Glendale Officials Propose Locating Armenian American Museum in City’s Arts and Entertainment District

GLENDALE — On Thursday, February 25, Glendale City Councilman Zareh Sinanyan and City Manager Scott Ochoa formally presented to the Armenian American Museum’s Governing Board the option of building the Museum in Glendale’s Arts and Entertainment District across from the Central Library.

The Armenian American Museum’s Governing Board agreed to consider the option of placing the Museum on the proposed 1.4 acres property on Colorado Street and consult with Armenian American community organizations and representatives regarding the new site.

The Armenian American Museum is conducting environmental and economic studies to determine the feasibility of building the Museum on City owned property across from Glendale Community College. In April 2015, the City and the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee (AGCC) of Western USA executed an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement to develop the terms of a ground lease of the site proposed for an Armenian American Museum.

The AGCC in August 2015 delegated the authority and responsibility for building the proposed museum to 9 Armenian community organizations and institutions. The Governing Board of the Armenian American Museum was established and the work on developing a concept plan and concept design continued.

By December of last year, the Governing Board unveiled a concept design at the City Council meeting and expanded community outreach efforts to inform the public and solicit feedback on the proposal.

“We are very pleased by the outpouring of support for the Museum and look forward to engaging the City’s Armenian as well as non-Armenian stakeholders in the process of building a world class Museum,” remarked Armenian American Museum Governing Board Co-Chair His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.

“The feedback indicates that there is greater support for locating the Museum in downtown Glendale. Residents who support the Museum have urged the City Council to identify property in the central part of the City where most of the arts and entertainment facilities are located,” added Governing Board Co-Chair His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.

“The City owned property in downtown Glendale was not an available option in 2014,” remarked the Armenian American Museum executive committee chairman Berdj Karapetian, who has been spearheading the Museum project since its inception 2 years ago.

Karapetian further added that AGCC considered building the Museum in the central part of the City or its Arts and Entertainment District but could not identify an appropriate location in 2014 when it initiated the discussion for a ground lease with City officials.

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The Armenian American Museum is a developing project in Glendale, CA, with a mission to promote understanding and appreciation of America ’ s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Armenian American experience. When completed, it will serve as a cultural campus that enriches the community, educates the public on the Armenian American story, and empowers individuals to embrace cultural diversity and speak out against prejudice.

The governing board of the Armenian American Museum consists of representatives from the following nine regional Armenian American institutions and organizations: Armenian Catholic Eparchy, Armenian Cultural Foundation, Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, Armenian General Benevolent Union – Western District, Armenian Relief Society – Western USA, Nor Or Charitable Foundation, Nor Serount Cultural Association, Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.