Founded by Ms. Louba Schild, a French artist who has made Kerala her home since 1968, the Vijnana Kalavedi at Aranmula teaches traditional Kerala art forms such as Kathakali, Mohiniyattom and other classical dances, classical music as well as Kalarippayattu, the traditional martial art. Many foreign tourists come and stay here to learn these art forms. The centre has been declared as a cultural education institution by the State Cultural Affairs Department.