It was established in 1950, as a university museum. Today, the centre has a rich collection of and brocade textiles. It also exhibits , Pichhawai’s, pahari painting, Nepalese & Tibetan Thankas, Company paintings as well as paintings of contemporary artists, illustrated Mrigavati, Kalpa Sutra, Chora-Panchasika, Laura-Chanda, Shah-nama and some pages of Humza
-nama. Exquisite sculptures and bronzes can also be seen here.
There is a gallery dedicated to city, a nineteenth century map shows the recent Raj Ghat excavations and old etchings of the city. Along with Buddhist and Hindu sculpture and Moghul glass, galleries are devoted to foreign artists who found inspiration in India, such as and Alice Boner. Jamini Roy, the Bengali rehaissance painter is also well represented.