Come and try your hand at traditional Armenian embroidery at the Armenian Institute. Taking place during London Craft Week (12-18 May 2025), this workshop will be focused on an embroidery technique from the Vaspourakan region, a province of the ancient kingdom of Armenia centered around Lake Van. This area is considered to be the cradle of Armenian culture. Embroidery artist, Lizzy Vartanian, will teach you this stitch found on Armenian women’s aprons and discuss the symbolism of their colourful, geometrical patterns.

Beginners are welcome. All materials will be provided.

This workshop is held in collaboration with the FINDING LARGE MONUMENTS TO BE DESTROYED project, a theatre installation piece created by Polish director Nastazja Domaradzka and British-Armenian writer Abi Zakarian and produced by Claire Gilbert. This piece imagines the meeting between the two artists’ grandmothers, whose lives have been shaped by invasions, war and Western interference. Supported by Arts Council England, seed commissioned by Royal & Derngate Generate.

About Lizzy Vartanian

Lizzy Vartanian (b. 1993, London), is a British Armenian embroidery artist based between London and Yerevan. Much of her work is based on family roots in Lebanon, Syria and Western Armenia. She has taught workshops in London, Armenia and Jordan, including the Victoria and Albert Museum. She has exhibited in London, Yerevan and Amman, including at the Royal Academy of Art. She is the founder of the Armenian Embroidery account on Instagram and has created embroidery kits to teach Armenian embroidery and make learning about Armenian embroidery more accessible.