History
During British rule in India, the crown found that Madras had many talented and artistic minds. As the British had also established a settlement in and around Madras, George Town was chosen to establish an institute that would cater to the artistic expectations of the royals in London. At first traditional artists were employed to produce furniture, metalwork, and curios, and their work was sent to the royal palaces of the Queen. The institute established itself as the first school of art in India, predating the University of Madras. The school was located at Popham's Broadway. In 1852, it was shifted to its present premises, a four-acre campus on Poonamallee High Road.[1]
In 1928, Debi Prasad Roy Chowdhury joined as its vice-principal and in 1929, he became its first Indian principal. He was the principal until 1957. He was succeeded by K.C.S. Paniker. Later, a number of noted artists held the role of principal, including R. Krishna Rao, S. Dhanapal, K. L. Munuswamy, A. P. Santhanaraj and C. J. Anthony Doss.
In 1966, former principal K.C.S. Paniker, along with his students and some artists associated with the college, founded the Cholamandal Artists' Village, near Chennai, which is still considered one of the '10 biggest art moments' in India.[3]
