Samdani Art Foundation (SAF) is a private arts trust based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Founded in 2011 by collector couple Nadia and Rajeeb Samdani, it supports the work of the country's contemporary artists and architects. Led by Artistic Director and Curator Diana Campbell Betancourt, SAF seeks to expand the audience engaging with contemporary art across Bangladesh and increase international exposure for the country's artists. 

SAF, in partnership with JAAGO Foundation, has launched a new programme, titled 'Art Around the Table' via social media channels. "We will serve up activities as well as things to look at and engage with around thousands of literal and figurative tables across the globe," said Nadia Samdani, the Founder of SAF and the Director of Dhaka Art Summit. "The diverse group of artists, curators and writers have generously agreed to provide food to be shared around the tables of people in need in Bangladesh, in exchange of their contributions." Nadia was recognised as the most important art personality and influential museum founder in the July issue of Christie's Magazine this year, for her contributions in promoting art. She founded the Srihatta – Samdani Art Centre and Sculpture Park in Sylhet.

The first digital workshop of will feature artist Rana Begum.

 On the other hand, JAAGO Foundation's team of over 3500 volunteers across Bangladesh have come together to provide needed relief in these challenging times. Through collaborating with various organisations, which have been helping out financially, as well as providing food items and transportation services, the foundation has been able to reach out to a vast number of people in need in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Madaripur, Rajshahi, Habiganj, Bandarban and Teknaf.

"We have always aimed to sustain the momentum of fresh thoughts, innovative ideas and new relationships made possible by the DAS, to make sure that the physical interactions and exchanges flourish and grow into actions after everyone has gone home," said Rajeeb Samdani, the co-founder of SAF and one of the trustees of Jaago Foundation. "Working together across the globe, we must come up with ways to overcome political and geographical challenges as well as the isolation some of us are faced with, often without formal infrastructures."  SAF also donated a special vehicle to Quantum Foundation for carrying and burying COVID-19 patients.

"On June 12, we will launch the first 'Art Around the Table' digital workshop with the Sylhet born and London-based artist Rana Begum, who is the first Bangladeshi artist to be a member of the Royal Academy in London," added Rajeeb. This workshop will be available via all social media channels of Samdani Art Foundation. New programmes contributed by artists and thinkers from Bangladesh and around the world will be released every Friday.

'Art Around the Table' aims to unite us and set the table for a more equal world. We will contribute to the project to help poor people survive in the crisis of COVID-19," said Rana Begum. "Serving humanity in exchange for our cultural contributions is a wonderful initiative, for which Samdani Art Foundation deserves accolades. Thinkers and creative minds from around the global have joined hands in support of Covid-19 in Bangladesh. They have generously donated their honorarium to feed  and support Bangladesh during these difficult times. We have collaborated with Jaago to reach out to 7500 individuals to support them with food. We have also gifted a brand new refrigerated van to carry dead bodies of the Covid-19 victims to Quantum Foundation who is working at the front line with the deceased."

"As members of our movement gather around to participate, JAAGO Foundation will be using 'Art Around the Table' activities in their schools in Bangladesh, which they will run in addition to responding to the Covid-19 crisis. We're hoping that the ideas will be as diverse as the tables they pile up on," said Nadia Samdani.

The 'Art Around the Table' logo was contributed by the Swiss Design Research Collective common interest – who worked on the exhibition design of Dhaka Art Summit 2020 and was inspired by the parallels between Bangladesh and Brazil.

A permanent home for SAF's collection is currently in development. That home is the Srihatta – Samdani Art Centre and Sculpture Park, designed by Dhaka-based, Aga Khan Award for Architecture-winning architect, Kashef Mahboob Chowdhury. Located in Sylhet, Bangladesh, Srihatta will house the Samdani Art Foundation Collection, accommodate space for up to ten artists in residence, and commission new works by world-class South Asian and international artists.