Arts Acre was conceived as an institution for nurturing artists in the field of visual and performing arts. The foundation stone was laid by Pandit Ravi Shankar in 1984 and Gunter Grass was a prominent well-wisher and advisor. Recently it has moved to a bigger premise at Rajarhat, which is spread over 38 four acres and houses several facilities such as conservation laboratory, auditorium, studios, workshops, galleries, cafeteria and open air amphitheatre.

The museum was recently completed and set up in March 2014. It was established to:
• showcase the pioneering role of Bengal artists in developing modern art in India from the early 19th century till date
• serve as a repository for art in India and primarily Bengal
• Build awareness about art and propagate the essence of art and art history among students
and young people
• make art more accessible to connoisseurs and general public.
• be an integral part of this self-contained multi-functional arts complex
• facilitate research in art history
• organize training and workshops in art and allied subjects\

About the collection: There are about 500 artworks which have mainly been donated by the artists themselves and are now the property of the Museum. Others have been loaned by many private collectors who are patrons of this Museum.

The collection showcases the evolution of Bengal Modern art from colonial times including traditional art forms, different group movements and pioneering stalwarts to the new generation of artists.

It includes English Lithography to Chorbagan Prints to Kalighat Pat. The painting collection includes Tagore, Ram Kinkar Baij, Nandalal Bose, Jamini Roy, Paritosh Sen, Ganesh Pyne to Bikash Bhattacharjee and new-generation artists like Samir Roy.