This year marks the second phase of the "School of Complex Past," an alternative educational project led by the CSN Lab. Through the combination of various formats and thematic directions, this programme fosters a knowledge-based environment that encourages critical thinking and reflection on the complex past of Armenia and the region.
The thematic scope of the project for 2024 are migration, forced displacement, and refugeehood. Primarily serving as a response, the initiative addresses the migration crisis triggered by wars, conflicts, and other transformative occasions in Armenia and the region in recent years. As part of the three-day intensive programme, participants engaged in discussions about both current migration flows and historical patterns that directly impact current affairs.
Commencing on September 19th, the alternative school coincided with the tragic commemoration of the forced displacement of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh and the military operations provoked by Azerbaijan in September 2023. In this way, the CSN Lab team aimed to foster a safe and inclusive environment where project participants could freely share their experiences of migration and forced displacement while acquiring essential knowledge that fosters deep reflection.
“When I learned that the 'School of Complex Past' would take place on these days, which were marked by tragic events a year ago, I hesitated about whether I would be able to remain present or if my mind would drift back to that time. Nonetheless, I was here for these three days, and all these matters resonated deeply with my personal tragedy. The 'School of Complex Past' revealed the importance of taking a break to reflect on the past, explore, experience pain and sorrow, find joy, and ultimately move forward,” said Sarine Hayriyan, a participant from Nagorno-Karabakh.
The "School of Complex Past 2024" was enriched by personal stories and the active engagement of participants from Nagorno-Karabakh, various regions of Armenia, as well as people who migrated from Russia, Lebanon, Syria, Germany, England, and other countries, and are currently based in Armenia. Within the framework of the project, migration, refugeehood, and forced displacement were examined through various thematic angles and methodologies. Leading experts in Armenia were invited to join in the project and provide participants with both theoretical and practical knowledge on a range of key topics. These included the reflection of migration flows in memory landscapes, multiple displacements, migration and architecture, methodologies of migration studies, the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage in the context of forced displacements in the Ottoman Empire, ecomigration, diaspora Armenian literature, and the culture of photographic practices in Armenian communities abroad, among others.
This year, the CSN Lab team designed a special fem programme dedicated to exploring the experiences of women affected by refugeehood, forced displacement, and migration. In this context, speakers addressed critical issues related to women's rights, resilience, and various aspects of feminism.
Among the experts of the "School of Complex Past: Migration" were Lusine Kharatyan, Vigen Galstyan, Siranush Dvoyan, Misak Khostikyan, Eviya Hovhannisyan, Gohar Stepanyan, Hurik Attarian, and Tigran Amiryan. In addition to the lectures during the three-day intensive program, CSN Lab team members Mariam Yeghiazaryan and Arsen Abrahamyan presented some of the projects implemented by CSN Lab in the field of migration studies over the past few years. In particular, Mariam Yeghiazaryan conducted an interactive workshop focused on documenting the stories of forcibly displaced women, while architect and urban researcher Arsen Abrahamyan discussed ecomigration and presented the book "Kechut: Memory Under the Water," recently published by the CSN Lab.
The three-day intensive programme "School of Complex Past: Migration" concluded with an "Open Mic" event, during which participants shared their impressions and suggestions for the future phases of the project.
The “School of Complex Past” is an annual project that fosters public discourse around the undisclosed past through alternative education. This year, it took place on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd of September. The “School of Complex Past։ Migration” program was implemented by CSN Lab with the support of the Dansk Kulturinstitut / Danish Cultural Institute (DCI) within the New Democracy Fund (NDF) program and the Women’s Fund Armenia (WFA).
The CSN Lab extends its sincere gratitude to the Goethe-Zentrum Eriwan for supporting the implementation of the School of Complex Past 2024. We wish to once again emphasise the crucial support of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) to our organisation, which is vital to advancing democracy and cultural dialogue in Armenia.
