Centre for Heritage Studies

The Centre for Heritage Studies (CHS) is an autonomous research and training institute set up by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala.The CHS is guided by the vision of empowering the society by generating and disseminating knowledge pertaining to the rich and vibrant cultural heritage of our country. Objectives The Centre for Heritage Studies aims. * To document, study, preserve and popularize the heritage of our country, which is facing threat from various sources. * To provide various study, training and research programs in different branches of tangible and intangible heritage. * To provide integrated training for teachers, demonstrators and technicians engaged in teaching theoretical and practical courses in tangible and intangible heritage. *To become an advanced research centre by undertaking research projects on various aspects of heritage with emphasis on Kerala. It intends to initiate a series of activities involving workshops and seminars and will bring out research publications. *To visualize, plan and develop education kits and software for audio-visual education in heritage at all levels of teaching. History The centre, registered under the Travancore-Cochin Literary Scientific and Charitable Societies Act of 1955, started functioning in the year 2000. Originally, the society was registered in 1993 as “The society for the Preservation of Hill Palace Premises” and had been engaged in the renovation and restoration works of the Hill Palace premises.Later, when “The State Institute of Archaeology, art History, Conservation and Museology ” (SIAACM) was established in 2000, the erstwhile society was merged with the newly formed institute. Subsequently, the institute was renamed as “The Centre for Heritage Studies”. Research and Teaching Activities of the CHS P.G Diploma Courses The centre currently offers P.G Diploma courses in Archaeology and Museology, Archival Studies and Conservation. Orientation and Training Programmes The CHS also offers integrated training and orientation programmes for teachers, demonstrators and technicians in various heritage related subjects such as Museology, Archaeology, Archival Studies, Conservation and Heritage Tourism, periodically. Conferences and Seminars One of the objectives of the CHS is to organize seminars and workshops in order to promote academic interaction. A workshop titled “ Museum training in India” was conducted by the centre in 2002. The centre hosted the joint Annual Conference of the Indian Archaeological Society, Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary Studies and Indian Culture and History Society in December 2002. Recently an International workshop on the conservation of the Kadakkarappally boat was conducted from 28th to 30th April 2004. Consultancy Services Consultancy services in Conservation , Museology, Archival Studies and Archaeology are also offered by the CHS. A conservation Clinic has been established at the centre for the conservation of antiquities. See also: A guide book on Hill Palace, Tripunithura (Publication) Picture Postcards on the Hill Palace, Tripunithura (Publication) Journal of the Centre for Heritage Studies Vol 1, 2004 (Publication) Journal of the Centre for Heritage Studies Vol 2, 2005 (Publication) Prof. M.G.S. Narayanan - Director General (Expert)