College of Fine Arts Trivandrum

The college was founded in 1881 by Moolam Thirunal Sir Rama Varma, the Maharaja for the state of Travancore.

He returned towards the middle of the next year, and was appointed First Superintendent of the newly-instituted School of Arts in Thiruvananthapuram.

In the beginning the school offered courses for drawing and painting, and three subjects of handicrafts namely ivory work, pottery and smithery.

In 1957, after the formation of first democratically elected government in Kerala, the School of Arts was brought under the Directorate of Technical Education.

Students who pass the first year university examination are allotted one of the three specialisations according to their talent and choice.

Over the years a number of distinguished artists and art educators of the country have nurtured the college: