Name: Tatiana der Avedissian
Place of birth: London
Your family roots: My mother's side are Russian Armenians who settled in Iran so she herself is Iranian Armenian (and the most proud Iranian Armenian I have ever known). My father's side are from Western Armenia/Eastern Anatolia who ended up in Lebanon (my grandmother was an orphan), and later settled permanently in Cyprus where my father was born.
Your occupation / work / profession: Business development manager for the Economist Group. I look after the commercial development of the World Ocean Initiative and manage non-profits in the EMEA region.
How and why did you get involved with AI? I invited Nourtiza Mattosian and Susan Pattie to attend the book presentation of Eve Makis’s ‘The Spice Box Letters’ which I organised on behalf of Alkionides UK, and held under the auspices of the Cyprus High Commission. The book is based on a Cypriot Armenian family coming to terms with their forgotten past. After the event Nourtiza emailed and invited me to attend the Armenian Institute's next meeting as she thought I might be interested in joining the organisation. I had recently taken a step back from another Armenian charity so the timing was perfect as I was looking for another organisation I could be involved with that was creating an impact in the local Armenian community but, was also informing the wider public about our culture and history. The arts play a huge role in my life and after meeting the team, who are made up of such incredible and dedicated volunteers, I felt inspired and decided to join.
Tell us a special memory about AI: I have so many but if I had to choose one or two they would be our annual Hrant Dink Commemoration events. They attract such a varied audience across so many communities, it's heartwarming to see the impact that one man had on so many of us. Each year we try to remember him through different lenses and you always leave the event with a sense of hope for humanity. My other special memory was the Collectif Medz Bazar concert we hosted at Bush Hall in 2017. We had over 200 people in attendance and everyone was dancing, true to Armenian style at the end of the concert at least 30 of us went onto find another bar so we could continue the party!
What are 2 or 3 of the most memorable AI events you have attended?
Our Hrant Dink commemoration event in 2019, we screened an event we hosted in 2005 which featured a live discussion with the late Hrant Dink. I first came across Hrant Dink in 2007 when I was writing about his murder for my dissertation. It felt surreal to know that just two years prior to his death he had been in London talking about the very thing I was writing about, Turkey's accession into the EU.
The Town Hall meeting I hosted last year about the Armenian Revolution a year on. It attracted such a wide range of attendees of all ages who were keen to hear form our panellists about their thoughts on the impact and progress so far.
In 2017 we hosted an event about Zabel Yessayan which included a discussion on 'the heritage of Armenian Women: challenges and hopes from Mkhitar Gosh, Zabel Yessayan to modern day Armenia' followed by another session on Yessayan's books, 'Translating Zabel Yessayan for a new audience.' This is a perfect example of the type of informative events AI has been running for years. Prior to attending I knew very little about Yessayan or her books, growing up my Armenian tutors never exposed me to her literature so it was such an interesting discovery especially as I consider myself a feminist and now I had a prominent Armenian female figure I could learn from. It was also the first time I learnt about the level of domestic violence in Armenia and about Anna Artushyan's initiative for gender equality in the country, that event definitely made me engage more actively on the issue.
What are your hopes and ambitions for AI; where do you see its future? The Armenian Institute has reached an important juncture in its history following the recent grant by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the upcoming move to Saffron Hill. With all these exciting developments I have so many hopes for the organisation! I would like to see AI's library one day grow to become the largest in Europe, that one day we are officially recognised as the leading Armenian arts and cultural organisation in the UK and maybe in the near future internationally too. I would like our resources to be promoted across all UK academic institutions so that researchers always look to us for information on Armenian history and culture. I want us to continue to inform and educate not just Armenians but, the wider public about our history and culture. And lastly, play a bigger role in bringing our historic neighbours together through our live events.
Which languages do you speak? English, Armenian, Greek, French
Favourite book: I have many broken down by genres but I would have to say my all time favourite is Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte.
Favourite film: Again so many! All of Elia Kazan's films, one in particular 'A face the in the Crowd,' Richard Brooks adaption of Tennessee Williams's, 'Sweet Bird of Youth' and of course 'Gone with the wind'.
Favourite music / musician / band: This is another long list so I will pick a few that I always enjoy listening to, Bob Dylan, Marinella, Charles Aznavour, Shirley Bassey, Billie Holiday, Celia Cruz, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, Mariah Carey, Guns N' roses, 2pac, Aerosmith, Eminem, Armin van Buuren, Above and Beyond, The Cranberries, Chromatics, Danai Stratigopoulou, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky....this list is endless.
Favourite artwork: Too many to name but will stick to one artist, Ivan Aivazovsky. I love his paintings, The Descent of Noah is one of my favourites, it makes me feel hopeful.
Best advice you’ve been given: 'Be positive, everything happens for a reason' 'You can't argue with people who don't want to listen' (edited slightly so as not to offend!)
Your motto: Just do it!
Coffee or tea and what kind: Black tea with fresh mint and honey and on most days a good old fashioned cup of English tea with milk.
Favourite place in London: London is so wondrous but I will narrow it down to Primrose Hill for the view and the V&A to get lost in.
Tatiana der Avedissian is our newest Trustee. Tatiana has been very active in the Armenian Institute for a number of years already and brings great vitality to all she does.