Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale has said that the government has given special priority for the conservation and development of the culture and fine arts.He said so while inaugurating the 12th Academic Assembly of the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) here today. The Culture Minister asserted that the Ministry will bring planned programmes for the development and promotion of fine arts in the country. He said the government will pay attention to the promotion of performing arts and culture by integrating the four separate Academies dedicated to these sectors.

Vice Chancellor of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Dr Sunil Babu Shrestha said art and culture played key role in promoting the unique identity of the nation, stressing on the commercial development of this heritage for the economic development. He also said NAST has brought plans and programmes for linking science and art.NAFA vice-chancellor KK Karmacharya said NAFA will set its strategy for the coming year.

The Academic Assembly will pass its work procedures and the estimated budget for the next fiscal year. Member-Secretary of Nepal Music and Drama Academy, Shyam Prakash Tamot underscored on integrated and planned activities by all the Academies for the development and promotion of art, culture, drams, music and fine arts.

Academy Assembly member Ganga Subedi said it was necessary to bring programmes so as to promote the hidden art and culture existing in the remote parts of the country.Meanwhile, NAFA has started distributing the identity cards to the artists associated with the fine arts. NAFA vice-chancellor Karmacharya declared the commencement of identity card distribution today, receiving his identity card.