Yeraz Art Begins

On Monday, I started my first day on the job as Executive Director of the non-profit organization Yeraz Art founded by Noubar Afeyan and Raffi Festekjian. As I left my old job in December 2005 in the insurance business, I wanted to put the MBA to good use. Thus, going to grad school, working fulltime, and running Pomegranate served me well in the past few years, but, the heart was never in insurance. My discussions with Yeraz Art began last summer and the idea of me taking the helm was discussed. They flew me to Armenia to see if I would like the job and be up for the challenges of building a non-profit in Fall 2005. During my New Mexico trip I thought long and hard about what direction I wanted to take in the business world. I have chosen the non-profit world and working within the Armenian community. However, as I did with Pomegranate (and will still do), pitching the program to non-Armenians will be a top priority.

The basic premise of Yeraz Art is very simple. There are a bunch of talented kids in Armenian who are musicians. We will assist in finding them venues around the world under the "Yeraz Art" and "Armenia" moniker to help market and promote them and the country through concerts and international competitions. Along the way, we will fund their education and help with purchasing and upgrading their instruments. When they hit 18, they graduate from our program and we will attempt to get them into the best music schools in the world like Juliard, etc. Their education would be covered by our organzation.

I have been approached to make Pomegranate a part of Yeraz Art and make it the subsidiary of the new organziation. I am going to hold off on that since I want maintain a sense of independent creativity aside from my professional job during the day.

I view Yeraz Art as an example of a couple of successful Diasporan businessmen willing to put their money where their hearts are in terms of funding the arts. And, we are taking the issue right to Armenia helping the kids there. I'd like to think that the Diasporan spirit mattters.

This morning I had a chance to speak with Lilit Pipoyan on the phone and we are gearing up for the long awaited Pomegranate debut of her album this Fall. There was some stop and start in the recording sessions in Armenia, however, she is back on track busily recording at VEM. There is a proposed September New England tour proposed by an organization. And finally, Lav Eli-Notes from Vanadzor: Urban Armenian Rock comes out on May 2, 2006.

THIS photo by Kevork Imirzian in Alamagordo, New Mexico. January 2006. Kev is the image in the foreground while I am in the background. Preparing for the White Sands photo shoot for "Headphone Diaries".