Saroyan Days 2025 was a week-long cultural festival held in Yerevan, Armenia, honoring the legacy of William Saroyan. Co-hosted by the William Saroyan Foundation, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia, and the United States Embassy in Armenia, the festival embraced the full breadth of Saroyan's creative life — his work as a short story writer, novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and visual artist. But more than any single medium, what animated Saroyan Days was the spirit Saroyan himself embodied: humanity, optimism, humor, and hope.
Museum of Literature and Art
“Saroyan:
The Colors Behind the Words”
Saroyan Days opened with the premiere exhibition of over 100 paintings and drawings by Saroyan at the Museum of Literature and Arts in Yerevan — works never before shown publicly. Overseen by museum director Syuzanna Khojamiryan, the exhibition chronicled the evolution of Saroyan's artistic style across his lifetime of creativity, and ran for five months.
Arayik Gevorgyan
The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse
Hello Out There
Clamation “Cast”
Yerevan State Theatre and Film Institute
Theater and Film Night
The Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Film, led by Rector Sara Nalbandian, hosted an evening of theatrical and film performances drawn from and inspired by Saroyan's work. The program included a preview of a new claymation adaptation of his celebrated short story The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse by Yura Boguslavsky and Ilusha Yudovich; a student production of his play Hello Out There reimagined in shadow theater; and a one-man show about Saroyan's boyhood in Fresno, performed by Arayik Gevorgyan.
Book Release
22 Unpublished Short Stories
A new collection, Twenty-Two Unpublished Short Stories, was launched at the National Gallery of Armenia. Published in Armenian, the volume was introduced at an event featuring remarks by the collection's curator, Scott Setrakian; publisher Armen Martirosyan, CEO of Antares Ltd.; and distinguished Saroyan translator Zaven Boyajyan. The program opened with a reading by acclaimed Armenian actor Andranik Mikayelyan.
As the title suggests, the volume brings together 22 previously unpublished stories. Drawn from archival materials at Stanford University, the collection spans the full arc of Saroyan's career—from 1934, when he announced himself with The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze, to 1977, two years before Obituaries, widely regarded as his late-life summation. These stories expand the Saroyan canon in meaningful ways, enriching our understanding of the man and the full range of his voice.
Yerevan Book Fair
The William Saroyan Prize
for Short Fiction
The Yerevan Book Fair, in partnership with the Saroyan Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, presented the inaugural William Saroyan Prize for Short Fiction at a red-carpet ceremony held at the Hakob Paronyan State Theater of Musical Comedy. Lusine Kharatyan won the prize from a field of over 100 entries for her story #america_place Pregnant. The Saroyan Foundation awarded her an original painting by William Saroyan.
The National Library of Armenia
”Saroyan’s Cultural Influence and Armenian Publications”
The National Library of Armenia, under the leadership of National Library Director Dr. Anna Chulyan, hosted an afternoon entitled "Saroyan’s Cultural Influence and Armenian Publications," celebrating Saroyan's presence in the Armenian language through national news coverage, translation, and the four visits he made to Armenia.
General overview of the festival (in Armenian)
Malyan Theater
Train Stories
The Malyan Theatre presented Train Stories — a lively stage adaptation of five Saroyan short stories — to a sold-out house. Co-sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and the William Saroyan Foundation, the evening was welcomed by U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien.
The award-winning production brilliantly weaves together elements of Old Country Advice to the American Traveller, The Ping-Pong Players, The Genius, The Poor and Burning Arab, and The Barber Whose Uncle Had His Head Bitten Off by a Circus Tiger.
Theater on the Roof
Mama I love You
Theater on the Roof, Armenia's innovative alternative theatre and self-described "first rooftop theater in the world," presented its stage production of Mama I Love You — an adaptation drawing from both Saroyan's novel of the same name and its companion, Papa You're Crazy. Together, the two books chronicle the lives of recently divorced parents and their children through stories that are at once touching, sad, comical, and hopeful. Theater on the Roof has woven them into a single, seamlessly integrated work.
American University of Armenia
Readings from
Twenty-two Unpublished Short Stories
The American University of Armenia hosted an energetic and well-attended evening of live readings and discussion drawn from Twenty-Two Unpublished Short Stories, under the leadership of AUA Provost Dr. Alina Gharabegian. Faculty and students read excerpts from four of the book's stories, and Scott Setrakian led a question-and-answer session on the research and selection process behind the collection. The evening was rounded out by remarks from Nune Marukyan, the first AUA Saroyan Foundation scholarship recipient.
Creative Armenia and AGBU
Young Artists’ Showcase
A Young Artists' Showcase celebrated Saroyan's influence on a new generation of Armenian artists working in literature, theater, film, and the visual arts. Hosted at AGBU headquarters under the leadership of Creative Armenia Founder and Director Gavin Hovannisian and AGBU Armenia President Vasken Yacoubian, the event brought together young artists and academics to discuss Saroyan's continuing influence on Armenian cultural life.
The program also featured a video presentation of the Saroyan House Museum by Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Director of the Center for Armenian Studies at Fresno State University.
US Ambassador’s Residence
Closing Reception
Saroyan Days concluded at a closing reception hosted by U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien at her residence.
Ambassador Kvien played a central role in bringing Saroyan Days to life. Her vision and leadership were instrumental to the project from the outset, and she was ably supported by Cultural Attaché Nathan Austin and his team, whose contributions were essential throughout.
English Access Program
Saroyan Stories Video
In honor of Saroyan Days, students from the English Access Microscholarship Program—hosted jointly by the U.S. Embassy and COAF in rural Armenia—produced a video presenting four Saroyan short stories:
- For the Love of Daisy
- Ohan’s Boy
- Out of Order
- Dreamers
Children of Armenia Federation
Children’s Art Contest
COAF organized a William Saroyan Art Contest for Children in partnership with the William Saroyan Foundation and the Museum of Literature and Art.
More than 100 children from across Armenia submitted entries inspired by Saroyan's stories and life.
Mashinyan Srbuhi, created the grand-prize winning work "One Summer Morning." Prize winners were celebrated at the closing ceremony of the Saroyan Art Exhibition at the Museum of Literature and Art.
Winners of the COAF Saroyan Art Contest, with Liana Ghaltaghchyan, Executive Director of COAF, and fellow COAF contest organizers Diana Movsisyan and Gayane Vardanyan
The Museum of Literature and Art
Art Show Closing Ceremony
On February 6, 2026, a closing ceremony for the Saroyan Art Exhibition was held at the Museum of Literature and Art. Remarks were offered by Syuzanna Khojamiryan, Director of the Museum of Literature and Art; Zhanna Andreasyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of the Republic of Armenia; and Scott Setrakian, President of the William Saroyan Foundation. Winners of the COAF Children's Saroyan Art Contest were also recognized and received their prizes. To mark the occasion, the Saroyan Foundation donated one painting each to the Museum of Literature and Art and the National Gallery of Armenia.
Director Syuzanna Khojamiryan and Minister Zhanna Andreasyan speak at the closing ceremony
Saroyan Days Partners
Twenty-four leading businesses, educational institutions, charitable organizations, and government entities—from the United States and Armenia—came together to produce Saroyan Days. Each partner made a distinct contribution; together, they drove the celebration's success.
The William Saroyan Foundation is deeply grateful to the leaders of these partner organizations, whose vision, generosity, and love for William Saroyan made Saroyan Days possible.
Interviews
Good Morning Armenia – The Introduction
Ambassador Kvien and Scott Setrakian (Armenian and English)
AUA Media Lab - Focus on Saroyan Days
National Radio “Coffee and Love in the Morning” (starts at ~50:45)
Scott Setrakian: My Father Was Saroyan’s Guardian Angel
Good Morning Armenia – The Wrap Up (Armenian and English)
Over 100 of Saroyan’s paintings and new stories are now in Armenia