Aadivasi Lok Kala Academy was established in 1980 under the aegis of Madhya Pradesh. The main objectives are to encourage, preserve and develop the tribal arts. To fulfill these objectives, the academy conducts surveys, organizes programs and publishes texts and materials centered on the various aspects of tribal folk arts. The academy abides by the standards prescribed by the government of Madhya Pradesh. The academy has founded Aadivart a state museum on tribal and folk arts. It has also established Saket, Ramayan Kala Museum at Orchha.

The cultural identity of Madhya Pradesh is significantly associated with its folk regions.
The state has a transparent amalgamation of Nimadi Malwi Bundeli and Bagheli folk cultures on one hand , on the other there is a wide, rich and ancient word of tribal art and culture. Every region enjoys its own traditions in music, dance, sculpture and folk literature which are deeply qualified by variety and colour. The academy has so far archived the target of documentation and publishing material on twelve tribes, ten folk genres and four sculptures. In addition to these it has also compiled and collected folk paintings based on Kalamkari, Patta, Cheriyal, Pattam, Madhubani,and Ramkatha in Patta Chitrakatha tradition . It has also included in its repertory wall-paintings, floor-paintings, tattoos, ballads, tales and devotional songs.

The academy organizes ten main festival related to the tribal arts and folk theatre, chief amongst them are Lok Rang, Ram Leela Mela, Nimad Utsav, Sampada and Shruti Samaroh. It also publishes, a magazine 'Choumasa' based on tribal and folk literature.'Tulsi Sahitya Prabhag', a division of academy, organizes festival and lecture series centered on Tulsi Bhakti and Ramkatha. The main events of celebration are Janranjan,Tulsi Jayanti Samaroh and Mangalacharan. In addition to these regular activities, the academy publishes a quarterly magazine entitled 'Tulsi Sadhana' and it also runs Tulsi Research Institute at Chitrakoot.