IIT Hyderabad Launches Centre for Creative Arts
To Promote Creativity, Culture and Innovation
Hyderabad / CampusKatta Desk : The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) has launched the Centre for Creative Arts (CCA) on January 1, 2026, marking a major milestone in integrating creative arts with technical education. With this initiative, IITH becomes the first IIT in India to establish a dedicated Centre focused on creative arts, research, outreach, and artist-in-residence programmes.
The Centre reinforces IITH’s academic philosophy and its motto, “Inventing & Innovating in Technology for Humanity,” by nurturing creativity, cultural awareness, and interdisciplinary thinking among students.
A First-of-Its-Kind Initiative Among IITs
The Centre for Creative Arts is housed under the Department of Liberal Arts and is envisioned as a vibrant hub for:
- Creative and Performing Arts education
- Artistic practice and research
- Community outreach and cultural engagement
The Centre will offer 1–3 credit courses in creative and performing arts for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Renowned performing artists will join as Adjunct Faculty and Distinguished Professors, while Artist-in-Residence programmes will bring real-world artistic practices into the academic ecosystem.
Strong Foundation in Liberal and Creative Arts
IITH has long emphasized the importance of Liberal and Creative Arts in technical education. The Creative Arts programme began informally through heritage tours for first-year students and was formally introduced in 2014.
Today:
- Nearly 10% of the undergraduate curriculum at IITH is dedicated to Liberal and Creative Arts
- Courses span Photography, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, and Crafts
- Students develop empathetic, intuitive, and multidimensional perspectives alongside technical excellence
Research, Outreach and Community Engagement
The Centre for Creative Arts will also:
- Promote research in arts, including doctoral studies
- Enable visiting artists to serve as co-supervisors for practice-based research
- Conduct outreach programmes for school students and art teachers
- Collaborate with cultural organisations such as SPIC MACAY
These initiatives aim to cultivate appreciation for diverse art forms and strengthen the connection between art, society, and technology.
Leadership Speaks
Prof. B S Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad, said:
“The Centre for Creative Arts reflects the belief of IITH that creativity, culture and technology must grow together. Creative arts activate right-brain activity, encouraging intuitive thinking, which is essential for innovation. The CCA perfectly aligns with our motto of innovating technology for humanity.”
Dr. Aalok Khandekar, Head, Department of Liberal Arts, added:
“The Centre will allow us to expand the creative arts programme and host leading artists, opening exciting possibilities for new courses and research collaborations.”
Bridging Art and Technology
The launch of the Centre for Creative Arts highlights IIT Hyderabad’s distinctive academic approach—one that gives equal importance to scientific rigor, creativity, and humanistic thinking. Through this Centre, IITH aims to create an ecosystem where art and technology intersect, inspiring socially conscious and imaginative innovators.
