[Newmag Summer Fest-2021] How It All Commence: Live on Armenia TV, followed by Opening Ceremony (photos, videos in Armenian)

Before the opening ceremony, the organizers presented the details of the festival in the scope of the “Good Morning” program on Armenia TV. The livestream was shot in Yeraz Park, which was the center of the events.  

The head of Newmag Publishing House Artak Aleksanyan claims that the main goal of Newmag Summer Fest was to speak about literature, spark a conversation with Armenian authors and present new bestsellers. In the scope of the “Good Morning” program, Newmag presented 3 new books. 

The main question is why Newmag organized the Summer Fest. Exactly three years ago, in July of 2018, Newmag presented its first book. Artak Aleksanyan notes that this Fest sums up everything that Newmag has achieved in the past 3 years. “We have published 53 books, we have 40 authors, presented books in 10 languages and sold more than 70.000 copies.”  

Newmag works with more than 50 partners today, has built a very healthy, warm and heartfelt relationship, thanks to which it has reached to this point and can talk about the future. “I hope we will meet on Newmag’s 5th anniversary or on the occasion of its 100th book. Of course, all this would not have happened without the team. When we started the festival, the editorial office consisted of only 5 people. Now it is a big family. We have 7 editors, 2 proofreaders, more than 20 translators, more than 55,000 followers on social networks. Here I want to emphasize two key people, without whom Newmag would not be what it is today. Gnel Nalbandyan, the editor-in-chief, and, of course, the art director, Edik Poghosyan.”

Due to its content and design, Newmag has its unique place in the Armenian market. The company has begun to take a position that requires it to do more. According to Artak Aleksanyan, this means not only competing in the market, enduring challenges, but also cooperating with all market players on issues requiring solutions for publishers, such as legislative reforms, tax burden easing, copyright protection. “Our partners are in this hall today for the simple reason that the festival cannot be a celebration of a single organization. It should be a festival and celebration of the industry.”

The first and the greatest victory is the love of the reader. The second victory is to suggest a qualified product to the Armenian society, to equalize the price and the quality. According to the editor-in-chief of the publishing house Gnel Nalbandyan, during the festivals it is possible to communicate with the readers and colleagues, and search for solutions to common challenges. “For example, we are often approached by women writers who want to know where to publish their work. The festival is for them. There are beginners who want to learn more about the details of this field.. We will talk about these issues during the festival as well.”

According to Gnel Nalbandyan, this is an environment where participants can also receive free consultations, while such an opportunity may not be available at any other time. In the scope of this festival participants can learn how to become a literary figure from a beginner writer, get acquainted with marketing tricks and just learn more about the industry. 

The main goal of Newmag is to keep an eye on the world literary trends, to bring to the Armenian reader some of the interesting and most discussed publications that are published every day in the civilized world.