The Armenian Institute was a key part of my and my mother, Helen Culleton’s, life. We were at the launch party, we attended the majority of events across the years and enjoyed helping out at the events too, with my mother also being on the committee.
The Armenian Institute provided us with a cultural and social context, and existence which was inclusive and non-judgmental to us as partly Armenian, who did not speak the language. It allowed us to explore our Armenian identity and we appreciated the range of events – lectures, book launches, exhibitions, concerts, films…and of course the Christmas fair/ Vernissage.
We also made good friends along the way, and our attendance at Armenian Institute events widened our knowledge of, and appreciation for, different Armenian related subjects and interests from history and literature to music, art and food… and the events exposed us to inspiring and impressive academics, artists, musicians, journalists/ writers, which was really not on offer anywhere else!
Helen Culleton
My mother kept a box file of all the events we had attended over the years and was so proud to be an active participant in, and supporter of, the Armenian Institute! It really became an Armenian Institute ‘family’ for us!
Congratulations on your 20th anniversary, and here is to the next 20 years!
Louise Culleton