Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Art Or Squander?: Cost Of One-Singer Independence Day Concert Sparks

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Art Or Squander?: Cost Of One-Singer Independence Day Concert Sparks

    ART OR SQUANDER?: COST OF ONE-SINGER INDEPENDENCE DAY CONCERT SPARKS CONTROVERSY IN ARMENIA

    http://www.armenianow.com/society/48912/armenia_independence_day_concert_nune_yesayan_cont roversy
    SOCIETY | 03.10.13 | 12:23

    Photo: www.president.am

    By SIRANUYSH GEVORGYAN
    ArmeniaNow reporter

    Armenians have once again been angered by the way the government
    spends public money. This time around the cause of the complaints
    is the solo concert in Yerevan's Republic Square by singer Nune
    Yesayan on September 21, the day that marked the 22nd anniversary
    of Independence. Many believe that state funds could have been spent
    more wisely and effectively on that day.

    It transpired this week that the organization of the concert attended
    by the entire leadership of the country cost the taxpayer nearly 55
    million drams (about $135,000) allocated from the reserve government
    funds. The sum was provided to the Ministry of Culture, which, in
    turn, transferred it to the Nune Yesayan Charitable NGO. This expense
    was formulated in the budget as a donation, with Minister of Culture
    Hasmik Poghosyan in charge of the activities. The government justified
    the cost by "raising civil society and information awareness in arts".

    For several days this "donation" has been a matter of debate on online
    social networking sites in Armenia, with most Facebook users leveling
    harsh criticism at the government over what they believe was unfair
    and unwise spending. Many people believe that in a country that has a
    poverty level above 35 percent paying more than $100,000 to a singer
    is just a mockery of the people.

    Some say the money could have been spent on purchasing homes for
    several homeless families or invested into the development of villages
    situated along the borders that people abandon because of unfavorable
    social conditions. Even bloggers usually supportive of the government
    have pronounced negatively on the matter. Tigran Kocharyan, for
    example, wrote with sarcasm: "Who shot at Nune [Yesayan] that she
    was given 54 million drams?" (A reference to the 20-million-dram
    compensation for medical needs paid from the state's coffers to
    former presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan who was shot and
    wounded during the election campaign earlier this year).

    This is not the first time the public voices dissatisfaction with
    government spending. Similar discontent was caused by last year's
    celebration dedicated to Yerevan's anniversary for which a number of
    "posh" Russian showbiz stars had been invited. The purchase of costly
    public bio toilets also became a subject of discussions. In turned
    out last month that the two toilets that cost the taxpayer more than
    $150,000 each were not in working order.

    Nune Yesayan herself refused to give any comments on the financial
    aspects of the Independence Day concert. She told the local news
    website, News.am, that she was offended by the media and had nothing
    to say in that regard. The deserved artist only said she was doing her
    job and advised that people discuss her concert [rather than money]
    that she herself suggested was a significant one.

    Sociologist Aharon Adibekyan thinks that people's dissatisfaction is
    more connected with the substantial part of the concert rather than
    its financial aspect.

    "If that money were to be distributed among those attending the
    concert, each would get very little of it, and so it's not about
    money. This was a festival, a concert that is held every year. One
    can be critical of the contents, perhaps the fact that it was a solo
    concert, especially that most of the money is spent on installation
    and assembling works, technical matters. If there had been a more
    interesting, more festive event, perhaps it would not have caused so
    much discontent," said the sociologist.

    Vahan Tumasyan, head of the Shirak Center NGO dealing with matters
    of homeless people and promoting charity in the Shirak province, says
    that even if there were no problems with the consequences of the 1988
    earthquake in Armenia, with the level of poverty like today's such
    squander of government funds should not have been allowed.

    "The problem in general is that the link between the government and
    the people is missing. The authorities are isolated and are more
    preoccupied with creating corresponding conditions for their close
    surroundings," says Tumasyan.

Working...
X