National Gallery of Armenia — Attraction in Yerevan

I have to echo some of the comments about the rude staff and shutting down earlier than the times listed. Despite what google maps says, the listed closing time is 16:30 and not 17:00, with a sign in the museum saying last ticket sold at 16:00.

I arrived at 15:45, which I know only gives me 45 minutes, but it was my last day in Yerevan and I only wanted to see the more modern Armenian painters (plus the special exhibit of Minas) anyway, and 45 minutes is better than nothing!

When I got to the desk the worker told me it was closed! I pointed to the sign saying 16:00 was the last entry and she grudgingly sold me a ticket. You would think they would be more welcoming to people excited about looking (and paying!) to view art.

The galleries were stiflingly hot, but there was some interesting Armenian art. I got to the Minas special exhibit and was not allowed in because that was 1000 drams extra and was never offered the option when I bought the original 1500 dram ticket! I ran back down to the desk to get the special exhibit added on, but as it was now after 16:00 she said no.

In contrast, the staff at the Modern Art Museum were lovely, and their collection, while smaller, was far richer and very thoughtfully displayed. Skip the National Gallery and head to the Modern Art...

The National Gallery of Armenia was founded in 1921 under the decree of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic (Armenian SSR) and represents the artistic section of the State museum. Upon its establishment the Gallery's art section encountered difficulties, largely because Yerevan lacked state owned and private art collections to form the core of the collection. The first works to enter the collection where the dozens of works purchased from an Armenian painters' exhibition in August 1921.

A decisive factor in the founding of the Gallery's art collection was the transfer of the renowned collection of The Armenian Cultural Center (the former Lazarian Seminary, Moscow) and also the donations made by Armenian artists to the Gallery. By 1925, 400 pieces by Armenian, Russian and European artists were on display throughout the six halls which compose the museum's...

I decided to go to the gallery today. I looked at the schedule on the official website - it works from 11 to 18. I came and tried to buy a ticket. There was no one at the ticket office! There are no announcements that the gallery is closed today. I started asking questions about the schedule at the souvenir shop, at the security guard, at the ticket office of the historical museum (they are located in the same building with the gallery). Nobody knows anything! While I was walking around the lobby and asking, many people came who, like me, wanted to get into the gallery. I have been to many galleries around the world and have never seen such an attitude towards visitors! I really hope that the management will read my review and take measures to prevent this from...