India stands at a pivotal global moment. As its geopolitical
India stands at a pivotal global moment. As its geopolitical presence expands, cultural diplomacy must evolve from a symbolic afterthought into a strategic pillar of foreign policy.
A New Paradigm: People-Centric Foreign Policy
India’s External Affairs Minister has articulated a shift toward “people-centric foreign policy.” Simultaneously, parliamentary committees have called for strengthening India-specific narratives in academia and cultivating leadership in scholarship and public thought.
At the same time, global frameworks such as the UNESCO MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration emphasize the importance of sustainable cultural and creative sectors as engines of socio-economic growth and diplomatic engagement.
These developments converge around a critical insight:
Cultural diplomacy must move from the margins to the center of India’s global strategy.
Culturati responds to this moment by developing research, advocacy, and leadership models that integrate:
- Cultural heritage and soft power
- Creative economy development
- Professionalization of artists and cultural practitioners
- National, regional, and international policy engagement
What we will do
Culturati will:
- Produce policy briefs and research studies on cultural diplomacy and the creative economy
- Build leadership forums connecting artists, bureaucrats, and diplomats
- Create participatory models for civic engagement in cultural policy
- Develop strategic recommendations for embedding culture within foreign policy
- Advocate for institutional reform that integrates research and implementation
Our method is inclusive, interdisciplinary, and grounded in both scholarship and practice.