Founded in 2012 by the Samdani Art Foundation (SAF)— the Dhaka Art Summit (DAS) is an international, non-commercial research and exhibition platform for art and architecture related to South Asia. With a core focus on Bangladesh, DAS re-examines how we think about these forms of art in both a regional and an international context. In collaboration with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, SAF continues to produce and host DAS every two years at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Rejecting the traditional biennale format to create a more generative space for art and exchange, DAS’s interdisciplinary programme concentrates its endeavours towards the advancement and promotion of South Asia’s contemporary and historic creative communities. Local and international guest curators from leading institutions are commissioned to conduct research across South Asia, unlocking new areas of inquiry to build collaborative group exhibitions and experimental writing initiatives, as well as film and talks programmes. Engaging first time art visitors, as well as arts professionals, is a core part of DAS’s institutional mandate. The fifth edition of DAS in February 2020 welcomed nearly 500,000 visitors across 9 days, most of whom were first time visitors to an art institution.