Cafesjian Center for the Arts

The Cafesjian Center for the Arts occupies the interior of the Cascade Complex at 10 Tamanyan Street in central Yerevan, Armenia. The museum was founded through the efforts of the Armenian-American philanthropist Gerard L. Cafesjian, who supported the completion of the long-unfinished Cascade and filled it with contemporary art. Visitors enter at the foot of the Cascade and ride a sequence of escalators through the hillside; the Escalator Gallery that runs along them is lined with works by international artists and is open daily, while the main exhibition galleries and museum store open on a more limited schedule. The collection is notable for contemporary glass, sculpture and painting, and the museum regularly stages temporary exhibitions. Outside, the terraces and gardens of the Cascade hold an open-air sculpture park with large pieces by Fernando Botero and others, which can be seen without a gallery ticket. A typical visit takes one to two hours, depending on how many floors and temporary shows are open. Weekend afternoons are when the galleries are most reliably open, but they are also the busiest; weekday visits are quieter if the galleries are open, though visitors should confirm hours before going. The escalator ride itself offers a changing view of the city as the levels rise, and the top of the complex gives a clear outlook towards Mount Ararat in good weather. The centre combines easily with a walk through the Cascade gardens, the nearby Opera House and Freedom Square, and cafes at the base of the steps. Gallery admission is modest by international standards, and children under 12 are admitted free.