The Pomegranate Foundation was established in 2008 as a
non-profit educational and cultural foundation dedicated to
support filmmakers, writers, photographers, musicians and
other artists whose projects relate to the experience of
genocide, deportation, ethnic cleansing and other human
rights atrocities, with a goal towards understanding and
preventing genocide. The Foundation also supports the
academic study of genocide and genocide prevention in a wide
range of formats.
Why a Pomegranate?
The pomegranate is a symbol of hope, regeneration and
abundance around the world, dating back to antiquity. It is
a universal symbol, crossing many cultures and religions. It
is cited in the Qur'an twice, with reference to the 'good
things God creates.' It is a symbolic design in Christian
religious motifs, for example in the paintings of Sandro
Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci. In the Hebrew Torah, the
seeds of the pomegranate are said to represent the 613
mitzvot or 'commandments.' The pomegranate is cited in Greek
mythology and represents abundance and good luck in Greek
culture today. In Armenia, the pomegranate is a popular
symbol of fertility and abundance. It is the heraldic symbol
of the Spanish city of Granada, and used in the logos of
Turkish cities. In India, all parts of the fruit are used in
Ayurvedic medicine. In Vietnam, the flowers of the fruit are
a symbol of summer, and throughout Asia the fruit is popular
in bonsai cultivation because of the wisdom and beauty
implied by its ageing bark. The Foundation's goal is to
approach the recurring problem of genocide through education
and the arts. The pomegranate symbolizes hope and change -
what is needed in addressing this universal problem.
Dr. Carla Garapedian is awarded the Armin
T. Wegner Humanitarian Award at the ARPA Film Festival.
Garapedian is the Executive Director of the Pomegranate
Foundation.
The Pomegranate Foundation has three initiatives:
POMEGRANATE FILM PROJECT This project
supports a major film focusing on the years leading up to a genocide
-- the so-called “pre-genocide” period.
POMEGRANATE
LECTURE SERIES The lecture series features academics
who are studying the causes of genocide, comparative genocide and
genocide prevention.
POMEGRANATE SEED FUND The seed fund supports new filmmakers and other artists who are
exploring themes of genocide, deportation, ethnic cleansing and
other human rights atrocities in a wide range of media, including
new media. It also supports artists from groups which have been
affected by genocide.
