28 July: India’s creative economy is beginning to organise itself not merely around art and ideas, but around careers, commerce, capital and long-term infrastructure. As conversations about creative work evolve from passion to profession, CultureCon 2026 India’s flagship multi-disciplinary conference for India’s creative sector has appointed The Other Circle (TOC) as its communications and PR partner for its fourth edition, taking place on August 6 and 7, 2026, in partnership with the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai.
Presented by Art X Company and Festivals from India, CultureCon is a cross-disciplinary conference exploring the future of India’s creative economy. The platform brings together artists, entrepreneurs, funders, employers, policymakers and cultural practitioners to examine the ideas, infrastructure and investments shaping creative work in India. This year’s theme, “Creative Economy: Culture, Capital, Commerce and Careers,” reflects the growing intersection between creativity and economic opportunity.
The partnership comes at a time when cultural and creative industries are gaining greater recognition as engines of employment, entrepreneurship and economic growth. According to UNESCO, the creative economy contributes approximately 3.1% of global GDP and 6.2% of global employment. The sector also employs more people between the ages of 15 and 29 than any other industry, underscoring its significance for the future of work and young careers.
The appointment reflects TOC’s growing reputation as one of India’s leading communications consultancies operating at the intersection of culture, business and storytelling. Over the past decade, the agency has built communication strategies for some of the country’s most recognised cultural platforms, entertainment properties, founders, consumer brands and institutions, consistently translating niche cultural conversations into mainstream national discourse.
For CultureCon 2026, TOC’s mandate spans strategic communications, media relations, narrative development and thought leadership, with the objective of positioning the conference at the centre of conversations around India’s evolving creative economy across business, policy, education, trade and cultural media.
Speaking about the partnership, Aakanksha Gupta, Founder & CEO, The Other Circle, said: “CultureCon is asking one of the most important questions facing India’s creative sector today: what does it take to build sustainable creative careers? That is a conversation worth amplifying. At TOC, we believe the creative economy deserves the same strategic storytelling that technology, finance and startups have benefited from over the past decade. Our role is to ensure these ideas reach the policymakers, institutions, businesses and creative communities shaping the future of the industry.”
Rashmi Dhanwani, Founder-Director, Art X Company & Festivals from India, said: “CultureCon has always been about strengthening the ecosystem behind India’s creative sector – not only by bringing people together, but by creating conversations that lead to action. As we continue building a platform that examines the future of creative work in India, it is important to partner with a communications agency that understands both culture and strategy. TOC brings that rare combination, helping these conversations reach the audiences that matter most.”
As India’s creative economy continues to mature, the partnership brings together a platform shaping the future of the sector and a communications consultancy experienced in building narratives that influence industries, institutions and public conversations. Together, CultureCon and TOC aim to elevate the discourse around creativity – not only as cultural expression, but as an economic force shaping India’s future.
Event Details:
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● Find the programme schedule here
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