Welcome to the Website of Department of Art & Culture, Nagaland; Kohima

Formerly known as the Naga Institute of Culture, came into being on the 1st November 1964. The objective initially was to carry on research on Naga Life and Culture and a Research Library. The Institution started in a small Hill type building spared by the Nagaland Civil Secretariat and was headed by a Research Officer.

By early 1970, the building for the Directorate was constructed with an annexe for the State Museum. The Museum consisting of an ethnographic gallery was formally opened to the public on the 25th November 1970. Later in 1971, the department was renamed as the Directorate of Cultural Research and State Museum and again on the 4th December 1973 the department was finally renamed as the Directorate of Art and Culture.

The Department of Art and Culture deals with the tangible and intangible heritage of Nagaland. It also aims to build a bridge of values between the past and the present through conservation and maintenance of monuments, historic and legendary sites and objects that provide bases for reception of the good that has been thought and done in the past and to derive what is best for the present. The Objectives and Policies for promotion of Art and Culture are implemented through different schemes operated departmentally.