Organised by Nepal Fine Arts Association, the National Fine Arts Exhibition is currently ongoing at Nepal Art Council, in Babarmahal. The exhibit, which features 458 artworks by 426 artists, was inaugurated by deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Gopalman Shrestha on Monday. The event also honoured 35 artists, art writers and journalists for their contribution towards the promotion and protection Nepali art.

At the event, senior artists Durga Baral and Rabindra Jhaypu were awarded with Aarniko National Fine Arts Awards, with a cash purse worth Rs 1,000,000. Seven artists—Krishna Lama, Samundraman Shrestha, Sunita Rana, Dilan Maharjan, Dilliraj Shakya, Kamal Sutihar and Rabindra Manandhar—were awarded with National Fine Arts Awards, with cash purse of Rs 60, 000.

The ceremony also awarded Dr Yam Prasad Sharma with Nepal Fine Arts Writing Award and journalist Dambar Bahadur Budathoki with Media and Communication Fine Arts Journalism Award and cash prize worth Rs 25, 000.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Minister Shrestha said, “Art is a part of our identity. Preserving arts is preserving our identity.” He added, “The efforts made by Asscociation to conserve art are commendable.”

Similarly, chancellor of the Academy and chairperson of the event, Ragini Upadhayay, stressed on the importance of art and appealed that art be made a compulsory subject up to the secondary school-level. She said, “Art is still not well promoted in schools. So we hope that it will be included as compulsory subject in the coming days.” She added, “We have organised this exhibit incorporating artist from all over the country to promote Nepali art and encourage young artist.”

The exhibition which features various genres of art from modern to traditional art and handicraft will continue for the next two weeks.