British Council brings ‘Creative Convergence: Growth Reimagined’ to Delhi; Accelerates the next phase of India-UK creative collaboration
· Following a successful Bengaluru debut, the two-day gathering brings policy, research and creative enterprise into one shared conversation.
· From panel discussions and dialogues to a pop-up innovation experience and an immersive live performance, the programme explores how creativity can drive inclusive and sustainable growth.
Kolkata, 22 January 2026: British Council, the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, brings Creative Convergence: Growth Reimagined to Delhi, a two-day gathering that convenes cultural leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and creative practitioners from India and the UK to reimagine the future of the creative economy.
Taking place on 29 and 30 January 2026 at the British Council, Creative Convergence in Delhi builds on conversations initiated at the inaugural Bengaluru edition held in November 2025, advancing critical dialogue around India’s rapidly evolving creative sectors, emerging research, and the long-standing legacy of cultural collaboration between India and the UK. The programme also focuses on identifying new pathways for inclusive, sustainable and future-ready partnerships.
Building on the UK-India Programme of Cultural Cooperation (2025-2030) signed between the governments of UK and India, and the British Council’s two-decade legacy of nurturing global creative ecosystems, Creative Convergence serves as a platform for dialogue and exchange across sustainable fashion, film, music, design, visual arts and the performing arts.
The Delhi edition places a strong emphasis on collaboration and innovation, strengthening creative networks, enabling cross-border exchange and exploring sustainable economic models that enable creative entrepreneurs and young practitioners to thrive. The carefully curated sessions unpack collaborative opportunities through the lens of policy, research and industry and thought leadership, with the aim to provide a holistic view.
The programme will feature a distinguished line-up spanning government and policy leaders like Tim Curtis, Director, UNESCO India, Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and Ruth Mackenzie CBE, Global Director of Arts, British Council. Sessions and networking opportunities will examine the potential for inclusive growth, community engagement and international exchange. Programme highlights include:
· Plenary & Keynote | Creative Convergence: Where Bold Ideas and Future-Ready Ecosystems Meet – Setting the strategic vision for the programme and framing the role of the creative economy in policy, innovation and India–UK collaboration.
· Immersive Pop-Up Space: Char by Char, an exposition of correlated creatives – An immersive showcase curated by The Design Village, exploring the intersections of design, enterprise and sustainability through scalable creative practices.
· Policy Conference | Greater Together: India–UK Creative Dialogue – A high-level discussion on strengthening bilateral cooperation through policy alignment, institutional frameworks and market-led collaboration.
· Doc-Exchange | Indo-UK Opportunities with the Documentary – A focused forum examining documentary co-production, co-financing and distribution, featuring project pitches and industry mentorship.
· Researching our Creative Futures: How data, insight, and evidence shape cultural change – A dialogue on how research in culture and the arts is shaping policy, education and inclusive development across India and the UK.
· Dress Code: Sustainable! Co-Creating Fashion’s Future – Building on the British Council’s New Landscapes initiative, this session explores how research, entrepreneurship and enabling policy can drive systemic change in fashion.
· Performance | Modulated Movements – An experimental live performance curated by W.I.P Labs, where sound, movement, voice and technology intersect to create new forms of artistic expression.
Creative Convergence Delhi is complemented by an online policy training programme, ‘Supporting the Creative Economy’, which kicked off in November 2025 and is running till January 2026.
Ahead of the event, Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India, British Council, shared, “Creative economies don’t grow in isolation, they grow when policy, research and creative practice move in the same direction. Creative Convergence focuses on deepening creative ties between India and the UK, enabling ideas to scale into lasting economic and cultural impact. Building on the momentum of the inaugural Bengaluru edition, the Delhi chapter marks a critical next phase – strengthening India-UK collaboration, foregrounding research and policy, and creating the conditions in which creative talent and enterprises can grow sustainably.”
As part of the British Council’s wider commitment to knowledge exchange, skills development and international collaboration, Creative Convergence represents a significant milestone in the evolving India-UK cultural partnership. It stands to create space for dialogue, co-creation and future-oriented ideas that can shape the next chapter of creative and economic growth.
The event is open to audiences aged 18 and above, with free entry upon registration. For more details and registration, visit: https://www.britishcouncil.in/events/creative-convergence-innovate-include-inspire-presented-british-council
The programme for Creative Convergence: Growth Reimagined can be accessed here: https://www.britishcouncil.in/sites/default/files/creative_convergence_delhi_-_programme_schedule.pdf
About the British Council:
The British Council is the UK’s international culture and education organisation. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories. In 2024–25 we reached 600 million people. www.britishcouncil.org
