COAF launches Horizon Festival with global electronic artists in Armenia

Children of Armenia Fund and Turntables are launching Horizon Festival across Armenia on Aug. 2, Aug. 22 and Sept. 25 to raise money for rural youth programs. The event brings international electronic artists to the COAF SMART Campus and Garni Temple, with the final stop still to be announced.

Why it matters: - Horizon Festival is pairing international electronic music with fundraising for Children of Armenia Fund programs that support rural youth in Armenia. - The festival also aims to spotlight Armenia as a destination for culture-driven events in unique historic and natural settings. - Proceeds received by COAF will go directly to the nonprofit’s youth programs.

What happened: - Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) and Turntables co-organized Horizon Festival, a three-part event across Armenia. - The festival begins on Aug. 2 at the COAF SMART Campus in Lori province. - The second event is set for Aug. 22 at Garni Temple, east of Yerevan. - The final event is scheduled for Sept. 25, and organizers have not yet announced the location or lineup.

The details: - The Aug. 2 lineup includes Satori, Son of Son and Tamada. - Satori is a Dutch producer and live performer known for blending organic instrumentation with melodic electronic music. - Son of Son, also known as the Great Blondino, is a Swedish artist with a cinematic, genre-defying sound. - Tamada is a Georgian artist whose live performances draw on cultural heritage while pushing contemporary electronic music. - The Aug. 22 headliner is Stephan Bodzin, a German producer and live electronic artist. - Horizon’s settings include the pastoral hills of northern Lori and the ancient Greco-Roman Garni Temple. - The festival is described as combining music, cuisine and immersive environments. - Team Telecom Armenia is providing technological support and sponsorship for the festival. - COAF says the festival proceeds will support its transformative youth programs. - COAF is a nonprofit that advances rural communities in Armenia through education, healthcare, social services and economic development. - Since 2003, COAF says it has impacted more than 120,000 lives across seven regions. - COAF’s SMART Centers and holistic programs are designed to expand opportunities for youth and communities. - Tickets, programming and additional information are available through the official Horizon Festival site. - COAF’s website is coaf.org. - COAF’s social channels listed in the release include LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and X.

Between the lines: - Horizon blends philanthropy and destination programming, giving the fundraiser a broader appeal than a standard charity event. - The mix of a modern campus venue and an ancient temple suggests organizers are positioning the festival as both contemporary and distinctly Armenian. - The final event remains open-ended, which leaves room for additional artist announcements and ticket demand later in the season.

What's next: - Organizers will announce the location and lineup for the Sept. 25 finale. - Festival-goers can buy tickets and follow programming updates on the Horizon website. - COAF will channel the festival’s fundraising into its youth-focused work in rural Armenia.