Established in October, 1966, The C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation promotes Indian culture through research and development. The Foundation has its main office at Chennai with field offices at Kanchipuram and Damal. The Centre has several institutions under its aegis to carry out activities towards promotion of Indian Culture.
The C.P. Art Centre was established in 1978, with the objective of promoting Indian art and crafts. Seminars, exhibitions, demonstrations, workshops on arts, crafts and performing arts are organised by the Centre. The Vennirul Art Gallery noted for its conservation of an old lifestyle of Mylapore, Chennai – the luxurious steam bath is part of this Centre
The C.P. Ramaswamy Aiyar Institute of Indological Research conducts research and promotes Indian art, history and culture. The centre also has a reference library with more than 15000 books and manuscripts on Indian philosophy, religion, culture, and more than 5000 on environment.
The Foundation's work in the area of promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage of India include projects on promotion of Sanskrit language and literature; revival of folk art forms in schools in Tamil Nadu, training of Kota, Kurumba, Paniya and Irula tribes of the Nilgiris in their traditional art forms, training of adolescent girls in traditional drawing and painting to enhance their earning capacity at Mamallapuram by a traditional artists and yoga programmes for students and the public.