National
College of Arts Lahore
125 years of Excellence (1875-2000)
Date of Issue (October 28, 2000)
Like all old institutions, the National College of Arts, has a historical tradition. Much of its present tone was set long when it was known as the Mayo School of Arts. Gazetteers written about the city of Lahore in 1915 describe the work being done at the school as one of the cultural highlights of the urban center.
A teacher of painting and sculpture Lockwood Kipling, working then in Bombay, school of arts and crafts was appointed its first Principal parallel to his charge of the Curator of the Lahore Museum.
The Mayo School was intended to be a technical college in the beginning. Lockwood Kipling the curator-Principal allowed the functions of the museum and the school to merge in a creative manner.
The school had proper workshops equipped with tools and machines. In 1902 four large machine workshops and photolithographic studio were already functioning. By 1 91 1, nearly a lakh of rupees worth of machinery and tools were being operated in the school for such diverse crafts as jewellery, cotton-printing, bookbinding, cabinet making, light-metal work, carpentry and blacksmithy.
By 1915 the work done at the school was recognized all over India and also in England. The principal works executed by its craftsmen were thus located:
Wood-carving, plaster-work and interior in Barnes Court, Sirnia; Government House, Lahore; Circuit House, designs for amphitheatre at the Delhi Durbar; execution of decorative work including carpets an shamianas of gold thread and repusse metal work and designs for the Law and Oriental Colleges, Lahore; design and decorative work in plaster for the new Railway Theatre, Lahore; a carved console table for Government House, Lahore; Punjab carving for the Billiard Room of Bagshot Park, England for the Duke of Connaught; an eight canon stalls for the Lefory Memorial in Lahore Cantonment's Church.