Founded in 1925, the Société des Amis des Musées de Dijon (SAMD) is dedicated to preserving, expanding and sharing Burgundy’s exceptional artistic and historical legacy. To advance this mission, SAMD funds the acquisition of new works for the Dijon museums’ collections, supports their conservation, and champions the scholarly research that brings those collections to life for the public.
SAMD works in close partnership with the municipal museums of Dijon, headquartered at the majestic Palais des Ducs et des États de Bourgogne, former seat of the Dukes of Burgundy. Through this collaboration, it supports collections which carry the prestigious “Musée de France” designation: the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée Magnin, Musée Archéologique, Musée Rude, Musée d’Art Sacré, Musée de la Vie Bourguignonne, and the Jardin de l’Arquebuse, together preserving one of the richest artistic legacies in France, rooted in the golden age of the Valois Dukes of Burgundy.
Today, SAMD’s work is structured around expanding the museums’ collections, supporting the scholarship that documents them, and broadening public access to Burgundian art and history, often carried out in partnership with major international institutions. As it enters its second century, the Society’s ambition is to secure Dijon’s place among the world’s leading centers for Burgundian and late-medieval art, and to share that legacy with audiences in France and well beyond.
In addition to leading activities, trips, and guided visits for its members, SAMD’s support for the Dijon museums takes several concrete forms:
To expand this legacy and engage international audiences, SAMD seeks support for two landmark upcoming exhibitions.
From June 11 to October 11, 2027, Dijon will host “Ymagiers de Bourgogne”, an exhibition presented in partnership with the Musée du Louvre. Centered on Burgundian sculpture from the Middle Ages to the 15th century, this project highlights the master sculptors whose craft defined late-medieval European art.
Following this, in 2028, a major exhibition dedicated to Philippe le Bon and Isabelle of Portugal will be co-organized with The Cleveland Museum of Art, exemplifying the power of Franco-American museum collaborations by bringing together court portraits, tapestries, illuminated manuscripts, and precious artifacts from the golden age of the Duchy of Burgundy.
With Friends of Fondation de France, U.S. donors can help SAMD ensure that Burgundy’s artistic heritage continues to inspire all audiences through tax-deductible donations.
Your contributions will support the organization’s mission to promote and expand the influence of Dijon’s museums by funding the acquisition of new works through donations and sponsorship, while facilitating public access to cultural knowledge and supporting scholarly research related to the museums’ collections. To ensure the success of these initiatives, funding will cover both direct exhibition costs and the essential operational expenses strictly required to implement them.
The Société des Amis des Musées de Dijon is seeking financial support for two major upcoming international projects: 15th-century Burgundian Sculptures (2027) Philippe le Bon and Isabelle of Portugal (2028), organized in collaboration with the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Photo: Musée des Beaux-Arts, Place de la Sainte-Chapelle © Direction des musées de Dijon – S. Rouillard
For nearly 20 years, Hirondelle de l’Avenir has worked with children, young people, and families in underserved communities across Benin, helping them access the education,
Every October 8, DAF Day brings attention to one of the most widely used tools in American philanthropy: the donor-advised fund. For donors, it’s an
Every September, doors open across France that are rarely accessible to the public. Historic residences, government buildings, museums, religious sites, gardens, workshops, places of memory,
