Culture in the G20
At the global level, culture has been recognized as an enabler of growth and sustainable development. In 2021, the Rome Declaration of G20 Ministers firmly positioned culture as an engine for propelling sustainable socio-economic recovery. The UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development – MONDIACULT 2022, adopted a Declaration affirming culture as a 'global public good'. These historic declarations have anchored culture at the heart of public policy and international cooperation by recognising its intrinsic value for sustainable development.
The global health crisis has led the international community to recognize the catalysing power of culture in building consensus to ensure that all cultural resources are truly protected as ‘global commons’. It has firmly established culture as a ‘global public good’ to be integrated as a specific goal in the post-2030 development agenda. In order to empower the global developmental scenarios, it has become imperative to build upon the pillars of culture, commerce, connectivity, and collaboration.
The G20 Culture Ministers met for the first time in 2020 and highlighted culture’s cross-cutting contribution to advancing G20 agenda. Recognizing the synergies between culture and other policy areas, and considering the impact of culture, cultural heritage and the creative economy on the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development, culture was integrated into the G20 agenda as a Culture Working Group in 2021.
Culture is not only an important economic sector, but also the foundation of cohesive societies. Culture must be given the place it deserves as a key component of effective and inclusive multilateralism.
Message from the G20 Sherpa under India’s Presidency
Shri Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, talks about the unique opportunity for the Culture Working Group (CWG) under India’s G20 Presidency to shape and encourage global efforts to leverage culture for creating a just, inclusive & sustainable society.
Culture under India's G20 Presidency
India firmly believes in the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the earth is one family – the concept that all individuals are collectively responsible towards each other and their shared future. This shapes India's vision of sustainable living.
India's G20 Presidency aimed to nurture, celebrate, and incorporate the cultural diversity of the member states while striving towards achieving holistic living and building a pro-planet society.
The G20 Culture Working Group stood among the 13 thematic Working Groups set up by the Indian Presidency to frame the G20 process in 2023 as part of the Sherpa Track. The Culture Working Group brought together representatives from G20 Member countries, guest nations as well as international organizations to discuss priorities and provide recommendations around four culture-related priorities set forth by the Indian Presidency. The working group met four times across the working process in Khajuraho (22-25 February 2023), Bhubaneshwar (14-17 May 2023), Hampi (15-18 July 2023) and Varanasi (21-23 August 2023) to discuss areas of priorities and key actionables, leading up to a G20 culture ministerial meeting on 23 August 2023. The outcomes of the Culture Working Group will also feed into the 18th G20 Leaders Summit to be held on 9-10 September 2023.
Live Streaming of the Thematic Webinars
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Culture in the G20 | Previous editions
The G20 Ministers of Culture met for the first time at the G20, under the Presidency of Saudi Arabia.
The G20 Ministers of Culture agreed for the first time in history on a Declaration on Culture.
Ministers of Culture met under the theme of “Culture for Sustainable Living”