Kolkata is the Cultural Mecca of the country. But where do the ‘culture vultures’ of the city go when they go culture hopping? Well, to a lot of places, there are the busy body art galleries, and the very many theaters of the city and the many private organizations whose calendars are ever busy with some interesting happening or the other, and mind you very many are free. WOT lists some of the most important and happening places of Kolkata where you can soak in an occasional theater, a film screening or a musical program or a dance recital. Apart from the official venues you will find loads of impromptu events happening at city community halls, street corners, parks and more. Truly the city is the Culture Tsar or Tsarina of the country.

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) - The Rabindranath Tagore Centre

Initiated in 1950 by the great Gandhian freedom fighter Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the ICCR promotes culture beyond borders. For years its’ Kolkata branch was housed in a ramshackle barrack at its present venue on Ho Chi Min Sarani - the ground served more as a parking lot to avoid the congestion of nearby Camac Street - till the new building opened one fine June morning in 2008 as The Rabindranath Tagore Centre - the cultural flagship of ICCR in India.

A huge space, 3442.5 sq mtrs, ‘The Center’, is a beautiful building; it was originally designed by India’s most iconic architect, Charles Correa, and later adapted by local architect Dulal Mukherjee. The striking building encompasses a stone facade and an expansive glass atrium – the Fountain Court – where you are greeted by the stooping bronze bust of the Noble Laureate poet of Bengal by Ramkinkar Baij. Spread over four floors with seven art galleries named after the doyens of Bengal Art, library, lecture and seminar rooms, café, souvenir shop, and an auditorium the Center is a very happening place in the city with constant interlude of theater, dance, music, art shows and exhibitions. A conversation point is the imposing Nataraj in front of the sculpture gallery. But perhaps the most popular place at the Center is Kamala, the craft shop run by the Craft Council of India.

Arts Acre Foundation

A spacious warm brick architecture set amongst lush paddy fields and hutments of New Town, Rajarhat, Arts Acre Foundation is a 1,65,000 sq ft seamlessly flowing art space. Here winding pathways, ponds, summer house, landscaped garden are intercepted by sculptures, cut-outs and installations creating Kolkata’s first hub for creative people.

Designed by architect and urban designer Partha Ranjan Das, the Acre is a multidisciplinary space for artists, theater person, authors, literati’s, film makers, photographers and more. The three-storied sprawling building has its own auditorium, amphitheatre, conservation lab, workshop space for classes in printmaking, ceramics, photography, and cinema, artist studio that can be hired, guest rooms, guest apartments, shop, conference room, four 1000 to 4000 sq ft galleries for limited period exhibition, material shop and the ‘hang out’ (cafeteria).

Spacious corridors, double height atria, lobbies, foyers, multi-utility halls intercepted by exhibits, lawns and terraces add up to about 35,000 sq ft; every sq inch of which is well thought out and planned. The Acre has a sense of unhurried peace and tranquility rare in Kolkata.

The Acre also houses the much awaited Museum of Bengal Modern Art. The 40,000 sq ft galleries showcase the evolution of Bengal art from ‘Early Bengal Oil’ to contemporary artists of the state.

For the avid art vultures this is a must-visit spce; for those who are not, the ambiance is worth the experience.

For a guided tour & membership details, call: 003365600207, Action Area III, New Town, Rajarhat, Kolkata 700156. www.arts.acre.org

The Birla Academy of Art & Culture

The Birla Academy of Art & Culture is an iconic building overlooking the expanse of the Rabindro Sarobar lakes on one of Kolkata’s toniest area, Southern Avenue. Established in 1967 it remains one of the most significant centers of major cultural activities in the city concentrating on visual and performing arts.

Like many other ventures of the city it was initiated by the illustrious industrial family of the Birlas known for their philanthropic works across the city of Kolkata. It all started when Mr. and Mrs. B.K. Birla decided to make their formidable personal rare art and antique collection accessible to the general public.

Today the imposing 11-storied structure is one of the premier museums and art gallery of the country with spacious display-halls, necessary for professional display. Divided into three galleries ‘traditional’ ‘international’ and ‘contemporary’ the impressive museum collection ranges from the 1^st BC till the present and includes wood sculptures, manuscripts, textiles and ancient Indian sculptures specifically of the Chola and Vijayanagara empires.

Over the years ‘The Birla Academy’, known by this abbreviation by Kolkatans has hosted some significant international exhibition, including the French sculptor Rodin - a landmark exhibition for Calcutta, Henry Moore and Graphics of Picasso. A place always abuzz with diverse cultural activities, illustrated lectures, seminars, summer classes on art and craft for children and art appreciation classes, it also hosts a Kala Mela for lesser known artists every winter. The adjacent green lawn with a mammoth replica in granite of Krishna as Mangal Madhab from the Chola dynasty hosts open air expositions, fairs and cultural performances. The Academy also has a library and an active museum shop.

108-109, Southern Ave, Kolkata 29. Ph: 2466-6802, 2466-2843, 4008-9489

Lalit Kala Akademi

Initiated by India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, The Lalit Kala Akademi is an autonomous Government body with regional centers for the promotion of Fine Arts (Drawing, Painting Sculpture, Ceramic, Graphic and other Contemporary Art forms like Installation, Digital and Media Arts and Photography) in the country.

The Kolkata Regional Center was formerly the studio space of the renowned Sculptor, Late Deviprasad Roy Chowdhury, who also became the Akademi’s first Chairman after it was established in 1983. In its nascent year’s artists Amitava Banerjee and Late Paritosh Sen took initiative to turn the space into a thriving Center and a hub for artists from the eastern part of the country.

The quaint tiled roof structure on Keyatala Road close to the Rabindro Sarovar lakes has studio space for artists and ceramic (kiln and potter’s wheel) and print making facility. Dotted with trees and wall murals and strewn sculptures its’ a charming premise with a two guest room for visiting artists. Visit it to see artists at work; you can even have the pleasure of buying a piece directly from a budding talent. From time to time, the Akademi also hosts regional camps and exhibition and provides exhibiting facilities for its members. The Akademi shop sells a nice collection of art merchandise and in-house publications.

361, Keyatala Lane, Kolkata-700 029

Kolkata is the Cultural Mecca of the country. But where do the ‘culture vultures’ of the city go when they go culture hopping? Well, to a lot of places, there are the busy body art galleries, and the very many theaters of the city and the many private organizations whose calendars are ever busy with some interest