This week, we celebrated the graduation of the Vahé & Lucie Foundation Fellowship Incubation Program 2025. In a year marked by creative growth, we operated two simultaneous programs in Yerevan and Gyumri, expanding our program’s geographic boundaries.
The final pitch event was held at Impact Hub Yerevan and served as a tribute to the legacy of Vahé and Lucie Fattal, two individuals who shared a lifelong passion for the arts, education, and the Armenian spirit.
Vahé Fattal, a visionary painter and graphic designer, left an indelible mark on Armenian identity, from designing the flag of Artsakh to co-founding the Golden Apricot International Film Festival. Alongside Lucie, a scholar of philosophy and literature, they envisioned a future where Armenian artists could thrive as entrepreneurs.
For the past year, our fellows in Yerevan and Gyumri have worked to turn that vision into reality. This fellowship provided them with workshops on branding, fundraising, and financial management, tailored specifically for the creative industries.
The 2025 cohort was unique in its reach. While the Yerevan-based fellows engaged with the diverse community at Impact Hub, the Gyumri-based participants had the added advantage of utilizing the machinery and resources of CRELAB Shirak. This dual-city approach allowed us to tap into the historic cultural wealth of Gyumri while fostering modern creative networks in the capital.
The graduation featured intensive presentations where participants showcased how they merged traditional crafts with modern business strategies. The finalists were evaluated by a jury panel, which looked for projects that combined artistic originality with economic feasibility.
The graduating fellows represented the full spectrum of Armenia’s creative potential. Their initiatives ranged from digital platforms for connecting artists to the preservation of language through music using cutting-edge AI tools. This cohort included the teams of Alik, Eva Romani, Khan Art, KinoPlatform, Litarchive, Mqoyan Fashion House, My Lead Time, Tzbeh, and demonstrated that the creative sector is a powerful engine for both cultural preservation and economic opportunity in Armenia.
The program culminated in the announcement of the top-performing fellows, selected for their outstanding commitment and the scalability of their projects. Each of the following winners was awarded a $3,000 monetary prize to help scale their creative ventures:
- Alik
- Eva Romani
- KinoPlatform
- Litarchive
- Mqoyan Fashion House
While the 2025 fellowship has come to a close, the impact of these creators is only just beginning. By equipping artists with entrepreneurial tools, we are ensuring that Armenia’s cultural landscape remains as vibrant as it is sustainable.
We want to thank the Vahé & Lucie Foundation for their unwavering support and commitment to the next generation of Armenian creators. We can’t wait to see these projects flourish in galleries, theaters, and markets across the globe.
Don’t miss your chance to join the next cohort of the Vahé & Lucie Foundation Fellowship! We will be announcing the new call for applications very soon!