Ahmedabad, with its deep cultural heritage and its growing constellation of cultural spaces, is at the threshold of a remarkable civic experiment. This short thought piece explores how culture is not simply an ornament to urban life but a fundamental producer of the civic itself—shaping how communities imagine themselves and their futures. Drawing on examples from North Adams, Seattle, and Bangkok, it reflects on how sustained commitments to culture and art in public space can transform a city’s psyche, generating imaginative, joyful, and cohesive civic life. By situating Ahmedabad Cultural Week within this broader framework, the piece suggests that the city’s embrace of cultural infrastructure is not just about celebration, but about cultivating a dynamic public life, fostering unexpected benefits, and embarking on an exciting collective journey toward a richer civic imagination.

Ahmedabad Cultural Week | Instagram