Govt College of Art & Craft Joins Heritage Ranks with New Blue Plaque Installation

Govt College of Art & Craft Honoured with Heritage Plaque, Celebrating Its Legacy

170-year-old art college in India, the Govt College of Art and Craft, was recently recognized as a Grade I heritage structure, with a blue plaque installed outside the building by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. This blue plaque honor signifies the contribution of Art colleges to shape our history and heritage. The initiative of placing these blue plaques started in 2022 with the installation of a plaque outside Rani Rashmoni’s Janbazar house, which marked the historical significance of this structure and developed a sense of pride and awareness among the public.

Chhatrapati Dutta, Principal of the Govt Art College, expressed his pleasure at receiving the honor of a blue plaque and also emphasized that this achievement acknowledges the institution’s rich history and heritage, he also praised the civic body for their initiative. Govt College of Art and Craft was originally founded as the School of Industrial Art in Garanhata on August 16, 1854. It became a government institution in 1864 and was renamed the Govt School of Art, with Henry Hover Locke appointed as principal, aiming to align its education with the South Kensington School in London. In 1892, the school moved to its current location near the Indian Museum and was renamed Govt College of Art and Craft in 1951.

A professor from the art college explained that Abanindranath Tagore and Ernest Binfield Havell introduced a new style of art education in Calcutta. They focused on creating a unique Indian style of art, rather than sticking to the Western academic realism that was common at the time. Tagore was the vice principal from 1905 to 1915, and Havell was the superintendent in 1896 and later became the principal from 1896 to 1905. Aniruddha Mukherjee, Secretary of the Govt Art College Alumni Association, mentioned that among the institution's notable alumni are Nandalal Bose, Jamini Ray, Somnath Hore, Zainel Abedin, Ganesh Pyne, Ganesh Haloi, Shanu Lahiri, Jogen Chowdhury, Paresh Maity, and Sanatan Dinda, among others.

Editor's Note:

The Govt College of Art & Craft which was established in 1854 is India’s oldest art institution and has been honoured with a blue plaque recognising its status as a Grade I heritage structure. This honour, granted by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, highlighted the college’s rich history and its remarkable contribution to the art world. The tireless efforts of Abanindranath Tagore and Ernest Binfield Havell to introduce a new style of art education in Calcutta brought this glorious recognition to the college. 

Skoobuzz congratulates the Govt College of Art & Crafts for bringing this pride to Indian institutions and also encourages the young generation to safeguard the cultural heritage.