SHARING EXPERIENCES AND HIGHLIGHTING THE CREATIVES OF THE FUTURE

TUMO Studios is always looking for inspired professionals to volunteer as atelier leads.

LEAD AN ATELIER

If you are an artisan or designer who is passionate about education and sharing your expertise with a new generation, we invite you to join our network of atelier leaders and help shape the future of Armenian design.

Over 25 professionals from all over the world come to TUMO Studios every year to teach design and artisanal skills, starting from two weeks to as long as they wish to stay with us!

TUMO Studios covers your travel and lodging and provides everything you need for your atelier. In your downtime, we will help you explore all that Armenia has to offer. You don’t need teaching experience, just expertise in your field, and the enthusiasm and passion to work with students.

Contact us at studios@tumo.org to find out more!

Teaching the techniques

Technical courses at TUMO Studios give students a foundation of skills that prepares them for design ateliers. Our leaders who curate the TUMO Studios’ technical courses, educate students through the entire duration of the course, witness the process of their transformation, and guide and equip them with knowledge.

We have asked them to describe Studios in one sentence:

Vardan Aghabekyan
Leader of Ceramics Technical Course TUMO Studios is a place where mastery multiplies. You can connect, create, and cultivate with peers and mentors. Discover your voice in a world of endless possibility.

Anna Rafayelyan
Leader of Pattern Making Technical Course Unleash creativity, nurture individuality. At TUMO Studios we elevate the new generation by nurturing their creativity through art and craft.

Armine Margaryan
Leader of Silk Screen Printing Technical Course By getting familiar with the techniques and learning from experienced professionals, our students are able to express themselves creatively and individually.

Shushan Ayvazyan
Leader of Jewelry Making Technical Course Studying at TUMO Studios is a journey of self-discovery. Students often come to find themselves. From our perspective, they become self-aware individuals day by day.

Mariam Gharibyan
Leader of Embroidery Technical Course Mastering a craft is essential to creating great art. TUMO Studios provides great opportunities for young people to develop versatile skills in the field of the arts and crafts.

Raya Kazoun, Lebanon First, I was super excited to meet with the team behind TUMO Studios, to meet creatives from Armenia, and discover parts of Armenian culture. When the workshop started, I was overjoyed by the dedication of the participants and the results that were produced in such a short period of time. My days in Yerevan formed a very special memory for me and I look forward to going back.

EXPERIENCES

We’ve asked our atelier leaders to tell us about their experience at TUMO Studios and what motivated them to volunteer.
Here’s what they had to say.

Karen Grigorian, France When I received the invitation from TUMO studio, I was so excited to be able to go back to Armenia to teach. Working with young artists from different backgrounds was very fulfilling. They were all eager to learn about my art and cultural heritage. I would be happy to come back for a third time.

Victoria Salmon, United Kingdom Teaching the JEWELRY FOR FASHION workshop was an enriching experience that I am deeply grateful for. The engaged participants, the supportive learning environment, the opportunity to foster creativity, and the organizational support all combined to create a memorable and fulfilling experience. Being surrounded by such an ancient, timeless, and great culture has changed my life. I am thankful for the chance to share my passion and knowledge, and I look forward to future opportunities to continue teaching and inspiring others in the world of jewelry-making.

Jan Ernst de Wet, South Africa Leading the workshop at TUMO Studios was a transformative journey that extended beyond the mere transfer of information. The platform's liberating environment stood out, fostering creativity in a way that felt both intuitive and unrestrained. I particularly enjoyed the emphasis on craftsmanship, nature, and human stories, as it added a meaningful layer to the learning experience. The connection established with the students was an enriching aspect, creating a collaborative atmosphere. TUMO Studios cultivates a space where the exchange of ideas not only expands your understanding but also ignites a passion for interpretation.

Delphine Chanet, France The invitation from TUMO enabled me to discover Armenia through an educational project. I believe It's one of the most interesting ways to meet a country. It was very inspirational being in Yerevan and immersing myself in the energy of the studio, which is also thanks to the kindness of the teams. Everything at TUMO is dedicated to creation, it's a prolific "laboratory." My students were relevant in their creative process and responses even if photography wasn't the central part of the workshop. I enjoyed the experience and the extreme quality of the sharing.

Ana Illueca, Spain Teaching Creative Ceramics at TUMO Studios was an amazing experience. The curriculum consisted of helping the students find their artistic voice through ceramics. It was wonderful to be a part of their growth and to see them learn new ceramic techniques. The workshop leader was aware of every need and the students were extremely receptive and highly talented. The space, the school, the city, and its people made my stay here a wonderful experience.

Giulia Vecchiato, Suri jewelry, Italy Teaching the JEWELRY FOR FASHION workshop was an enriching experience that I am deeply grateful for. The engaged participants, the supportive learning environment, the opportunity to foster creativity, and the organizational support all combined to create a memorable and fulfilling experience. Being surrounded by such an ancient, timeless, and great culture has changed my life. I am thankful for the chance to share my passion and knowledge, and I look forward to future opportunities to continue teaching and inspiring others in the world of jewelry-making.

Herbert X. Maier, Germany I had some experience teaching Armenian students at the State Academie of Art of Armenia in Yerevan during my exposition in the National Gallery in 2018. I was rather surprised by their disciplined work and classic skills. They wanted to get to know more contemporary ways of working so I was invited to TUMO Studios for an etching workshop. The students did focused and great work while other Workshops in fashion, design, pottery, and jewelry were also accessible. This is a very great and interdisciplinary concept of artistic creativity. This is the future.

Jongjin Park, South Korea In the ten 3-hour workshops of the atelier, I wanted to relay the spirit of the genre of white porcelain, which is so natural and common in Korea, but not experienced in Armenia locally. It wasn't a skill, it was about an attitude. Fortunately, students showed a lot of interest, and if our technical and spiritual exchange contributes even a little bit to Armenia's endless artistic development, we would like to have a continuous collaboration. TUMO Studios and the center that I visited in person were more than I expected. Various experts were invited from all over the world to provide quality education to young people living in Armenia. I was very proud to be part of that.

Svetlana Khachatryan, Armenia The opportunity to share my expertise with such a bright and enthusiastic group of young adults has truly been a gift! Bringing old, and somewhat forgotten, traditional crafts back to life within the lively walls of TUMO studios and blending it with modern takes was like watching magic unfold in front of our eyes. As an artist, I am thrilled to share my knowledge and experience, and I cannot think of a better environment than that of TUMO Studios.

Pill Anna Tesdorpf, Denmark What I appreciated most about my stay at TUMO Studios was the connection with the students. The students had great input and were all very engaged in our project. They really amazed me with the quality and creativeness of the posters they designed during the workshop. The school itself is beautiful, and the staff was so welcoming; they made a great effort to make my stay a wonderful experience and make me feel at home. It was also a big inspiration to see all the amazing projects taking place at TUMO while I was there.

Michihiro Sato, Japan It was my first experience holding an atelier with the theme of my paper jewelry. Initially, I wondered if the technique shared in the atelier would be useful for the students, as it was acquired individually and practically according to my necessity. However, these thoughts gradually disappeared when I started to actually work with them, because I found it was a more meaningful experience for both myself and the students to meet people we never would have met and to share thoughts with each other through the paper jewelry. Therefore, I appreciate the educational ideas of TUMO Studios and the staff for allowing me the opportunity to hold this atelier.

Lorin Mai, Vertigo, Russia TUMO Studios became my second creative home. I couldn’t even imagine how satisfying it would be to share my ideas and knowledge as an atelier leader. We’ve been creating a capsule collection using design instruments for three weeks. I felt grateful seeing the last touches students were putting on their individual garments, inspired by the main cross-cultural experience of Armenian and Kurdish cultures.

Paola Estefania de Ros, Gustavo Emilio Quintana, Agnes Studio, Guatemala It was a wonderful experience for us to do this atelier; the entire team at TUMO were friendly and helpful, everyone welcomed us with open arms. The Students were wonderful, creative, curious, motivated, and engaged with the learning process, and gave their best at understanding, learning, and making their projects. Armenia's rich and fascinating history was also a highlight of the trip; we fell in love with the country and we highly recommend this experience to anyone invited.

Youssef Bassil, Exil Collective, Lebanon "Being able to experience a few weeks at TUMO Studios first-hand and having the opportunity to lead an atelier there was nothing short of refreshing. The team is so passionate about offering the best design programmes to their students, who, in turn, flood the beautiful ateliers with energy and motivation that would make the best schools anywhere proud. And just like we hope the participants in our atelier have learned valuable things from us, we left Yerevan with new knowledge acquired through the amazing connections and discussions we had during our time there."

Antonio Arico, Italy I grew up on the Mediterranean sea, in Calabria, Southern Italy, where the energy of the many people coming from all over the Mediterranean area is still present everywhere. I feel somehow connected to Armenia and I was so happy to meet such talented and energetic students who, as I do in my own work, try to merge tradition and innovation in everything they do.

Marcel Mayer, Switzerland I had an art grant to work and live six months in Yerevan in 2017. It was then that I discovered the TUMO Studios - Analogue Center and was invited to hold a linocut atelier. It was a fantastic experience to get into an exchange with the local art community. Sharing my skills with highly motivated students was also a great inspiration for my own work. In 2021, we organized a second printmaking atelier and I hope there will be more in future!

Vahram Muradyan, France I've always wanted to go back to Armenia through a bold artistic project. With ten very talented students from all backgrounds, we'd developed a new original way of traveling through Yerevan and Armenia: STAMPS! In a very short time, the creative group designed a series of stamps with different travel themes, a booklet, a map, and more. I can say my atelier session at TUMO Studios was one of the best collective experiences I've had.

Farah Fayyad, Lebanon Being able to transfer knowledge is, for me, one of the most enjoyable ways to reflect on one's own practice. The students were engaged and receptive and I learned so much from them. I'm so grateful to have been part of an impressive group of artists, designers, and makers who had the opportunity to be involved with TUMO Studios.

Chiharu Ishikawa, Japan I had been looking for an opportunity related to education and something very creative outside of Japan. TUMO Studios realized that dream with a great environment. I loved teaching the eager students and working with nice colleagues in a nicely preserved historic space. The TUMO community (including the students) were my motivation to continue volunteering. This experience absolutely gave me confidence and changed my life. Throughout my 10 months here, I can say that my favorite thing was the time I spent in the studio. Every single day was impressive, creative, and filled with smiles.

Mariadela Araujo, Spain Visiting TUMO Studios has been one of the most beautiful things I've experienced as a person, a professional artist, and a teacher. I found the TUMO Studios family full of energy and creativity. Yerevan was truly inspirational and vivacious. I felt grateful to share my artistic point of view with the new generation.

Ivana Petan, Slovenia My decision to accept an invitation from TUMO Studios was instant. Since I’ve wanted to visit Armenia for a long time, having an opportunity to combine my visit with teaching was like a dream-come-true-combination for me. Already after a few days, I got this precious feeling of being home. The month that I spent in Yerevan passed by too quickly and was full of working with students who showed passion and dedication for the project, getting to know people, tasting food, and exploring a bit of Armenia's wonderful landscape. My Yerevan story still continues through the deep bonds that I made with my new friends. If another opportunity to be a TUMO Studios atelier leader arises, I will gladly accept it again.

Talar Manoukian, Lebanon I felt this was an amazing opportunity to give back to the community while making my ancestors and family proud of me. I believe that you grow only through spreading your knowledge and expertise. I left with an unfathomably deep well of new experiences and new inspirations. As much I was able to give to my students, they returned the favor threefold. I feel lucky to have been able to experience Yerevan like a local because of the central location of the apartment and the amenities TUMO Studios provided for me. If given the chance, I would definitely repeat the experience.

Bisila Noha, Spain Everything that the invitation involved seemed wonderful to me: having the opportunity to travel and discover a country that I knew little about, the challenge of teaching for three weeks in a row, and the focus of the workshop, which mixed ceramics with identity and history. Without a doubt, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I felt very much at home, since the whole team and the students welcomed me with open arms. I was very lucky to be able to share my knowledge while learning from the students.

Corinne Aivazian, Mexico I was really drawn to the way TUMO Studios encourages students to expand the historical artistic canon we have as a people, whilst also innovating and contributing to global creative dialogues. Both times I volunteered at TUMO Studios were life-altering. My first experience was particularly profound for me because I was able to blend my own heritage, cultural background, and work as an artist and educator. In later visits, I have made lifelong friends with my former students and other TUMO Studios atelier leaders, which helped grow my personal and professional network in Armenia and around the world.

Sanna Völker, Sweden I decided to accept TUMO Studios’ invitation due to my interest in Armenia, its local craft traditions, and the personal challenges the experience would bring. It was a very enriching experience for me, on both a professional and a personal level. My expectations were quite high, especially in regard to the timing and the previous experience of the students. I'm very satisfied with how everything turned out. With the help of TUMO Studios, I was also able to visit some places outside of the city which gave me a broader perspective of the country.

Roberto Paparkone, Spain I decided to volunteer at TUMO Studios immediately after receiving the invitation. I suppose I was driven by the desire to get acquainted with a new country. Above all, I think the opportunity to develop some local projects and concepts was a big driving force. It was an enriching adventure: to adapt in just two weeks to the rhythm of the students and to be able to develop each and every one of the projects in record time.
If I had to repeat I would like to be able to travel more with the local pottery students.

Robin LeChevallier, Switzerland Knowing that I would have a group of around 10 motivated students for three weeks to create the first sample of the bike with all the tools provided by TUMO Studios was enough to get me hooked. On top of that, I was able to keep working remotely for my job in the morning, while I taught in the afternoon. Being there was a once in a lifetime experience; all the logistics were perfectly organized by the TUMO Studios team, so I was able to focus on the workshop and the Armenian experience. My workshop took place in the afternoon, which left me enough time to work remotely, prepare for my atelier, and explore Yerevan during the week.

Elie Mouhanna, Lebanon Friends of mine who had volunteered earlier recommended that I accept the invitation, and they had exclusively positive feedback.All in all, it was an unforgettable experience! What made me happiest were the workshop participants, who were eager to learn new things and were very dedicated to the month-long workshop. They taught me a lot about the Armenian language and culture, too. The space was very warm and inviting, and so was the staff that managed it. I spent most of my time in Yerevan, as someone who is residing there would, and not like a tourist

Laia Varela, Spain Without even thinking twice, I decided to accept the invitation to teach at TUMO Studios as it would be my first time teaching both abroad and in English, too. It was a challenge! During both of the times I volunteered at TUMO Studios, all of my students were really motivated and talented. The staff was also very helpful before and during my stay in Armenia. I would go back without any hesitation. It is surrounded by nature and you can feel what a great country it is from its history.

Paula Bahadian, Spain I decided to accept TUMO Studios’s invitation as the project in and of itself seemed intriguing. I was excited to be able to promote education, learning, and foster the curiosity of my young students by giving them tools to create. I also viewed it as being a place for personal growth and cultural exchange. My students came to class motivated to learn and work, and seemed truly grateful for the experience. I saw an incredible potential in them because of their passion for culture and design.It was truly an experience worth repeating.

Niloufar Afnan, Lebanon When asked to give a workshop at TUMO Studios, I was thrilled to explore how Armenian heritage and emblems can be redefined through a new medium and, in effect, new narratives. The community involved in this process is not just the designer and the people attending the workshop, but instead a circle of interactions from one starting point to its end result. The TUMO Studios building in itself is an inspiration. One feels it can discover layers of stories one day at a time. The project has great potential to blossom into a design landmark for Armenia.

Nienke Hoogvliet and Tim Jongerius, The Netherlands We love the concept of TUMO Studios, which involves students in design and connects them to Armenian crafts and traditions in order to pass them onto new generations. We loved the opportunity to learn more about these crafts ourselves and to learn more about the traditional Armenian crafts of rug and carpet making. It was fascinating how students took all this knowledge and came up with new and contemporary designs. We decided to create our own project in collaboration with TUMO Studios and the Women's Association from Goris. We are still working with TUMO Studios and looking forward to continuing our partnership!

Hassan Zahreddine, Lebanon I had heard so many positive things from artists and colleagues about their experiences volunteering in TUMO Studios, which encouraged me to accept the invitation. Working with young artists from a different culture who spoke a language different from mine was very enriching and challenging. The themes of the project we worked on were derived from local subjects. This was definitely a great way for me to deepen my understanding of Armenian culture from the eyes of emerging artists.

Lenka Kokhoutova, Czech Republic The invitation to TUMO Studios excited me immediately. I had also always wanted to go to Armenia. I spent most of my time in the beautiful capital of Yerevan. Its deep roots, as well as nice people, their hospitality and willingness to help, and, of course, the famous Armenian cuisine. Armenia is a proud country with beautiful untouched nature. In some places, you may feel that time has stopped. There are not many places on Earth where the same can be said. It was a pleasure to be part of this project and pass on my experience to young designers.

Lemur Design, Denmark/Portugal Living in a country we knew nothing about and being able to share our knowledge with a dedicated group of people with such different backgrounds was irresistible. Everyone was ready to help us create the best teaching environment possible. TUMO Studios’s building on Pushkin Street was so charming and everyone we met in Armenia was helpful, and we always felt safe.

OUR NETWORK

Yellow Nose Studio, Rasa Vilcinskaite, Vahram Muratyan, Armine Ohanyan, Reza Abedini, Studio Nienke Hoogvliet, Robin LeChevallier, Claire Eliott, Sanna Völker, Roberto Paparkone, Les Ateliers de Paris, Norwhich University of the Arts, Anaïde Davoudlarian, Tigran Avetisyan, Farah Fayyad, Ghaith & Jad, Dzzz Studio, Laura Sansonetti, Lemur, Marcel Mayer, Missak HajiAvedikian, Niloufar Afnan, Paula Bahadian, Sayumi Yokouchi, Wael Lazkani, 200grs, Alice Blue, Ariga Torosian, Astrid Sarkissian, Bisila Noha, Charles Kalpakian, Corinne Aivazian, Cynthia Merhej, Elena Kozlova, Elena Kurginyan, Elie Mouhanna, Hassan Zahreddine, Keef Palas, Laia Varela, Mia Morikawa, Tamara Atanasyan, Nitya Biswas, Studio Mondocubo, Angel Baroyan, Sevan Nigogosian, Sonna Gevorgyan, Studio Khachatryan, Stefanie Mittman, Talar Manoukian, Vahram Galstyan, Anush Ghukasyan, Victor Nouman, Lenka Kokhoutova, Kairi Sirendi, Francesca Paolin, Ara Zada, Nathan Kibarian, Raffy Haycan, Mojd, Rita Galoyan, Studio Qasabian, Gayane Ghazaryan, Arpi Mangasaryan, Fergus Channon, Mahmoud Yousef, Alchemy Spell, Clara Daguin, Chiharu Ishikawa, Aram Manukyan, Diana Bou Dakka, Shant Charoian, Lilit Gevorgyan, Mike Brown, Maison du Pli, Tangian, Nanuk & Rour, Nelli Astvatsatrian, Sahar Hafda, Mirna Dib, Mariadela Araujo, Ivana Petan, Raya Kazoun, ARICÒ, Artyom Avetisyan, Mona Ermishina, Lavinia Rossetti, Katya Porutchik, Ana Illueca, Yura Bylkov, Lisa Di Giovanni/Anatole Chartier, Exil Collective, Jongjin Park, Baqué Molinié, GERTS, Borgi Bastormagi, Sisian Ceramics, Agnes Studio, Roma Uvarov, Suri Jewelry, TABLEAU, Jenna Kaes, Make on Repeat

SHARING EXPERIENCES AND HIGHLIGHTING THE CREATIVES OF THE FUTURE

LEAD AN ATELIER

Teaching the techniques

EXPERIENCES

OUR NETWORK

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