The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) was established in 1987 as an autonomous institution under the Department of Culture, and envisioned as a centre for research, academic pursuit and dissemination in the field of the arts. ‘The Arts' as a wide spectrum, encompassing subjects from archaeology to dance and anthropology to the photographic art, enveloping them in a complementary and non-demarcated vision. In its functioning, the IGNCA has met its mandate and continues to work in this direction.The IGNCA has six functional units – Kalanidhi, the multi-form library; Kalakosa, devoted mainly to the study and publication of fundamental texts, predominantly in Sanskrit; Janapada Sampada, the division engaged in lifestyle studies; Kaladarsana, the executive unit which transforms researches and studies emanating from the IGNCA into visible forms through exhibitions; Cultural Informatics Lab, which applies technology tools for cultural preservation and propagation; and Sutradhara, the administrative section that acts as a spine supporting and coordinating all the activities. The Member Secretary is the Executive head of both academic and administrative divisions.The IGNCA has a Southern Regional Centre (SRC) headquartered in Bangalore. Its establishment in 2001 was aimed at intensifying the Centre's studies on the southern region's art and cultural heritage.