All Calcuttans worth their salt (or fish!) have an artist's passion tucked away somewhere in the corners of their hearts. Small wonder, then, that the city is dotted with innumerable havens for art aficionados. Kolkata has also played a prominent role in the development of modern Indian art.
The Academy of Fine Arts
2, Cathedral Road, Kolkata 700016
Mention Art, and the first name you're bound to hear is this one. Established in 1933 by Lady Ranu Mukherjee, the Academy hosts an impressive collection of miniature paintings, Indian textiles and sculptures. It also has some fine exhibits of contemporary Indian art, besides Indian weapons! 
The Academy is also among the best places to understand the oeuvre of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore - its Rabindra Gallery, contains original paintings, manuscripts and memorabilia associated with Tagore.
Do check the newspaper before dropping by at the Academy - art exhibitions at the Academy often find mention in the day's listings, and are a must-see if you're in Calcutta.
Timings: Noon-7 pm, Tuesday-Saturday; 3 pm-7 pm, Sunday
Birla Academy of Art and Culture
108-109, Dr Meghnad Saha Sarani, Kolkata 700019
Situated on what is popularly known as Southern Avenue, the Birla Academy is a veritable treasure trove not just for the art addict, but also for those keen to get a bird's-eye view of Kolkata's Rabindra Sarovar - a quaint oasis complete with lakes and greenery, in the heartland of Calcutta. Its exhibits include contemporary and medieval paintings, sculptures, bronzes and terracotas. Art exhibitions are a regular feature of the Birla Academy's itinerary.
An oddity to watch out for - the Academy is closed on Tuesdays!
Ashutosh Museum of Indian Art
Centenary Building, Calcutta University, College Street, Kolkata 700 073
The museum is located in the Centenary Building of the Calcutta University. This is a good place to go to for a feel on Bengal's artistic heritage - it houses rare collections of art forms that are unique to the state, including Patachitra paintings and Katha Shilpo.
Timings: 11 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday
Abanindranath Tagore Gallery, Government College of Arts and Crafts
28, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Kolkata 700016
This gallery is part of a college that dates back to 1884. It was knows as the School of Industrial Art then, but has been in its present location for just a little over a decade. It is named after the famous Indian painter Abanindranath Tagore.
Besides these, Calcutta has a host of galleries that have sprung up over the years and offer endless delight to those with an eye and heart for Art. These include:
Chitrakoot Art Gallery (55, Gariahat Road, Kolkata 700019)
Centre of International Modern Art Gallery, better known as CIMA Gallery (Sunny Towers, 43, Ashutosh
Chowdhury Avenue, Kolkata 700019)
Galerie 88 (288, Shakespeare Sarani, Kolkata 700017)
Gallery BF (BF, 40 Salt Lake City, Kolkata 700064)
Galerie La Mer (3 Regent Park, Kolkata 700040)
Kolkata Information Centre (1/1 AJC Bose Road, Kolkata 700016)
