As defined by UNESCO, Creative industries consist of the “cultural industries, which include publishing, music, cinema, crafts and design, continue to grow steadily apace and have a determinant role to play in the future of culture.” A report by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) 2015, confirms that the creative economy sectors of publishing, broadcasting, advertising, performing arts, crafts, and others considerably contribute to national GDP and wealth creation in both the formal and informal economies. In fact, reports UNESCO, the industries contribute around “3 percent of the global GDP.” The importance of creative industries is highlighted through the fact that the 74th United Nations General Assembly has announced 2021 as the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development. 

However, it is also ironic that due to many economic recessions at global and local level, climate change, and more recently, the pandemic, has threatened many of these industries, and the communities and individuals associated with them. Through the International Conference of Creative Futures (ICCF’22) hosted by Manipal University Jaipur (focused on the following disciplines and their sub and allied disciplines – Applied Art & Design; Built Environment; Fashion & Textiles; and Spatial Design & Interior Environments), we hope to be able to imagine just, resilient, safe, inclusive and sustainable futures.