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Inaugural lecture of the IMAS Master's Visiting Chair of Excellence - Gulbenkian Foundation
Foundation
The IMAS Chair - Gulbenkian Foundation, a distinction to support the study of the Armenian language
Since 1798, Armenian studies have been a mainstay of teaching at Inalco. This long-standing commitment continues today through the Master International Études Arméniennes (IMAS), led by Professor Anaïd Donabédian-Demopoulos, with the support of the Fondation Inalco, in a bid to open up internationally and renew approaches.
In this context, the Chaire IMAS - Fondation Calouste Gulbenkian was inaugurated, welcoming each year an internationally renowned professor-researcher whose work contributes to the renewal of Armenian studies. In 2026, the chair is awarded to Heghnar Zeitlian Watenpaugh, distinguished for her research devoted to the future of Armenian heritage in the context of the genocide.
This inauguration is part of a dynamic partnership between Inalco, the Inalco Foundation and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Present at the evening event, Razmik Panossian, Director of the Armenian Communities Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, reaffirmed the Foundation's commitment to research, teaching and cultural and social initiatives, in the continuity of a historical support that has now been extended, notably to the program to preserve the heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The evening was opened by Philippe Advani, President of the Inalco Foundation, who recalled the unique nature of Armenian language teaching at Inalco, before saluting the scope of the prizewinner's work.
Anaïd Donabédian-Demopoulos returned to the genesis of the IMAS Master's degree, designed to meet a growing demand for high-level Armenological training accessible internationally. She also emphasized the current importance of transmitting the Armenian language and the strength of the institutional cooperation that supports this project.
A conference on the major issues of heritage conservation in the context of genocide
In this inaugural lecture, Heghnar Zeitlian Watenpaugh presented her research on the Armenian genocide of 1915, focusing on the fate of cultural works and sites. She analyzed the processes of destruction, displacement and transformation of heritage, while highlighting the central role of the diaspora in its preservation.
Her work shows that the preservation of heritage goes beyond mere material safeguarding: it participates in a reconstruction of memory and identity, where art becomes a vector of resilience and cultural continuity in the face of the history of genocide.
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The evening concluded with a reception in honor of the chairholder, bringing together participants, partners and friends of the Inalco Foundation for a moment of exchange and conviviality.