Coming Soon

Oral History:

Theory and Practice

Dates

October 1, 2026 – December 20, 2026

Location

Tumo Studios, 44, Aram Str., Yerevan, Armenia

Schedule

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 18:30 – 20:30

Fee

Free

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Course Overview

The course offers comprehensive training in oral history methodology, blending theoretical knowledge with practical skills. Participants will master the nuances of fieldwork, from interview preparation and drafting ethical/legal documentation to managing digital databases of personal testimonies.

Subjects

Oral History MethodologyDigital ArchivingMemory and Trauma StudiesCrisis Documentation Ethics

Program Format

Duration: 10 weeks

Important Dates:

Application period: 01.05.2026 – 01.07.2026

Notification of Results: 01.08.2026

Course period: 01.10.2026 – 20.12.2026

Format: Offline

Working Language: Armenian

Course Themes

Foundations of Oral History and Memory Studies
Ethics and Sensitive Materials
Interview Design and Techniques
Digital Archiving and Metadata
Memory, Crisis, and Displacement
Analysis and Interpretation of Narratives

Methodological Training

Participants will receive training in:
Ethical interviewing
Working with trauma and sensitive narratives
Transcription, coding, and thematic analysis
Digital archiving standards
Software tools

Key Outcomes

DEVELOP a theoretical understanding of memory, crisis, and displacement, and situate oral history within broader methodological frameworks

DESIGN and CONDUCT ethical, trauma-sensitive oral history interviews, including preparation, consent procedures, and fieldwork strategies

TRANSCRIBE, CODE, and INTERPRET oral history materials, and situate oral history in relation to adjacent research and documentation practices

ORGANIZE and PRESERVE oral history materials using digital tools, metadata systems, and archival standards

Program

Related Events

Workshop

Introduction to Oral History Methods

June 15, 2026

Tumo Studios, 44 Aram Str., Yerevan

A hands-on two-day workshop introducing fundamental oral history interview and documentation techniques for researchers, journalists, and archivists.

Faculty & Contributors

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Dr.Gayane Shagoyan

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography NAS RA

Dr.Gohar Stepanyan

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography NAS RA

Dr.Hourig Attarian

College of Humanities and Social Sciences at the American University of Armenia (AUA)

Researcher

MAHasmik Knyazyan

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography NAS RA

Researcher

MAZaruhi Hambardzumyan

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography NAS RA

Researcher

BAKarolina Yeganyan

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography NAS RA

Research Context

This course is developed within the research project "Memory and Crisis: Digital Oral History Laboratory" funded by the Higher Education and Science Committee of the RA Ministry of Education. It builds on the outcomes of the "Virtual Artsakh" project (funded by the Galust Gulbenkian Foundation), which documented displacement experiences among the Armenians of Artsakh in 2024–2025.

Institutional Host

The program is organized by the Memory and Crisis: Digital Oral History Laboratory (Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography) in cooperation with Tumo Studios.

Apply for the Course

Application deadline: July 1, 2026

Free

Submit Application

Who can apply

The course is designed for researchers in humanities and social sciences, students, NGO representatives working with memory and displacement, journalists, and archivists interested in oral history methodology.

Certificate

Participants will receive a certificate in oral history training from the "Memory and Crisis: Digital Oral History Laboratory" if they have attended for at least 8 weeks and completed at least 80% of the assignments.

In cooperation with

Armenian Cultural Heritage Institute

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TUMO - CENTER FOR CREATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

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Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation - Armenian Communities Department

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NAS RA Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography

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