Creative and Cultural Businesses Programme (CCBP)

This course involves 15 days of immersive modules on campus (3 sets of camps), spread across a 6 month duration with off-campus assignments between camps. This programme is curated for entrepreneurs in the creative and cultural industries. The coursework allows students to find their own anchor to the core tenets of the programme, build on their own business cases (with a go-to-market plan and a refined business model), while receiving guidance from IIMA faculty, industry leaders, and a mentor with whom each student is paired.

Camp 1: April 13–18, 2026

Camp 2: July 13–18, 2026

Camp 3: October 5–7, 2026

The programme aims at providing a specialized understanding of the nuances of the industry and an appreciation for the fresh approach to strategic thinking that is warranted by the sector.

This 15 day programme will be delivered through 3 sets of in-class interactions (camps) on campus across 6 months, with research, assignments and online interaction between camps. The programme will involve:

(I) three academic camps

(II) presentations and discussions led by faculty and experts (brand owners, craftsmen, retailers, and consultants)

(III) project critiques,

(IV) mentor engagement

(V) webinars,

(VI) brainstorm and network with contemporary thought leaders in the design space and

(VII) platform to present business ideas to industry experts and stakeholders.

In each classroom session, participants are expected to analyze, discuss and suggest a suitable course of action for the identified dimensions of the business case. Equally important will be the task of understanding concepts and ideas from the readings and articles given to participants.

Each participant will be paired with a mentor and will be required to build on their respective business cases and prepare for the final showcase to a panel of industry leaders.

The programme is best suited for passionate entrepreneurs or “to-be-entrepreneurs” who demonstrate their commitment and clarity of thinking in a rigorous selection process including a video interview with the programme committee. Only about 15% of the total applicants are admitted to the programme. The entrepreneurs could be:

[a] Entrepreneurs with an existing business, now ready to scale or diversify

or

[b] 'Would-be-Entrepreneurs’ with a very well defined idea with legs

The ventures could be in any creative or cultural sector such as:

Creative Services – Advertising, Branding, Communication Design, Creative R&D, Cultural & Recreational

Cultural Sites – Archaeological Sites, Museums, Libraries, Exhibitions

Design – Architecture, Interior, Graphic

Entertainment – Film, Television, Radio, Other Broadcasting

Home – Decor, Home Improvement, Kitchen & Dining, Furniture

Lifestyle – Fashion, Jewellery & Watches, Travel, Food & Beverage, Health & Wellness, Toys, Accessories

New Media – Software, Video Games, Digitized Creative Content

Performing Arts – Live Music, Theatre, Dance, Opera, Circus, Puppetry

Publishing and Print Media – Books, Press, other publications

Retail – Digital, Physical, Omni-Channel

Traditional Cultural Expressions – Arts and Crafts, Festivals, Celebrations

Visual Arts – Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Antiques