Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts is one of the renowned colleges of the Uttar Pradesh. This college is also known as the College of Arts and Crafts (CAC) or Government College of Arts and Crafts (GCAC). Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts, founded in the year 1911, is affiliated to University of Lucknow, Lucknow. Mr. Nathanial Herd headed this institution as its first Principal. He stressed on the western realism in Indian art. Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts has three main departments - Department of Fine Art, Department of Commercial Art and Department of Sculpture.
History of Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts
In the year 1892, School of Industrial Design was founded in the present day Banarsi Bagh or Lucknow Zoological Gardens. It later shifted to Baans Mandi, till finally when the Public Works Department was given the job of constructing a building for the institution. Thus, its foundation was laid in between 1909 and 1910. Finally, in the year 1911, the institution building was ready. From the period of its inaugural ceremony in 1911 to the commencement of session it was referred as School of Design, School of Art, or School of Industrial Design. Ultimately, in the year 1917, the institute was given its present name that is Government College School of Arts and Crafts or Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts. The first principal of the institution was Nathanial Herd. Later when Asit Kumar Haldar and L.M. Sen joined this college and after 1925 a shift took place in the course curriculum of the college with the introduction of Indian School of painting. Further, in the year 1963 Graphic arts courses were also introduced at the college.
Courses offered at Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts
It was in 1975 the Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts merged with the University of Lucknow as a constituent college. With this change, three National diploma courses of the college were converted into degree courses. This college offers several Undergraduate as well as Postgraduate courses. It offers Bachelor and Masters Degree in Painting, Applied Arts and Sculpture. The college also provides a B.F.A. course in Textile designing and Indian Traditional Sculpture. The Diploma courses offered by this institute include Diploma in Art Masters Training, Home Art and Home Crafts, Iron and Heavy Metal Work, Wood Work and Furniture Design. It also offers Certificate courses in Clay Modelling.
Facilities at Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts
Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts offers a number of infrastructural facilities for the benefits of the students. Like for instance, to impart highly professional training the College has fully equipped workshops of Ceramics, Woodwork, Photography, Graphics, Iron and Heavy Metal Work and Computer Graphics. This college also provides studios for Sculpture, Painting and Commercial Art. Further, for in-depth study of various branches of Visual Arts Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts has full-fledged Library and Museum. The College also gives residential facilities to students and staff. Besides, the institute also provides facility for co-curricular activities, games and sports. The students and staff of this college also participate in State and National level tournaments, N.S. S. and other Arts and Cultural programmes.
The students and teachers of this institute have been honoured with the National Akademi Awards. Further, two of its ex-principals were conferred with the Padma Shri Awards. The students and faculty have also won numerous other National and International level awards as well as recognitions.
Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts has its own museum established in 1911. This museum of the college has a huge collection of ancient art and crafts including terracotta objects, metal works, wooden objects and ivory works. Moreover, Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts is also planning to introduce some new job oriented short courses in designing. The college also has a plan to modify some of the present Diploma courses in order to meet the changing demands of today`s competitive world.
