Proposal to Cancel Several Titles and Replace Them with More Inclusive Terms: Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports

The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia has proposed amendments to the law on "State Awards and Honorary Titles of the Republic of Armenia". The draft suggests canceling the honorary titles of People’s Artist of the Republic of Armenia, People’s Painter of the Republic of Armenia, Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia, and Honored Painter of the Republic of Armenia. Instead, it is proposed to retain the honorary titles of Honored Figure of Arts of Armenia and Honored Figure of Culture of Armenia, which are more inclusive terms covering the entire field.

According to Armenpress, the adoption of these drafts is expected to ensure the right to "freedom of literary, artistic, scientific, and technical creation" enshrined in Article 43 of the Constitution of Armenia.

The changes will create important guarantees for artists and creators in the culture and arts sectors to express themselves and create under equal conditions, thereby ensuring their constitutional rights to present their art to the public. It should be noted that in the case of canceling these honorary titles, there will be a need to review the criteria for forming the government commission for funerals.

It is also noteworthy that artists awarded the title of People’s Artist or People’s Painter of the Republic of Armenia receive a 40,000 dram reward.