With representation from university presses, commercial publishers, and booksellers, the new board reflects the diverse composition of Armenia’s publishing ecosystem.

The Armenian Publishers National Association has been formally relaunched following extensive discussions amongst industry stakeholders, with a revised charter and newly elected leadership structure announced at a founding meeting held in Yerevan.

Armen Martirosyan, Chief Executive of Antares Media Holding, has been elected president of the association. The board comprises representatives from across the sector: Mkrtich Karapetyan (Edit Print Publishing House), Emin Mkrtchyan (Zangak Publishing House), Khachik Vardanyan (Bookinist), Karen Grigoryan (Yerevan State University Publishing House), Sabet Hovhannisyan (Arevik Publishing), and Artak Aleksanyan of Newmag Publishing.

The organisation, which traces its origins to the National Association of Publishers founded in 1998, previously represented approximately 80 per cent of Armenia’s book production and held membership in the International Publishers Association (IPA) from autumn 2011.

Stop-Start

The association had apparently ceased active operations in recent years (if anyone can add to that narrative, get in touch), necessitating this relaunch initiative.

Yerevan Book Fair

The timing of the relaunch aligns with preparations for the Yerevan Book Fair, which has grown significantly in recent years. The 2024 edition attracted 20,000 visitors and featured 45 publishing houses, with organisers expressing ambitions to expand the festival’s international scope.

The International Publishers Association – IPA taken an active interest in Armenian publishing, with IPA President Gvantsa Jobava 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 participating in panel discussions at the 2024 Armenia Book Festival regarding literary engagement and the challenges facing small-language publishing markets.

The revived association faces the task of representing an industry that has undergone substantial transformation.

Russian Language Books Overtaken By Armenian

According to Newmag’s Artak Aleksanyan, the market composition has shifted dramatically: whereas Russian-language titles comprised 70 per cent of the Armenian book market four years ago, Armenian-language publications now account for 60 per cent of output.

Publishers have also navigated significant external pressures, including the coronavirus pandemic and the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, which temporarily halted publishing activities across the sector.

The association’s renewed mandate includes advocating for publishers’ interests, promoting reading culture, and potentially facilitating Armenia’s participation in international book fairs.

Antares Media Holding, under Martirosyan’s leadership, has previously engaged in cross-border publishing initiatives, including cooperation with Turkish publishers and support for translation programmes.

With representation from university presses, commercial publishers, and booksellers, the new board reflects the diverse composition of Armenia’s publishing ecosystem.

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.