India and UK unite to reimagine the future of the creative economy at creative convergence Delhi

he British Council, the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, hosted the Delhi edition of Creative Convergence: Growth Reimagined at its New Delhi premises on 29–30 January 2026. Building on the success of the inaugural Bengaluru edition in November 2025, the two-day event convened policymakers, researchers, creative entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders from India and the UK to reimagine the future of the creative economy. Anchored within the framework of the India–UK Programme of Cultural Cooperation (2025–2030), Creative Convergence reflects the British Council’s continued commitment to strengthening global creative ecosystems. The Delhi edition placed a strong emphasis on policy dialogue, research, and creative enterprise—exploring how aligned frameworks and cross-border collaboration can drive inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready growth. The event opened with a plenary and keynote session titled ‘Creative Convergence: Where Bold Ideas and Future-Ready Ecosystems Meet’, setting the strategic vision for the initiative and positioning the creative economy as a critical driver of policy, innovation, and India–UK collaboration. The session featured opening remarks by Lindy Cameron CB OBE, British High Commissioner to India, followed by a panel discussion with Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India; Tim Curtis, Director and Representative, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia; and Ruth Mackenzie CBE, Global Director of Arts, British Council. The session was moderated by Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India, British Council. Speaking at the event, Lindy Cameron CB OBE remarked, “It's wonderful to be here today for Creative Convergence: Growth Reimagined. With creative leaders, policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs and artists, 2025 marks a new era for the UK–India relationship—one defined by ambition, partnership, and now by delivery. One of our commitments was to host a series of creative economy events, and I’m delighted that we’re putting our words into action today. The creative economy plays a vital role in the UK–India relationship, sitting at the intersection of culture, technology, skills, and enterprise, and is increasingly recognised as a powerful driver of inclusive and sustainable growth for both countries. By combining pioneering expertise with local insight, India and the UK are well placed to champion the global creative economy.” Vivek Aggarwal (IAS), Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, added, “It's a great pleasure to join Creative Convergence: Growth Reimagined. I would like to appreciate this initiative by the British Council, in collaboration with the UK government. India and the UK share a rich heritage and are working towards a shared India–UK Vision 2035. For India, the creative economy is not a niche sector—it is central to our overall policy for growth and economic development. Creative industries, for us, mean livelihoods.” At the launch, Tim Curtis, Director and Representative, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia, noted, “It is encouraging to see culture and creativity no longer being put to the margins of sustainable development discussions, but placed more at the centre. When we talk about growth reimagined in the creative economy, we are really asking what kind of societies we want to live in. If culture and creativity move from the margins to the centre of our policies, partnerships and public spaces, the result can be ecosystems that are not only more innovative, but also more resilient, inclusive, and humane.” Ruth Mackenzie CBE, Director Arts, British Council, said, “The British Council’s mission is to contribute to peace and prosperity worldwide. Through Creative Convergence, we focus on how creativity drives prosperity, fuelled by the power of local stories and enabled by sharing these stories on global platforms. True resilience and growth come from bold, imaginative ideas and new forms of expression. Artists and cultural leaders don’t just help societies survive; they help them thrive and shape meaningful pathways to the future.” Day 1 also featured the Policy Conference – ‘Greater Together: India–UK Creative Dialogue’, which explored avenues to strengthen bilateral cooperation through policy alignment, institutional frameworks, and market-led partnerships. The Immersive Pop-Up Space – ‘Char by Char: An Exposition of Correlated Creatives’, curated by The Design Village Foundation, was inaugurated on the same day, showcasing intersections of design, sustainability, and creative enterprise through scalable, collaborative practices. The evening concluded with ‘Doc-Exchange: Indo–UK Opportunities with the Documentary’, a forum focused on documentary co-production, co-financing, and distribution between India and the UK. Reflecting on the event, Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India, British Council, said, “The creative economy is not just about cultural expression and exchange – it is a driver of innovation, sustainable livelihoods, and global understanding. Platforms like the British Council’s Creative Convergence allow us to reimagine how policy, research, and enterprises intersect, creating integrated ecosystems where artists, institutions and industry can co-create socially impactful and economically viable solutions.” Day 2 (30 January) advanced these conversations with sessions on research, sustainability, and creative ecosystems. The day opened with ‘Researching Our Creative Futures: How Data, Insight and Evidence Shape Cultural Change’, curated by Rashmi Dhanwani, Founder–Director, Art X Company, Festivals from India, and Culture Con, followed by ‘Dress Code: Sustainable! Co-Creating Fashion’s Future’. The latter built on the British Council’s New Landscapes initiative, exploring how creative enterprise, research, and enabling policy are reshaping the future of sustainable fashion. The Delhi edition concluded with ‘Modulated Movements’, an experimental live performance curated by W.I.P Labs, merging technology, sound, movement, and voice to create new forms of artistic expression. Complementing the on-ground programme, the ‘Supporting the Creative Economy’ online policy training initiative ran from November 2025 to January 2026, strengthening professional capacity and creative networks between India and the UK. With its combination of policy dialogue, research insights, and creative showcases, the Delhi edition of Creative Convergence reaffirmed the British Council’s commitment to fostering long-term India–UK collaboration across cultural and creative sectors—enabling inclusive and sustainable growth for the future.