UNESCO Creative City for Design Campaign
Reimagining Vadodara through
Design, Arts, Culture and Heritage
UNESCO Creative City for Design
Reimagining
Vadodara
Vadodara has long been celebrated as a city where creativity flourishes. For over a century, art, architecture, design, education, industry and civic participation have come together to shape a city unlike any other in India. This legacy of innovation, rooted in public good and community wellbeing, inspired Heritage Trust to initiate the campaign for Vadodara’s recognition as a UNESCO Creative City of Design.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) celebrates cities that place creativity at the heart of sustainable urban development. For Vadodara, this recognition is not merely an international designation, it is an opportunity to reaffirm the values that have defined the city since the progressive reign of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III: innovation, inclusivity, education, collaboration and design for social impact.
Today, this initiative seeks to reconnect the city’s remarkable past with its future by positioning design as a catalyst for cultural preservation, economic growth, environmental responsibility and community engagement.
Why Vadodara?
Why Vadodara?
Few Indian cities possess a design legacy as diverse and deeply embedded in everyday life as Vadodara.
The city pioneered progressive urban planning, established landmark educational institutions, encouraged experimentation in architecture and engineering, nurtured generations of artists and performers, and built industries that transformed western India. It became the birthplace of modern artistic thought through the Faculty of Fine Arts, while simultaneously preserving living traditions of music, theatre, crafts and festivals.
From Raja Ravi Varma’s artistic innovations to the internationally acclaimed Baroda School of Art; from the city’s public gardens, museums and libraries to its thriving industrial and educational ecosystem, Vadodara has consistently demonstrated how design can enrich society.
This unique convergence of heritage, creativity and civic participation makes Vadodara a natural candidate for UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network.
Heritage Trust's Role
Heritage Trust's Role
Recognising the city’s extraordinary cultural capital, Heritage Trust initiated the process of developing a comprehensive vision for Vadodara as a UNESCO Creative City of Design.
Working alongside scholars, architects, artists, designers, institutions, civic leaders, industry and government agencies, the initiative seeks to document the city’s design legacy while creating a roadmap for its future.
The campaign goes beyond preparing a nomination. It is about building a shared civic movement that celebrates creativity as a public resource and encourages collaborative action across sectors.
Design for Social Change
Design for
Social Change
At the heart of Vadodara’s story is the belief that design serves society.
Historically, the city has used design to improve education, strengthen public institutions, empower communities, encourage women, preserve heritage and create inclusive public spaces. This philosophy continues to inspire new approaches towards sustainability, placemaking, environmental awareness and cultural innovation.
The UNESCO Creative City initiative therefore embraces design not only as a creative discipline, but as a means of improving everyday life and strengthening the city’s identity.
The Emergence of DACH
Design, Arts,
Culture & Heritage
Building on this legacy, DACH Vadodara (Design, Arts, Culture & Heritage) has been conceived as a collaborative initiative of the Heritage Trust, Vadodara, in partnership with the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).
Conceived as a collaborative platform, DACH brings together government bodies, educational institutions, industry, cultural organisations and citizens to collectively shape Vadodara’s future through creativity.
More than an organisation, DACH is a city-wide collective, a space to connect people, ideas, and initiatives through exhibitions, public programmes, conversations, workshops, and city-wide collaborations. Representing this spirit is Nagar ka Mugger, DACH’s mascot inspired by the marsh crocodile, an enduring symbol of Vadodara’s natural and cultural heritage. Curious, resilient, and deeply rooted in the city, the Mugger embodies the collective’s vision of bringing together diverse voices while celebrating what makes Vadodara unique.
Nagar ka Mugger
Nagar ka Mugger
By fostering meaningful partnerships across disciplines, DACH aims to make culture more visible, accessible, and participatory while reinforcing Vadodara’s identity as a vibrant Creative City.
Whether by showcasing talent, preserving heritage, supporting public initiatives, or enabling new collaborations, every individual and institution has a role to play in shaping the city’s evolving cultural narrative.
It reflects the same collaborative spirit that has defined Vadodara for generations while creating opportunities for future innovation.
Looking Ahead
Looking Ahead
The journey towards becoming a UNESCO Creative City of Design is ultimately a journey towards building a more creative, inclusive and resilient Vadodara.
Heritage Trust believes that preserving our heritage and investing in contemporary creativity are not separate pursuits; they strengthen one another.
Through continued partnerships with institutions, artists, designers, industries, civic organisations and citizens, this initiative aims to ensure that Vadodara’s remarkable legacy continues to inspire future generations while contributing meaningfully to the global dialogue on culture-led urban development.
Creativity has always been part of Vadodara’s identity. The UNESCO Creative City initiative seeks to ensure it remains central to its future.
Timeline
The Journey
2024
Heritage Trust initiates the UNESCO Creative City for Design vision.
2024–25
Research, documentation and stakeholder consultations begin.
2025
Formation of DACH (Design, Arts, Culture & Heritage) as a collaborative platform.
Present
Ongoing public engagement, partnerships and projects to strengthen Vadodara’s creative ecosystem and advance the UNESCO vision.