NAFA, Siddharth Art Foundation sign MoU

Nepal Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and Siddhartha Art Foundation to host this year’s ‘Kathmandu Triennale’. To this effect a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the two entities amid a programme held in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

The document of mutual understanding and commitments was signed by Devendra Kumar Kafle ‘Thumkeli’, member secretary of NAFA, and Sangeeta Thapa, director of Siddhartha Art Foundation.

This partnership aims to promote the ‘Kathmandu Triennale’ as an art festival designed to introduce Nepali art to a global audience, foster artistic exchange between Nepali and international artists, and contribute to tourism promotion through art. 

Speaking on the signing, Naradamani Hartamchali, NAFA chancellor expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, emphasising the historical significance of working together in the field of Nepali art.  He highlighted the programme’s goal of gaining not only national recognition but also establishing an international presence.

While Sangeeta Thapa expressed her happiness in collaborating for the upcoming ‘Kathmandu Triennale’ with NAFA.

She expressed her opinion that the younger generation would shape the future trajectory of Nepali art history and play a pivotal role in advancing the ‘Kathmandu Triennale’.

As outlined in the memorandum of understanding, each edition of the ‘Kathmandu Triennale’ will feature a special exhibition showcasing the history of Nepali art and the contributions of prominent Nepali artists. 

With view to promote the art education and wider participations, the upcoming ‘Kathmandu Triennale’ will be held in Kathmandu, with satellite events across Nepal. 

During the programme, Associate Professor Sujan Chitrakar discussed the evolution of the ‘Kathmandu Art Triennale’ and its positive impact on Nepali art.

He stressed the importance of taking art from the rural areas to the international stage and promoting an art model suited to Nepal’s cultural context.

Nepal Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) is the umbrella organization of Nepali artists, art researchers and art critics that facilitates for creation and exhibition of artworks, and study and research of various genres of arts. NAFA has two constituent parts as Academic Council and Academic Assembly. The Academic Assembly makes policies and programs for the development of Nepali art, and Academic Council executes them in association with Nepali artists and sometimes in collaboration with other art organizations. It also monitors various art activities in the country, evaluates artworks and awards the artists. The Academic Council consists of Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Member Secretary and the Members of Academic Council. The administrative unit of the Academy assists for the regular functioning NAFA.

The Academy organizes various art workshops, seminars, and National Art Exhibition within its office premise at Sita Bhawan, Naxal, Kathmandu, Nepal and various districts of Nepal to impart new and innovative concepts, skills, techniques and styles of art with other artists, share experiences and learn from participant artists across the country. NAFA encourages for the study and research of the history of Nepali art by providing fellowship and scholarship to the researchers. The research findings are documented and published for the benefits of all artists. NAFA aims to make aware Nepali artists about their roots and glorious history so that they can take inspiration from their own tradition. In addition to this, it attempts to introduce modern and postmodern trends of world arts to contemporary Nepali artists. The Academy assists artists to promote their creativity and creations by taking fund from Nepal Government and by generating its own resources.

The Academy aims to develop all genres of existing art, and to fulfill this objective it has separate Departments for painting, traditional arts, sculpture, folk art, handicrafts, architecture, alternative and other creative arts. These Departments have been headed by Members of Academic Council who make separate working plans for their own Departments. NAFA encourages both traditional and contemporary art practices.

Over the years, SAF has partnered with many artists, art institutions and organizations to host exhibitions, workshops and art projects.