The SAFIR Ambassador program allows key actors from the art scene that are passionate about what SAFIR does to join SAFIR and contribute by creating initiatives that fall under it’s three main areas: Thought Process, Expression and Outreach.
Ambassadors join SAFIR for a period that lasts for up two years, during which they present their ideas to support young Syrian artists in their locations and are responsible for managing, executing and securing funding for them.
Lina Attar Ajami
Born in Damascus Syria, Lina has lived in many cities including Paris, Montreal and most recently Beirut. After studying Business and Economics at Concordia University in Canada and working in the corporate world, Lina moved to the humanities and art by taking Art History classes at the Universities de Montreal and went on to complete a masters in Art Curating and Art Critics at USJ. Sharing a passion for art with her husband Amer, Lina and Amer are avid art collectors who are building their private collection on the theme of Syrian art, knowing that behind every work of art they can develop a personal relation with the artist and understand their creation on deeper level. As such building their collection has become a beautiful and enriching experience where they meet amazing people and develop dear friendships. The collection tries to be inclusive of many eras and styles of art produced by Syrian artists all over the world. Constantly exerting efforts to promote Syrian artists, Lina has organised many exhibitions in Montreal for them. The first around the Festival du Monde Arabe in Montreal, then through a gallery that she founded with a friend Artiform in 2000. She is very happy to have found a structured way to express her wish in helping young artists to reach their potential and join international platforms and be part of a wider exposure where they deserve to be seen and heard, and is very proud to be the first ambassador for SAFIR supporting its’ initiatives by working with Syrian artists in Beirut to develop their communication and English language skills.
Jouhayna Samawi
Jouhayna is one half of a husband-and-wife team that is revolutionising the region’s art industry. Founded by collectors and cousins Khaled and Hisham Samawi, alongside Jouhayna, in Damascus in 2006, Ayyam Gallery successfully revived interest in Syria’s art history whilst at the same time nurturing the country’s burgeoning and dynamic contemporary art scene. Landmark non-profit initiatives such as the Shabab Ayyam Project, an incubator for emerging artists, demonstrated Ayyam Gallery’s commitment to bringing the new wave of Syrian artists to international attention. Ayyam Gallery Damascus currently functions as a studio and creative haven for artists who remain in the war-torn city. Expansion into Beirut and Dubai enabled Ayyam Gallery to broaden its scope from the promotion of work by Syrian artists to those from the wider Middle East region. Today, Ayyam Gallery is recognised as a leading cultural voice in the region, representing a roster of Arab and Iranian artists with an international profile and museum presence. As a SAFIR Ambassador, Jouhayna is supporting SAFIR’s ‘outreach’ objectives by hosting an event in May 2018 to introduce Syrian artists in Dubai to the local collectors community.