Following the suggestions of a committee headed by the prominent Russian painter, Svetoslav Roerich, CAVA was established on the lines of the J.J. School of Arts in Mumbai.
In September 2004, there was opposition from students, who felt that CAVA would have less funds if displaced from its semi-autonomous administration under the Department of Kannada and Culture.
Today it houses the Mysore Central Library, Chamarajendra Academy for Visual Arts (CAVA) and the Kitchen Stable in Mounted Horse Company.
The Chamarajendra Technical Institute building is co-located with the Cauvery Arts & Crafts Emporium, which is an all-year exhibition of local handicrafts available for purchase.
In April 2006, The City Development Plan for Mysore, under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Annexure 5, estimated Rs 160 lakhs for the cost of repair.
[4] However, in 1913, the art form had a revival when Alderson, the superintendent of the Chamarajendra Technical Institute, experimented with introducing ivory in wood inlay works.