ALMA to Host Family Day

WATERTOWN, Mass.—The Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA) will play host to children and their families for a fun-filled afternoon on March 17, with a broad range of activities including Armenian dance lessons (taught by curators Susan and Gary Lind-Sinanian), arts and crafts, costume dress-up, and a special puppet show. The event, which attracted more than 100 people last year and transformed the museum into an exciting playground, promises to teach children about the life, history, and culture of the Armenian people.

Children and their families at the 2012 Family Day at ALMA
Children and their families at the 2012 Family Day at ALMA

Dora Kalajian Tevanian, the founder of the Ethnic Arts Center, will present “The Talking Fish” (Hosorv Tsoog), a puppet show told in English with some Armenian phrases. “The Talking Fish” folktale was gathered by Hovhannes Toumanian in historic Armenia and depicts the loving kindness of an old man whose generosity is repaid.

Tevanian created the Ethnic Arts Center in 1978 to bring everyday life in cultures around the world alive for children through the expressive arts, and to foster ethnic esteem, folklore preservation, and international friendship. She was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from the City of Somerville in 2009 for her activism embodying Dr. King’s legacy of “Community Service.” The puppet show is supported in part by a grant from the Watertown Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

The event will take place from 2-4 p.m. in ALMA’s Contemporary Arts Gallery, 65 Main St., Watertown. It is free for children under 12. For more information, e-mail info@almainc.org or call (617) 926-2562.

1 Comment

  1. Bravo to ALMA and Dora for,continuing to reach out to the young people in our community to bring our culture and heritage into their lives. ALMA has done an outstanding job in expanding its programming to the community.

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