Beyond Tomorrow: How a Creative Economy Summit Reignited Our Purpose

Posted : 06-07-2025

On June 28, 2025, we found ourselves among an eclectic gathering at Raviz Kadavu Resort, Kozhikode, attending the Beyond Tomorrow Conference—an initiative by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) and FICCI, in collaboration with UNESCO, British Council, and other global partners.

As the afternoon sun bathed the serene Chaliyar river, the conference hall pulsed with ideas. Artists, entrepreneurs, government officials, innovators, and cultural thinkers had gathered—not just to talk about change, but to shape it. And for us at City Heritage, this wasn’t just another event. It was a homecoming of ideas, a day that affirmed why we began this journey in the first place.

A Day of Imagination, Policy, and Purpose

The sessions kicked off with Sanjay Kaul, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, unveiling an ambitious yet crucial vision: the creation of a national creative work database. His words echoed the urgency of recognizing creative communities as economic contributors—not hobbyists, but professionals. From design and fashion to heritage and tech, every panel that followed only deepened this narrative.

We were particularly moved by discussions around the creative incubator proposal—a vision to empower the unorganized yet thriving communities of artisans, performers, and craft workers. For a small, culture-rooted startup like ours, this is the kind of ecosystem we’ve been dreaming of for over a decade.

It wasn’t just policy talk. It was an invitation to belong.

From Side Conversations to Systemic Shifts

As the panels unfolded, we met fellow founders, heritage lovers, and policymakers who spoke our language: one of preservation, participation, and innovation. What struck us most was the growing respect for intangible heritage—oral traditions, culinary memories, indigenous knowledge—that are often undocumented and unprotected.

Too often, these practices vanish not because they lose value, but because they lose support.

But on this day, at this venue, we could feel the tide turning. There was talk of direct procurement policies for startups working in culture, new creative-tech integrations, and above all, the recognition that creativity fuels economies just as much as code does.

City Heritage: A Quiet Dream Reaffirmed

Sitting in that room, we couldn't help but reflect on our own journey. City Heritage began as a curious idea back in 2014—a passion project to tell stories of our cities, our people, and our forgotten recipes. What started with a walk through the old quarters of Kozhikode slowly evolved into immersive culinary experiences, storytelling trails, and now, a growing community of heritage explorers.

We never had huge funding or flashy campaigns. What we had was trust, persistence, and a belief in the value of the local. And it was enough.

Listening to visionaries and cultural entrepreneurs that day made us realize—we are no longer on the fringes. We are part of something much larger: a creative economy that’s rising, inclusive, and rooted in place.

To Every Small Creative Startup: This Is Your Time

If you're an artisan working with natural dyes, a dancer reviving folk traditions, or a young founder turning local stories into design—we see you. And so does the system now.

Events like Beyond Tomorrow are no longer distant policy summits. They are blueprints for inclusive futures, where your work matters not just to culture, but to the economy, education, and society at large.

The encouragement we felt wasn’t abstract. It was real. Tangible. You could see it in the cross-sector panels, the audience questions, the quiet nods of agreement across disciplines. This is your time to rise.

Let Us Not Let Heritage Fade in Silence

One key takeaway we carried with us: without collective effort, intangible heritage dies quietly. It doesn't go out with a bang; it simply fades—one forgotten tune, one unrecorded recipe, one dismantled workshop at a time.

But if we listen, nurture, and build systems around it—it lives. Not as museum relics, but as living economies of pride, participation, and innovation.

We, at City Heritage, commit ourselves anew to this cause.

Conclusion: The Future is Rooted in the Past, and Rising with Hope

Beyond Tomorrow in Kozhikode wasn't just an event. It was a mirror. One that reflected who we are as a society—and who we can become. And in that reflection, we saw courage, clarity, and creativity.

As Kerala steps forward with initiatives like creative incubators, AI-powered storytelling tools, and inclusive funding policies, we urge every small cultural startup in India: be bold. Dream bigger. Tell your story. Because the world is ready—and so are we.