Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation - Armenian Communities Department

Charity Number: CUSTOM_DACD9270

Annual Expenditure: £3.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4 million USD (approximately £3.2 million)
  • Success Rate: 36% overall (varies by program: 9.5%-53%)
  • Decision Time: 8 weeks (2 months)
  • Grant Range: Variable - up to €10,000 for specific programs
  • Geographic Focus: International (Armenia and global Armenian diaspora)

Contact Details

Address: Av. de Berna, 45A, 1067-001 Lisboa, Portugal

Phone: +351 217 823 000

Website: https://gulbenkian.pt/armenian-communities/

Application Portal: mygulbenkian (online applications only)

Overview

The Armenian Communities Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation was established in 1956 and operates from Lisbon, Portugal. With an annual budget of approximately $4 million USD, the Department supports around 100 projects per year across some twenty countries and awards hundreds of scholarships to university students and researchers. The Department's mission is to “create a viable future to the Armenian people where its culture and language are preserved,” with particular emphasis on strengthening Armenian language, culture and education in the Diaspora, and fostering research and critical thinking in Armenia. The Department is overseen by Foundation President Professor António Feijó and led by Director Dr. Razmik Panossian since 2013, with a dedicated team of eight staff members.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Armenian Communities Project Grants

  • Variable grant amounts based on project needs
  • Applications accepted in English, Armenian, French, or Portuguese
  • Rolling applications evaluated three times yearly (January, May, September)
  • Open to individuals and organisations worldwide

Western Armenian Culture Grant Program (“արդ եւս|in view”)

  • €10,000 maximum per project
  • Non-renewable
  • Focuses on Western Armenian cultural creativity and innovation

Short Term Grants for Armenian Studies

  • Up to $5,000 USD maximum
  • Maximum of two grants per applicant
  • Supports research and academic travel

University Scholarships

  • €1 million distributed annually in scholarships
  • Approximately 150 new scholarships granted yearly across 15-20 countries
  • Graduate level Armenian Studies scholarships
  • Undergraduate scholarships for Armenian students from developing countries

Priority Areas

The Department focuses on four key strategic areas:

  1. Language & Culture Preservation: Promoting the vitality of Armenian language and culture in the Diaspora, with particular emphasis on Western Armenian language preservation. Includes language acquisition programs, technology-related language initiatives, pedagogic materials for children, teacher development, aid to diasporan schools, and Armenian-language books for children and young adults.
  1. Academic Support: Providing support to Armenian Studies students and researchers, including graduate-level scholarships and research funding.
  1. Civil Society & Intellectual Creativity: Supporting civil society and intellectual creativity in Armenia to consolidate democratic culture, including policy-oriented research projects, institutional support to research centres, and funding Armenian translations of trend-setting international publications.
  1. Armenian-Turkish Relations: Assisting cultural and educational institutions in Turkey that valorise the Armenian presence and contribute to improving Armenian-Turkish relations.

What They Don't Fund

While explicit exclusions are not detailed on their website, projects must:

  • Be related to Armenian themes and issues
  • Fall within the scope of the Department's priority areas
  • Not be the same or similar project submitted more than once in the same year
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Governance and Leadership

President: Professor António Feijó (assumed direct responsibility for the Department in 2024)

Director: Dr. Razmik Panossian (since February 2013)

  • PhD from the London School of Economics and Political Science
  • Winner of the prestigious Lord Bryce Prize for Best Dissertation in Comparative and International Politics in the UK (2001)
  • Fluent in English, French, and Armenian
  • Born in Lebanon, immigrated to Canada, lived in English and French Canada as well as the UK

Key Team Members:

  • Shogher Margossian - Assistant Director, responsible for project management
  • Ani Garmiryan - Promotion of Western Armenian and education initiatives (joined 2014)
  • Arman Amirkhanian - 20+ years with the Department; accounting, project supervision in Armenia, IT-centered initiatives
  • João Saavedra - Project Manager; responsible for evaluations and Armenian-Turkish relations programming
  • Tatevik Sargsyan - Team member (joined 2015)

The Department consists of eight staff members headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, with a Focal Point in Lebanon.

Director's Vision: Dr. Panossian stated: "I always give the example of my grandparents' generation. They built their lives, their communities, their culture and their language in the Diaspora after the Genocide. Mr. Gulbenkian himself played a role in this rebuilding process in the 1920s and 1930s. We can do the same. That, in a nutshell, is our philosophy at the Armenian Communities Department."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method:

  • All applications must be submitted through the 'mygulbenkian' online portal
  • No email applications accepted
  • Applications accepted in English, Armenian, French, or Portuguese

Application Form:

  • Single simplified form with 10 key questions
  • All mandatory fields must be completed
  • Required documents must be uploaded
  • Must click “Submit” button to finalize application

Key Requirements:

  • Read “Requirements, Criteria and Conditions” and “Applications Guidelines” documents before applying
  • Projects must relate to Armenian themes and issues
  • Projects must fall within the Department's priority areas
  • Applications only valid after all mandatory fields completed and documents uploaded

Decision Timeline

Project Grants:

  • Rolling basis with evaluations three times per year (January, May, September)
  • Foundation strives to respond within 2 months of submission

Scholarships:

  • Decisions conveyed through 'mygulbenkian' portal within 6 weeks of submission
  • Exception: Short Term Conference and Travel Grant to Students and Young Academics in Armenia sent via email

Success Rates

The Department receives approximately 700 applications per year and awards around 250 grants/scholarships annually, representing an overall success rate of approximately 36%.

Success rates vary significantly by program:

  • Armenian Studies Scholarships (2023): 14 selected from 51 applications (27%)
  • Higher Education for Armenian Students in Developing Countries (2023): 38 selected from 400 applications (9.5%)
  • INSPARK program (Lebanon): 10 selected from 19 applications (53%)
  • Project Grants: 32 selected from 125 evaluated (26%)

Reapplication Policy

  • The same or similar projects cannot be submitted more than once during any given year
  • For Short Term Grants for Armenian Studies, applicants can receive a maximum of two grants total
  • No explicit information about reapplication timing for unsuccessful applicants beyond the one-year restriction

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Foundation

Application Timing:

  • “Candidates are strongly advised not to wait until the last few days before applying”
  • The Department does not accept applications after established deadlines

Documentation Standards:

  • Use professional formatting: 1.5 line spacing and 12-point font for research proposals (maximum 5 pages)
  • Provide grade clarification letters if grading scales aren't standard or included in transcripts
  • Choose recommenders who can speak authoritatively to your abilities and are not closely related to you

Strategic Fit:

  • Ensure projects clearly align with one of the four priority areas
  • Demonstrate how the project will have “a positive impact on the Armenian world, be it in Armenia or in the Diaspora”
  • Applications are evaluated based on alignment with the Department's strategic priorities

Recent Funded Projects (2024)

Examples of successful projects demonstrate the Department's priorities:

  • Vlume - Expansion into producing 84 new Armenian-language publications for younger readers, including audio and e-books
  • Olivia Melkonian (UK) - “Resurrection” music album adapting Western Armenian folk songs into electronic dance music
  • Armenian Centre for Contemporary Experimental Art (ACCEA/NPAK) - “WestArm Laboratory” art research and exhibition project showcasing Western Armenian culture through contemporary art
  • Hasmik Ghazaryan and Christian Batikian (Armenia/France) - "Jardin qui t'a rêvé" documentary about contemporary writer Krikor Beledian
  • Armand Yervant Tufenkian and Tamer Hassan (USA) - “Gab Gar” film installation centered on conversations in Western Armenian
  • Translation projects - Armenian folk epic “David of Sassoun” into Portuguese

These examples show the Department's support for innovative, creative approaches to Armenian language and culture preservation, including contemporary adaptations and cross-cultural projects.

Language and Approach

The Department values:

  • Innovation and creativity in preserving and promoting Armenian culture
  • Projects that bridge traditional Armenian heritage with contemporary approaches
  • Initiatives that strengthen both diaspora communities and engagement with Armenia
  • Research that contributes to critical thinking on national issues
  • Educational programs that ensure language vitality for future generations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Strategic Alignment is Critical: Ensure your project clearly fits within one of the four priority areas (Language & Culture, Academic Support, Civil Society & Creativity in Armenia, or Armenian-Turkish Relations). The Department has a clear strategic focus and limited resources relative to demand.
  1. Competition is Significant: With only a 36% overall success rate (and as low as 9.5% for some programs), applications must be exceptionally strong. Given that 32 projects were selected from 125 evaluated in January 2024, quality over quantity is essential.
  1. Innovation Matters: Recent funded projects show the Department values creative, contemporary approaches to Armenian culture preservation—not just traditional heritage projects. Consider how your project brings fresh perspectives.
  1. Apply Early and Prepare Thoroughly: The Department explicitly advises against last-minute applications. Use the three annual evaluation periods (January, May, September) strategically, and read all guidance documents before applying.
  1. Use the Online Portal Correctly: All applications must go through mygulbenkian. Ensure all mandatory fields are completed and documents uploaded before clicking “Submit.” No confirmation email is sent.
  1. Think Global Impact: Successful projects demonstrate “positive impact on the Armenian world” whether in Armenia or the Diaspora. Articulate your project's broader significance beyond immediate activities.
  1. Multiple Languages Accepted: If your project team works primarily in Armenian, French, or Portuguese, you can apply in those languages—not just English.

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