KSUM Creative Sector Initiative hosts talk on Heritage, Storytelling and the Creative Economy

Kochi / June 16, 2026

Kochi, June 16: As part of its Creative Sector Initiative aimed at fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable livelihoods within Kerala's cultural and creative industries, Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) will organise a special talk by Sruthin Lal, Founder and Executive Director of the Archival and Research Project (ARPO), on Friday (June 19).

Titled ‘Culture as Enterprise: Heritage, Storytelling and the Creative Economy’, the session, which begins at 4 pm, will explore how cultural heritage, storytelling, and traditional knowledge can be transformed into sustainable enterprises, social impact initiatives, and innovative business opportunities.

The talk is part of KSUM's broader efforts to strengthen Kerala's creative economy ecosystem by connecting entrepreneurs, students, creative professionals, and cultural practitioners with pioneers who are building impactful and scalable models in the cultural sector.

As part of its expanding focus on the creative economy, KSUM is also working towards establishing a Creative Economy Fund to support startups, entrepreneurs, artists, creators, and ventures operating at the intersection of culture, creativity, technology and innovation.

Founded in 2021, ARPO is a Kerala-based not-for-profit organisation dedicated to documenting, preserving, and promoting cultural heritage through research, digital archiving, storytelling, community engagement, and creative interventions. The organisation has worked extensively with artists, artisans, tribal communities, researchers, and cultural practitioners to bring lesser-known histories, traditions, and cultural narratives into the public domain.

The session is open to aspiring entrepreneurs, startup founders, creative professionals, students, researchers, artists, cultural practitioners, and anyone interested in exploring opportunities at the intersection of culture, heritage, innovation, and enterprise.

Registration for the session can be made at ksum.in/Preserving_Kerala

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