Breaking Silence: How Culture Moves Europe Helped Armenian Deaf Youth Step onto the European Stage

When I first envisioned bringing a group of deaf and hard-of-hearing students from Armenia into the heart of Europe’s cultural life, it felt ambitious, even improbable. Being in the branding and marketing field for the past 15 years and switching my career gradually to support deaf community of Armenia has never been an easy task. This was not only a dream to support persons with disabilities in development of their career, but also boost creative realities of Armenia, opening up new opportunities to connect with European rich cultural heritage. We were blessed when Culture Moves Europe mobility program opened this opportunity for us, this vision turned into a life-changing journey that redefined not only the students’ futures but also my own understanding of inclusion, making me to set new goals and opportunities for the community.

As their group leader, I had the honor of accompanying Tanya Hambardzumyan, Zhorzh Lalayan, Maria Poghosyan, and Davit Amirshatyan, third-year students from the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinema, to Micro Teatro Terra Marique in Perugia, Italy. Under the guidance of Claudio Massimo Paternò, an expert in mime and physical theatre, our students took part in a week-long artistic residency where they showcased their piece, “What You Can’t See With Your Eyes”, and immersed themselves in European theatrical practices.

But our journey was more than an exchange of performance techniques. Through every rehearsal, every workshop, and every conversation, these students, often invisible in Armenia’s cultural landscape, found their voices. Claudio’s mentorship didn’t just improve their skills; it amplified their confidence, proving that art has no language barriers when inclusion is intentional.

Beyond the residency, I curated educational experiences to broaden their understanding of Europe’s artistic heritage. We visited the Vatican Museums and the Borghese Gallery, where Violante Nonn, an International Sign Language expert, offered a personalized tour in sign language. For the students, this wasn’t just a museum visit—it was the first time European culture was presented in their language, making them feel seen and included on a global scale.

Culture Moves Europe was more than funding opportunity. It was a gateway. It showed us that mobility is not just physical movement, it’s the movement of ideas, identities, and possibilities. Today, these students are eager to share their experiences with their peers in Armenia, inspiring a new wave of deaf artists who believe that the stage is theirs too. They are eager to connect with European students and rich artistic heritage.

To anyone considering applying for this program: do it. It is not just about traveling, it’s about transforming lives, starting with your own.

Greg Avetisyan, Inclusive Education and Deaf Community Advocate