GLENDALE, Calif. -- The first Glendale Art Show, organized by Stepan Partamian, brought together artists from across the globe — including Armenia, Korea and Japan — in a setting that reflected Glendale’s evolving cultural identity.
Partamian described the event as an effort to unite communities through art while recognizing the city’s layered history.
“Glendale Art Show is an idea that brings different cultures together,” he said. “It’s not only an art showcase. It is bringing artists from different angles of the world.”
The festival itself grew out of a promise. After hosting the Armenian Gata Band at a concert two years ago, Partamian said he committed to organizing a larger, public event when the group returned. That vision ultimately became a street festival supported by the Glendale Arts and Culture Commission and in association with the Glendale Sister City Program.
Despite gusty winds that at times disrupted displays, the turnout remained steady, with crowds moving between booths, music and performances throughout the day.
Culture on display — and in motion
What stood out most wasn’t just what people saw — it was what they joined.
Dozens of attendees stepped into traditional Armenian line dances as live music filled Orange Street. Many participants regularly take classes to learn the dances — part of a broader effort to preserve cultural traditions within Glendale’s large Armenian community.
Young children, arms stretched wide, hopped to keep pace with the rhythm, occasionally missing a step but quickly finding it again.
Nearby, older men — some with bellies jutting forward — linked arms and moved in unison through the Kochari, a staple of Armenian folk dance known for its strength and communal energy. Women of all ages formed their own lines, adding personal flair to the movement as the beat of the music echoed through the street.
The dancing blurred the line between performer and audience, turning the festival into something participatory — a shared expression of culture rather than a staged one.
Music from the visiting Gata Band underscored that connection, reinforcing what organizers described as a commitment to authenticity while also making room for broader representation.
City leaders back a growing arts scene
Glendale City Councilmember Ara Najarian echoed that message, praising the event as a reflection of community strength.
“We’re rich because of all of you, because of all of your culture, your creativity, your artistic endeavors,” Najarian said, adding that the city wants to see more cultural programming like it.
Both organizers and artists are already pushing for expansion. What began as a planned annual event may soon double in frequency.
“Almost every artist … is asking me to do it twice a year,” Partamian said.
He confirmed a second festival is now being considered for October, potentially alongside the Armenian Wine and Spirits Festival, another large cultural event that draws international participation.
A city shaped by waves of newcomers
Partamian described Glendale as “the melting pot that never melts,” pointing to decades of migration that have shaped the city’s identity.
“Every 20, 30 years, we have newcomers,” he said. “Each will stay fixed to their roots … but the beauty is that all of us together represent Glendale.”
That observation aligns with broader demographic trends. Glendale has long been known for its Armenian American population, but recent years have also seen growth among Asian communities, including Korean and Japanese residents. Much of that increase has been tied in part to programs within the Glendale Unified School District, where dual-language immersion programs have attracted families seeking multilingual education.
The result is a city where cultural identity is both preserved and continuously redefined.
Inclusion as a deliberate goal
Partamian said future festivals will aim to reflect that full spectrum more clearly, with plans to include Armenian, Mexican, Korean and Filipino performers in upcoming events.
“We all belong to the city of Glendale,” he said. “Regardless of where you came from … we are all Glendalians.”
That sense of belonging — and the effort to make it visible — is what organizers say will define the future of the Glendale Art Show.
Because in a city where cultures don’t disappear but instead stand side by side, inclusion isn’t automatic. It has to be built — one event, one performance and one shared space at a time.
