YEREVAN. – The inaugural intercommunity cultural contest-festival has commenced in Armenia, Armenian Deputy PM and Regional Governance Minister Armen Gevorgyan and Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan informed news reporters today.

Theater companies are performing at Vanadzor’s State Dramatic Theater, between September 4 and 5, and the winners will be announced today in Yerevan. 

The main contest, however, will be held in Gyumri from September 8 to 9. There are 14 categories and the awards range between 200,000-500,000 drams ($543-$1,356 US). A total of 25 million drams ($67,823) is expected to be spent for the contest-festival and Inaugural Intercommunity Cultural ArtExpo, 10 million drams ($27,130) of which are for the contest fund. The state budget has allocated 4.8 million drams ($13,022), and the rest is provided by the sponsors.  

November 10 will mark the 15th anniversary of the establishment of local self-government system in Armenia.