Happy 19th Anniversary, Armenian Poetry Project !
Today is the start of APP's 20th year.
It's hard to believe that, what started as my experiment to learn about RSS feeds, became a unique place where the lonely and the curious reach out to poetry TM.
Earlier this month, the site passed two million visits. That's quite an achievement and I will celebrate it, as I often do, quietly, reading poetry.
Here are a few key achievements: APP remains the only website providing audio and text RSS feeds of poems written by Armenians, as well as contemporary authors on Armenian subject matters.
It continues to provide all internet surfers free access to the webpage and audio, RSS feeds from follow.it, and since last year, audio clips on Spotify.
I invite you to join our readers in celebrating APP's broad spectrum:
- independent research of the best Armenian poetry I can find
- gems by authors from the 19th century to the present
- introduction to out of print books, periodicals and digitized archives
- an index by author and country
- experimental works by contemporary authors
- introduction to budding authors
- works mostly in Armenian, English or French, with translations provided whenever possible
A special thanks to:
It continues to provide all internet surfers free access to the webpage and audio, RSS feeds from follow.it, and since last year, audio clips on Spotify.
I invite you to join our readers in celebrating APP's broad spectrum:
- independent research of the best Armenian poetry I can find
- gems by authors from the 19th century to the present
- introduction to out of print books, periodicals and digitized archives
- an index by author and country
- experimental works by contemporary authors
- introduction to budding authors
- works mostly in Armenian, English or French, with translations provided whenever possible
A special thanks to:
You, our Readers -- you make it all possible. Your constant encouragement motivates the poets, the translators and the teachers.
To the Armenian Institute, London, and, IALA who helped celebrate the 15th anniversary with readings and a commemorative booklet.
To the Poets around the world. You have sent your work, became friends, and supported this unique anthology.
Although many have gotten in touch, I wish to thank:
Peter Balakian, James Baloian, Sarkis Vahaken, Jean Assadour, Alan Whitehorn, Arpine Konyalian Grenier (RIP), Diana Der-Hovanessian (RIP), Aram Ketenjian, Tamar Boyadjian, Panos Jeranian and William Michaelian who sent their books and notes.
Ikna Sariaslan, Aram Saroyan, Gregory Djanikian, Michael Casey, Sotère Torregian, Lorne Shirinian, Raffi Setian, Lory Bedikian, Nancy Kricorian, Esther Heboyan, Keith Garebian, Nora Nadjarian, Nancy Agabian, Jim Erkiletian, Michael Akillian, Mark Gavoor, Albert K Kapikian, Garo Armenian and other contemporary authors for their permission to post their poems.
The Armenian Students Association, RI who funded the poetry competition winners from 2011-2014, and to the judges of the Arthur Halvajian Memorial poetry writing competition: Garen Kazanc, Christopher Janigian; Lisa Whitten, Silva Ajamian, Dr. Rachel Goshgarian, Father Mesrob Lakissian and Alice Movsesian.
Louise Kiffer of France and Sylvie M. Miller of U.K. for their translations of poems into French, and Tatul Sonentz-Papazian, US, for his translations into Armenian, French and English.
The budding poets who sent me emails and who participated in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd anniversary Poetry Blasts, and APP's poetry writing competitions including those during the pandemic.
The volunteer readers who contributed their voices to 19th - 21st century authors.
The staff at Horizon Weekly's Literary Supplement (Montréal); the Aztag Daily's Literary and Arts Supplement (Beirut); the New York Public Library (Humanities Research); the Glendale Public Library; the Zohrab Center (New York); the Armenian Prelacy (New York); the AGBU's Bibliothèque Nubar (Paris); and, the former Librairie Samuélian (Paris).
Ikna Sariaslan, Aram Saroyan, Gregory Djanikian, Michael Casey, Sotère Torregian, Lorne Shirinian, Raffi Setian, Lory Bedikian, Nancy Kricorian, Esther Heboyan, Keith Garebian, Nora Nadjarian, Nancy Agabian, Jim Erkiletian, Michael Akillian, Mark Gavoor, Albert K Kapikian, Garo Armenian and other contemporary authors for their permission to post their poems.
The Armenian Students Association, RI who funded the poetry competition winners from 2011-2014, and to the judges of the Arthur Halvajian Memorial poetry writing competition: Garen Kazanc, Christopher Janigian; Lisa Whitten, Silva Ajamian, Dr. Rachel Goshgarian, Father Mesrob Lakissian and Alice Movsesian.
Louise Kiffer of France and Sylvie M. Miller of U.K. for their translations of poems into French, and Tatul Sonentz-Papazian, US, for his translations into Armenian, French and English.
The budding poets who sent me emails and who participated in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd anniversary Poetry Blasts, and APP's poetry writing competitions including those during the pandemic.
The volunteer readers who contributed their voices to 19th - 21st century authors.
The staff at Horizon Weekly's Literary Supplement (Montréal); the Aztag Daily's Literary and Arts Supplement (Beirut); the New York Public Library (Humanities Research); the Glendale Public Library; the Zohrab Center (New York); the Armenian Prelacy (New York); the AGBU's Bibliothèque Nubar (Paris); and, the former Librairie Samuélian (Paris).
Dr. Levon Avdoyan, now retired from Library of Congress, for his assistance in researching books,
Prof. Theo M Van Lint, Oxford University, for his scholarship and help in acquiring texts,
Nvair Kadian Beylerian for the use of her grandfather Anoush Krikorian's library,
Zachary Jean Chartkoff for his contribution of books to the ever expanding APP library,
Artsvi Bakhchinyan and Vartan Matiossian for their scholarship and translations,
Prof. Dora Sakayan for her translations of Paruyr Sevak and her enthusiasm,
Prof. Valentina Calzolari for her translations published in the series Patrimoine littéraire J.-C. POLET (éd.),
The L.A.'s Zephyr Poets --Tina Demirdjian, Armine Iknadossian, Shahé Mankerian and Alene Terzian; Karen Karslyan, and Ara Shirinyan, for their support and participation in readings,
Albert Kaprielian for his aid in getting documents on Canadian-Armenian poet Sha[u]nt Basmajian,
Per Wik who introduced his grandfather Harout Kosdantyan and his work,
Gagik Batikian for his love and sharing of Istanbul's contemporary Armenian poets,
Elizabeth Grigorian for her assistance at the Glendale Public Library.
Catherine Fletcher and the editorial staff at Rattapallax for devoting a special feature on post-Genocide Armenian Poetry where I was a guest editor.
Tato Ayvazian, former director of AI, and Olivia Katrandjian, founder of IALA
Friends and colleagues, including the Western Armenian Women's Writers Collective who have personally supported my creative writing.
Lola Koundakjian
Curator and Producer of The Armenian Poetry Project
ArmenianPoetryProject[at]gmail[dot]com
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Unfortunately, APP does not receive financial support for this endeavor. Therefore, the research, data entry and audio recordings are entirely a labor of love.
If YOU ENJOY this website, please consider making a donation via Paypal.com by clicking on the button below. Your donations help maintain the audio website, buy books and replace equipment for the recordings as well as research in libraries near and far.
If YOU ENJOY this website, please consider making a donation via Paypal.com by clicking on the button below. Your donations help maintain the audio website, buy books and replace equipment for the recordings as well as research in libraries near and far.
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Thank you Lola Koundakjian
