Nadia receives French honour

 
Nadia Samdani, co-founder of Samdani Art Foundation and Dhaka Art Summit, has been honoured with the prestigious ‘Ordre des Arts et des Lettres’ by the French ministry of culture.

The knight rank was conferred on her through the order on Wednesday at the residence of the French ambassador in Dhaka. The award is given to individuals for their creativity demonstrated in the cultural sphere or for their support and contribution to the dissemination of knowledge and work that enriches cultural heritage, UNB reports.

The medal was handed over to Nadia Samdani by French ambassador Marie Masdupuy on behalf of the French government, according to a press release.
Nadia Samdani was bestowed with the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire title by Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 in recognition of her contribution to art and culture in Bangladesh, South Asia and the UK. Along with her husband Rajeeb Samdani, co-founder and trustee of Samdani Art Foundation, she is the first South Asian arts patron to receive the prestigious Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award in 2017.

In 2011, Nadia, with Rajeeb Samdani, established the Samdani Art Foundation to support the work of Bangladeshi and South Asian contemporary artists and architects and enhance their exposure. As part of the initiative, she founded Dhaka Art Summit, which has since completed five successful editions.

She is a member of Tate’s South Asia Acquisitions Committee, Tate’s International Council and Alserkal Avenue’s Programming Committee, one of the founding members of the Harvard University Lakshmi Mittal South Asia Institute’s Arts Advisory Council and a member of Asia Society’s Advisory Committee.