A New Chapter for the Henrik Igityan NCA and Children’s Art Museum

What happens when children step into the world of art not just as observers but as creators?

For more than half a century, the Henrik Igityan National Center for Aesthetics (NCA) has provided exactly that for Armenian children. The center is home to the Children’s Art Museum, which holds the distinction of being the first institution of its kind in the former Soviet Union and among the earliest globally. This space has long been essential, enabling young people to express themselves fully through drawing, sculpture, ceramics, theater, and movement.

Now, the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation is helping the museum take a major step forward. Through a $33,548 grant, the Foundation supported the renovation of the museum’s new wing at 6/40 Sayat-Nova Avenue in Yerevan. This investment is part of a broader effort to restore the museum to its historic home and reimagine it for new generations of artists.

How a bold idea grew into the first museum of its kind 

The Children’s Art Museum was founded in 1970 by Henrik Igityan and Zhanna Aghamiryan, both pioneering figures in the history of children’s art. The museum opened with a bold idea that children’s artistic expression is not a step toward adulthood but a world of its own, worthy of preservation and study. Over the decades, its collection grew to more than 150,000 works by children from 120 countries.

But by the late 2010s, the museum had lost its original space and needed significant renovation to meet the standards expected of a national cultural institution. When theater director and arts educator Vahan Badalyan was appointed Director of the NCA in 2020, he set out to return the museum to its historic home and reimagine its purpose for a new era.

For Vahan, the mission was clear: “Today, museums are no longer just places where art is displayed,” he explains. “They have evolved into multifunctional cultural hubs that inspire, engage, and connect people.” This vision, he adds, is even more critical for a Children’s Art Museum, which must provide not only exhibitions but “interactive environments, creative laboratories, and opportunities where imagination can truly flourish.” His goal was to build a space that would allow visitors to experience art, not only observe it. “I wanted to create a contemporary art hub where visitors can both see and create art,” he says, “a place where you can reconnect with your childhood, remember how free and imaginative you once were, and, as an adult, rediscover that same spark.”

Equally central to his vision was accessibility. The renewed museum, he emphasizes, must welcome children and adults of all abilities and backgrounds. “It is a space where everyone can participate, express themselves, and feel a sense of belonging.” This required multi-year planning, legal work, and substantial renovation. That work became possible in 2024 thanks to support from the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation.

Restoring a home for creativity and expression

The Foundation’s grant funded the renovation of two of the museum’s main exhibition halls, one upstairs and one downstairs, as well as a wardrobe area and key structural improvements. The project was designed not only to repair the space, but to modernize it in line with international museum standards. Crucially, the renovation included the installation of an elevator connecting the two floors, making the museum fully accessible to children, families, and visitors with mobility needs.

When the museum reopened in September, visitors walked into bright, open galleries with carefully lit exhibition spaces, new doors, and accessible entryways. All of it reflected months of detailed work completed in accordance with strict state procurement rules. The museum even finished the renovation one month early, a rarity in public construction. Throughout the process, the NCA maintained close communication with the Foundation team. When unexpected issues emerged, such as outdated water and ventilation pipes that required complete replacement, the institution covered additional costs from its own budget to keep the project moving. This sense of ownership and responsibility became one of the defining strengths of the renovation effort.

“The Foundation values projects like this because they strengthen institutions in a way that lasts well beyond the grant period. The Henrik Igityan NCA has shown that it can sustain its own operations, manage unexpected challenges responsibly, and continue its work without relying on external support,”  said Anahit Hakobyan, Programs Manager at the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation. “We are excited that this renovated museum will serve thousands of children, families, and educators for many years to come.”

While the renovation itself was essential, its purpose is far greater: to create a space worthy of the thousands of children who walk through the museum each year. Today, the NCA serves nearly 1,800 students across its divisions in visual arts, theater, music, and dance. Many of these students come from the regions outside Yerevan, where access to arts education is limited. 

The renovated museum expands what is possible. With modernized halls, improved lighting, and accessible design, children’s artwork can finally be displayed with the dignity and visibility it deserves. Exhibitions will rotate regularly, allowing children to see their own work on the museum’s walls, an experience that can change the course of a young artist’s life.

A new beginning for the Children’s Art Museum

On September 25, 2025, the Children’s Art Museum reopened its doors to the public. The atmosphere was electric: Families filled the halls; children pointed excitedly at drawings, ceramics, and appliqués in the opening exhibition dedicated to Sasuntsi Davit. The new branding, with a bright red star and clear navigation signage, offered a contemporary feel that stayed rooted in the museum’s history.

Visitors entered through a hallway lined with portraits of the museum’s founders, each accompanied by their words. It was a reminder that although art changes, the vision that built this institution remains steady, a belief in the beauty and brilliance of children’s creativity. Downstairs, a new experimental workshop space opened through Creative Armenia’s Artbox Hub initiative, an international program designed to help cultural institutions rethink their strategy and activate their spaces as vibrant community hubs. The studio is a flexible, hands-on environment where children and adults can create art together. On weekends, families fill the space. During the week, it hosts classes, master workshops, and interactive sessions.

During the opening, Director Vahan Badalyan reminded visitors of the museum’s core purpose. “It is essential that a museum functions as a living organism,” he said. “Visitors should not only see art but also create on the spot.” According to him, transforming and modernizing cultural institutions in Armenia requires strong and consistent support. The NCA works with many international collaborators to implement large cultural and educational programs, yet significant parts of Armenia’s cultural infrastructure have not been renovated since Soviet times because of long-standing social and economic challenges. In this environment, support from dedicated foundations becomes especially important.  “The role of foundations such as the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation is difficult to overstate. Their commitment and generosity allow us to reimagine our institutions, create meaningful cultural spaces, and offer opportunities that would otherwise remain out of reach. I am deeply grateful for their trust and partnership,” he says.

The Foundation-supported renovation is just one part of a much larger future. The NCA hopes to develop new international collaborations, introduce festivals and biennales, expand regional programming, and reestablish the museum as a key cultural landmark for tourists visiting Yerevan. This vision is built on the legacy of its founders, and now strengthened by the Foundation’s investment. 

By funding the renovation of the museum’s new wing, the H. Hovnanian Family Foundation has helped restore an institution that profoundly shapes Armenia’s cultural landscape. It has ensured that children across Armenia continue to have a space where their imagination is taken seriously, where creativity is nurtured, and where their artistic voice is valued.