Kathmandu, April 23 Every year Nepal Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) organises a national level art exhibition at its gallery in Naxal. Unfortunately, the three-storey building developed cracks, and the walls in its southern side collapsed after to the quake. The building was rendered inhabitable, and NAFA had to organise the art exhibition — that features works of around 300 artists from across the nation — at Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal. “Organising a national level art exhibition requires huge space. Though we held the exhibition at Nepal Art Council, the financial burden increased,” said Navaraj Bhatta, member secretary of NAFA. NAFA managed the space for the exhibition, but its staff were forced to run its offices from a nearby hut-like structure “that used to be space for conducting different workshops” according to Nima Gyamcho Lama, head of the Department of Traditional Arts. What has stopped them from rebuilding the structure? “Budget has been allocated for reconstruction of NAFA building, but we are unable to mobilise the fund due to the ongoing controversy over NAFA’s land,” Bhatta informed, adding, “Of around 22 ropani land belonging to NAFA, the government decided to hand over 15 ropani to Nepal Academy of Music and Drama (NAMUDA) six months ago.” Calling the government decision “an injustice towards the artists’ community”, NAFA took the matter to court. “The court has issued a stay order preventing NAMUDA from taking over the land for now. The next hearing is on May 6,” Bhatta informed. “Once the court’s final decision comes, we will start the rebuilding process,” said Bhatta. Though NAFA could not conduct any art-related activities in its own gallery space, various workshops were held in quake-affected regions, where artists used art as a medium for healing. “We cannot do anything right now. We have to just wait and watch. We are hopeful that NAFA — an institution that belongs to all Nepali artists — will get justice. We just need patience for now,” artist Erina Tamrakar, who is also a NAFA assembly member said. Rather than mourning the loss of art space, she chose to do something creative and beneficial for the public. “With a group of seven artists, we visited the maternity ward of Patan Hospital and distributed painting materials to new mothers and pregnant women. They created various artworks using them — it helped them loosen up the stress caused by the quake through art,” she stated. Following her footsteps were other artists associated with NAFA. Assembly Member of NAFA Umesh Shrestha went to various places in Dolakha with his team where they worked with school children, giving them art lessons and painted the walls of their schools. Rudra Pratap Adhikari (Dipesh) was one of artists who accompanied Shrestha on his trip to Dolakha. “I got to interact with local children and people and helped them heal through art,” said Adhikari, who worked with children of different schools.