The two-day event will feature a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Tim Curtis, Director, UNESCO India; Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India; and Ruth Mackenzie CBE, Global Director of Arts at the British Council
The British Council is set to host Creative Convergence: Growth Reimagined in New Delhi on January 29–30, 2026, bringing together cultural leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and creative practitioners from India and the UK to explore the future of the creative economy. Building on the success of its inaugural edition held in Bengaluru in November 2025, the Delhi gathering marks a key moment in strengthening India–UK collaboration across culture, education and creative industries.
Anchored in the India–UK Programme of Cultural Cooperation (2025–2030), signed between New Delhi and London, Creative Convergence serves as a platform for sustained dialogue, exchange and partnership across the creative economy. The programme places sectors such as sustainable fashion, film, music, design, visual arts and the performing arts at the centre of discussions, reflecting their growing economic and social relevance.
The two-day event will feature a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Tim Curtis, Director, UNESCO India; Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India; and Ruth Mackenzie CBE, Global Director of Arts at the British Council. Their conversations will examine India’s rapidly evolving creative sectors, emerging research and the long-standing legacy of cultural collaboration between the two countries.
Creative Convergence Delhi builds on conversations initiated in Bengaluru, which advanced critical thinking around policy, research and industry engagement in the creative economy. The Delhi edition takes this further by focusing on identifying new, inclusive and sustainable pathways for future-ready partnerships that enable creative talent and enterprises to thrive.
A key highlight of the programme is Char by Char, an immersive pop-up space that explores the intersections of design, enterprise and sustainability through scalable creative practices. The event will also host a policy conference addressing themes such as India–UK creative dialogue, documentary co-production and the sustainable future of fashion, offering participants practical insights alongside strategic perspectives.
Complementing the in-person gathering is an online policy training programme titled Supporting the Creative Economy, which began in November 2025 and runs through January 2026. Together, these initiatives aim to strengthen creative networks, enable cross-border exchange and explore sustainable economic models for young practitioners and creative entrepreneurs.
Ahead of the event, Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India, British Council, emphasised the importance of alignment across sectors. “Creative economies don’t grow in isolation; they grow when policy, research and creative practice move in the same direction,” she said. “Creative Convergence focuses on deepening creative ties between India and the UK, enabling ideas to scale into lasting economic and cultural impact.”
Open to audiences aged 18 and above, the event offers free entry with prior registration. As a milestone in the India–UK cultural partnership, Creative Convergence Delhi creates a vital space for dialogue, co-creation and future-oriented thinking, shaping the next chapter of creative and economic growth through education, innovation and collaboration.
