Cultural centers in Kerala

Kerala Sahithya Academy

The Thiru-Cochin Government formed the Kerala Sahitya Akademi on 15 August 1956. In 1958, the headquarters were shifted from Thiruvananthapuram to Thrissur. Its main activities are publishing reference books, awarding awards for best books, and publishing books that contribute to the growth of Malayalam language and literature. The academy publishes periodicals Sahitya Lokam (bi-monthly), Sahitya Chakravalam (monthly), and Malayalam Literary Survey (English quarterly). Sardar K.M. Panikkar was the first president of the academy.

Kerala Folklore Academy

The Folklore Academy was established in 1995 to protect the folk arts of Kerala and to promote and honor folk artists. Its headquarters are in Kannur. The academy's mouthpiece is 'Poli'. The academy has also published many reference books in the field of folklore. G. Bhargavan Pillai is the first chairman.

Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy

The headquarters of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi is at Chembukavu, Thrissur. It was established by the Kerala Government on 26 April 1958 for the development and nurturing of music, dance and drama in Kerala. 'Keli' is the bi-monthly magazine of the Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. It has also published a few books. The first chairman was the famous music scholar Mankuthampuran. 

Kerala Fine Arts Academy

Kerala Lalithakala Akademi was established for the development of fine arts such as painting, sculpture and architecture. Its headquarters are at Chembukavu, Thrissur. It started functioning on 22 November 1962. Lalithakala Akademi has art galleries in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kanhangad. The first chairman of Lalithakala Akademi was M. Ramavarmaraja.

Kerala Kalamandalam

The Kerala Kalamandalam was founded by the great poet Vallathol Narayana Menon. Along with him, the main person who worked for the Kalamandalam was Manakulam Mukunda Raja. Its activities are aimed at the development and progress of Kerala arts and folk arts such as Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Koodiyattam, Thullal, Chakyarkoothu, Panchavadyam. The Kalamandalam began its activities on 9 November 1930. The headquarters of the Kalamandalam is Cheruthuruthy (Vallathol Nagar) on the banks of the Bharathapuzha. It was taken over by the Kerala Government in 1957. The most notable building of the Kalamandalam is the Koothambalam, built according to the principles of Natyashastra. It became a deemed university in 2007. In addition to undergraduate and postgraduate classes, research related to various arts has also been started in the Kalamandalam. The Kalamandalam has also published books on classic arts.

Kerala People's Arts Club

KPAC is a theatre group based in Kayamkulam, Alappuzha district. Its full name is Kerala People's Arts Club. It is a professional theatre group noted for its renowned directors like Thoppil Bhasi, their famous plays and excellent artists. The first play presented by KPAC was 'Ente Makananu Shari'. The second play presented by KPAC was 'Ningalenne Communistakki' written by Thoppil Bhasi.

School of Drama and Fine Arts

The School of Drama and Fine Arts was established in 1977. It is located in Aranattukara, Thrissur district. G. Shankara Pillai is the founder director of the School of Drama. The School of Drama is now part of the University of Calicut.

Kerala State Children's Literature Institute

It started functioning as a public sector undertaking on 27 May 1981 under the Government of Kerala. Abraham Joseph was the first chairman. The aim is to develop the talents of children through children's literature works and holiday camps that are conducive to their all-round growth and development. Its headquarters are in Thiruvananthapuram. The Children's Literature Institute publishes a magazine called Thalir and various books for children.

Margi

Margi was started in 1970. The aim of the institution is to promote Kathakali studies and Koodiyattam and Nangyarkoothu. It operates on the Kaliyoga model. The Koodiyattam section works in collaboration with the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. Margi has been recognized by the Kerala Kalamandalam as a resource center for Koodiyattam research students.

Kerala Language Institute

The Kerala Government formed the Institute on 16 September 1968. Its headquarters are at Nalanda, Thiruvananthapuram. It was started for the development of the Malayalam language and the promotion of scholarly literature. The main activity of the institution is the publication of textbooks for colleges. N.V. Krishnawarrior was the first director. It publishes a magazine called Vigyan Kairali.

Kerala State Chalachitra Academy

The Kerala State Chalachitra Academy was formed in August 1998. The aim of the Chalachitra Academy is to create film literacy among the people of Kerala through film societies, book publishing and film seminars. The Chalachitra Academy organizes international film festivals in Kerala.

Kerala State Jawahar Balabhavan

The Kerala State Jawahar Bala Bhavan is located near Kanakakunnu Palace in Thiruvananthapuram. The aim is to develop the creative instincts of children in the fields of art, literature, culture and science. District Bala Bhavans are also functioning in the districts of Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Thrissur.

Malayala Kalagramam

Malayala Kalagramam is an institution started on the banks of the Mayyazhipuzha River with the aim of preserving the art and culture of Kerala. A.P. Kunjikannan started Kalagramam on December 28, 1993. Excellent training is provided here in many fields including music, dance, painting, sculpture and acting.

Kerala Media Academy

The Kerala Media Academy was established by the Government of Kerala on 15 March 1979. Its headquarters are at Kakkanad in Kochi. It was renamed as Kerala Media Academy in 2014. Its objective is to coordinate and energize various activities related to journalism in Kerala. The first chairman was K.Damodara Menon.

State Encyclopedia Publishing Institute

This institution, which was started in 1961 under the Government Education Department to impart world knowledge to Keralites through the Malayalam language and to increase the popularity of the mother tongue, later became the State Encyclopedia Publishing Institute. Prof. N. Gopala Pillai was the first Chief Editor. Its headquarters are in Thiruvananthapuram. The institute publishes encyclopedias and subject-based knowledge books. Publications include the World Encyclopedia of Literature and the Environmental Encyclopedia.

Thiruvananthapuram Public Library

It was established in 1829 during the reign of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma. It was initially known as the Trivandrum People's Library. It was opened to the public in 1898. It was renamed the State Central Library in 1958.

Oriental Research Institute and Manuscript Library

It came into existence in 1908 under the name of Sanskrit Curator. It now functions as a part of the University of Kerala at Karyavattom.

Kerala State Library Council

The Travancore Library Association was founded at a meeting held in 1945 at the P.K. Memorial in Ambalapuzha. The first All Kerala Library Association was formed and later became the Kerala Library Association. Later, its name was changed to Kerala State Library Council (in 1991). Its headquarters is in Thiruvananthapuram. The mouthpiece of the association is the magazine 'Granthalokam'. The first secretary of the association was P.N. Panikkar. It was the Library Association that initiated the literacy movement in Kerala.

Guru Gopinath Natanagramam

Guru Gopinath Natanagramam is an institution started in 1994 under the Department of Culture at Vattiyoorkavu in Thiruvananthapuram. The National Dance Museum is located at Guru Gopinath Natanagramam. Guru Gopinath founded the Vishwa Kala Kendram in Thiruvananthapuram.

Vastuvidya Gurukulam

Vastuvidya Gurukulam is a Kerala government institution established in 1993 for the preservation and promotion of Indian architecture and related subjects. It is located in Aranmula, Pathanamthitta. Vastuvidya Gurukulam is the only institution in India that teaches and practices architecture in the government sector.

Center for Heritage Studies

The Centre for Heritage Studies is a research institute under the Kerala Cultural Department that studies the cultural heritage of Kerala. The institute is based at Hill Palace in Thripunithura, Ernakulam district.

Malayalam Mission

Malayalam Mission is an initiative established under the Kerala Cultural Department to promote Malayalam language and culture globally. Malayalam Mission started its operations in Delhi in 2005 and was officially inaugurated in 2009. Its headquarters is in Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram district. Pookalam is the web magazine of Malayalam Mission.

Bharat Bhavan

Bharat Bhavan is an institution established in 1984 to nurture language, culture and art. Since 2013, Bharat Bhavan has instituted an award called the Translator's Award.