It was set up at the initiative of Lady Ranu Mukherjee in 1933, the Academy is a favourite rendezvous of Kolkata's cultural intelligentsia. On entering through the front portico, one comes across several interesting sculptures. It houses several galleries - like Rabindra Gallery that contains a collection of paintings and sketches by Rabindranath Tagore, Textile Gallery, Miniatures Gallery and Carpets Gallery. Bengali plays and exhibitions by contemporary artists are regularly held here throughout the year and it is also a focal point of the arts, be it sculpture, drama, painting or photography.