Opening ceremony of Oscar-winning Armenian-American novelist William Saroyan Museum to open in Fresno

The William Saroyan House-Museum will open to the public on August 31, the 110th anniversary of the writer’s birthday, Renaissance” Cultural and Intellectual Foundation reported in a press statement.

The grand opening event will be open to the public and held on the campus of California State University of Fresno.  A documentary, musical performances of songs written by Saroyan, a recitation of his writings, and remarks by the Founder and board members of the Foundation will be part of the event.  Two of the songs will be a debut performance, having never been played for the public.

In 2016, the Foundation, founded by Arthur Janibekyan, purchased William Saroyan’s house and saved it from foreclosure. Since then, the Saroyan House Project was initiated, with the purpose of establishing a house-museum dedicated to the life and times of the Pulitzer Prize and Oscar-winning Armenian-American novelist, screenwriter, and songwriter.

The museum will feature a large digital archive of Saroyan’s works as well as collected books, photos, videos, paintings, souvenirs that describe Saroyan’s character. Additionally, the space will include video and digital effects that depict a hologram of William Saroyan sitting and talking with his guests. In accordance with William Saroyan’s will, a research area will be created within the house, which will serve as a center for Saroyan studies. Students, scholars and other interested individuals will thus be able to benefit from the vast heritage which the writer left behind.