To commemorate their first anniversary, Bangladesh Art Week (BAW) has launched a community based, collaborative and contemporary art project, titled Shikor | Roots, in Chattogram and Sirajganj.

Shikor | Roots, a three month (August-October) long art programme, is initiated by BAW as an annual event. It is an exclusive collaboration between artists, designers and local artisans of low-income rural families. 

The art project will provide financial, creative and educative support to 77 local artisans and their 387 family members from both Chattogram and Sirajganj. The vulnerable communities including weaver, blacksmith, carpenter, mason, fisherman, folk singer, folk artist, potter, goldsmith and bamboo, cane, Shitalpati and Nakshikantha weavers will be directly benefited through this art programme during these difficult times, as a way of earning income, with artist and designer-led teams on the ground. Through this art initiative, artisan families from Chattogram and Sirajganj, Bangladesh, will be assisted for the entire period of 3 months. 

Bangladesh Art Week Founder Niharika Momtaz will curate the entire art projects. Two participating artists -- Sanjoy Kumar Das from Chattogram and Zahangir Alom from Sirajganj will coordinate their respective projects from two places. Both prominent and promising names from the design and art arena, have already interacted with their respective local artisans. An exhibition showcasing the outcomes of the community-based art project between August to October 2020. The artworks will be in the form of Gamucha Art, Weaving Art, Hand embroidered art, handloom fabric art, Wooden art, Terra-cotta art, Bamboo art, Brick art, Folk art and folk songs performance. 

Artist Zahangir Alom will school the children of the participating artisan families in Sirajganj with art education throughout the art project. Co-Founder of BAW Mohammed Mohsin mentioned, "This project is to encourage new experimentation in regards to community engagement." Founder Niharika Momtaz said that BAW's aim is to create a balance of influence in the artistic process between the artists, designers, community weavers and craftsmen.

All of BAW's activities supported by Niharika Momtaz and Mohammed Mohsin.