With the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, under the patronage of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Mrs. Anna Hakobyan, the final gala concert of the 7th International Inclusive Music Art Festival "Side by Side" was held in Freedom Square. 

 

The participants of the festival performed on one stage, side by side, alongside renowned artists from the Armenian music scene, including the legend of Armenian jazz Levon Malkhasyan, Liparit Avetisyan, Ruben Hakobyan, Varsenik Avanyan, Gor Sujyan, Iveta Mukuchyan, Roberto Kel Torres, Hasmik Karapetyan, Arame, as well as the musical groups A’Chila, "Nemra", "Gata Band", and "Lav Eli".

 

Throughout the gala concert, the audience, guests, and passersby joined the festival participants in song and dance, transforming Freedom Square into a center of international art, warmth, and inclusivity.

 

Within the framework of the gala concert, an exhibition-sale of paintings and handicrafts created by children with developmental disabilities was also organized in the area of Freedom Square.

 

This year, children and teenagers with developmental disabilities from all regions of Armenia, as well as from abroad, including Russia, Georgia, Moldova, Uzbekistan, and other countries, participated in the festival.

 

The event was organized by the "Side by Side" educational and cultural NGO, under the auspices of the Yerevan Municipality.

 

The 7th International Inclusive Music Art Festival "Side by Side" took place from October 2-5 under the slogan "Inclusive Society - Civilized Country". The official opening ceremony of the festival was held at the Chamber Music House, where a concert titled "First Steps" took place. Musical performances were presented by students from music and art schools in Yerevan and the regions of Armenia, as well as participants from abroad.

 

The small stage of the G. Sundukyan National Academic Theater ("Black Box") featured theatrical performances involving children and teenagers with developmental disabilities.

 

An online masterclass-seminar was conducted for specialists in the inclusive sector, featuring international qualified medical specialists from Russia and the United States. About 200 specialists, parents, and caregivers from various organizations participated in the masterclass aimed at the development and promotion of inclusivity in Armenia, as well as ensuring continuous education in the field.

 

Since its establishment in 2019, the format and geography of the "Side by Side" festival have expanded over the years. From a national status, the festival became international in its second year, hosting participants from France, Germany, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Georgia, Bahrain, and other countries.

 

Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports