 at the University of Amsterdam and in 2001 at the Academy of Management and Media in Salzburg. From 1989 to 1993 he was a leading actor Studio Theatre named after R. Tumanyan. From 1993 to 1999 he was the head of the Actors Studio, at the Yerevan State Chamber Theatre. From 1996 to 1999 he was the executive director of Miss Armenia beauty contest. In 1998, as a producer he staged Absurdity («Անհեթեթություն») and The Princess and the Goblin («Գոբլինների արքայադուստը») in the Urban drama theater, in Newcastle, UK. From 1998 to 2002 he worked in television, where hosted several TV shows. Since 2000, he is the president of the Union of Armenian actors, since 2001 he is the CEO of the International Mime Festival Nazenik, since 2002 he is president of the International Theatre Festival High Fest, since 2003 he is the chief secretary of the National Center ITI in Armenia, Chairman of «ASSITEJ National Center in Armenia, a member of the IETM and since 2006 member of the IFEA. Since 2001 he has organised a large number of seminars on art management and cultural policy in Armenia. Since 2001 he has conducted seminars and lectures in many cities: Yerevan, London, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rome, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Athens, Stockholm, Helsinki, etc. Since 2002, he has taught art management and cultural policy at the Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Cinema. Since 2005 he is a visiting professor at the London Metropolitan University. Since 2004 he is the Head of the International Relations Department at the Yerevan State Institute of Cinema and Theatre, since 2011 he is the head of the Department of Art Management and Cultural Policy. In 2014 he was awarded the title of Honoured Worker of Culture of Armenia.

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