A Milestone of Endorsement: OACCE Expresses Support for the Armenian Heritage Walk and Young Meher Revival

We are proud to share a significant step forward in the Armenian Heritage Walk project: the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) has formally endorsed the “Young Meher Revival”.

This approval marks a major milestone for the Armenian Heritage Walk, reinforcing the cultural and historical importance of the Young Meher statue by Khoren Der Harootian (1909–1991). The proposed plan includes full conservation of the bronze statue and bas relief panels, a new durable granite base that maintains the artist’s aesthetic, and a relocation of the statue to a more prominent, protected position—rotated to symbolically face east toward Armenia.

“OACCE is pleased to endorse these proposed changes which will beautify and preserve this important statue and ensure its sustainability into the future.” — Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy

OACCE’s endorsement, along with the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA), Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (PPR), and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), provides the support instrumental to help the Foundation secure City approval for the project.

It is yet another powerful endorsement on our journey toward City approval and construction—one that helped us cross a major threshold and continues to strengthen the vision of a permanent public space that honors the Armenian story in Philadelphia.