Audrey House

Built in 1854 by the Deputy Commissioner of Chota Nagpur (1850–1856), Captain Hannyington, Audrey House was an extension of the Governor's Secretariat under the British. The sprawling 30,000 sq. feet property also housed offices of several government departments when Ranchi was the summer capital of undivided Bihar. 

A consistent effort to revamp the colonial building led to Audrey House taking the shape that it has today. Attempts are now being made to convert this space into a cultural hub. Under the patronage of the Tourism, Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Department of the Jharkhand Government, the building currently houses four galleries, an amphitheatre, and a conference room. 

When it first opened, the first two galleries—adjacent to each other—housed many artefacts that were borrowed from the State Museum. However, at present, several diverse artworks have also found a space in these galleries—forming an interesting amalgamation of the old and the new, which plays into the narrative of the reconstruction of the building itself. 

The other two galleries display paintings of many Jharkhand based artists—many of whom are an integral part of the art world/industry of the state. Every Saturday, starting at 6 pm, an event called Shani Parab is organised on the premises of the museum. Artists from across the state perform and present different art forms that represent the many indigenous tribes of Jharkhand. 

Audrey House is also very often the venue for painting workshops and competitions—the result of which are the beautifully decorated corridors displaying the paintings of artists from all walks of life.