YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. "Let's Preserve Our Culture" first festival that started in July will be concluded by a gala concert to be held on December 11 at A.Spendiarian Opera and Ballet National Academic Theater. The festival was initiated by the "One Nation, One Culture" fund. The best dance groups and singers selected from not only Yerevan but also all RA regions will take part in the concert. As Tamar Poghosian, fund's Executive Director, informed at the December 9 press conference, the goal of the festival was to "export" the culture concentrated only in Yerevan to regions, too, and doing so, to preserve our culture. According to her, the festival has been held in 10 regions of the country and the events envisaged in Artsakh have been postponed and will be held next year. T.Poghosian mentioned that professional art ensembles and individual performers from Yerevan, as well as creative groups and soloists from regions have taken part in the events held within the framework of the festival. Various events, an exhibition-sale of paintings and books have been organized. "Though regional palaces of culture were in a bad condition, the halls were crowded at all the concerts," she mentioned and added that unlike Yerevan, the population of Armenian regions attaches great importance to folk songs. The organizers hope that the festival will become traditional. Karine Khodikian, RA Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs, Chairwoman of the "One Nation, One Culture" fund, informed that they are already preparing for the "One Nation, One Culture" All Armenian second festival to be held next year.

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