India chairs 11th BRICS Culture Ministers’ meeting
BHOPAL: The 11th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting took place in Bhopal, India, under the country's BRICS Chairmanship. One of the primary outcomes of the meeting was the adoption of the Bhopal Declaration, which is designed to enhance cultural cooperation among BRICS member states and partner nations with representatives from 14 countries—10 BRICS members and four partner countries—in attendance.
During the meeting, delegates engaged in discussions aimed at enhancing cultural and creative industries, emphasising the need to create more opportunities for artists. A significant focus was placed on leveraging digital platforms to expand the reach of artists into broader markets.
The protection and restoration of cultural heritage were highlighted as critical topics of concern.
India introduced a pilot initiative called the Voluntary Artist Registry to facilitate cultural exchanges and build professional networks among BRICS artists. Another focal point was the examination of artists’ rights and the implications of fair use concerning copyrighted material in the context of Artificial Intelligence.
In a press conference, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat elaborated on how the Bhopal meeting provided a pragmatic and innovative framework for fostering cultural cooperation. He underscored the necessity of safeguarding traditional knowledge, languages, folk music and cultural traditions for future generations with a particular emphasis on the culture and heritage of Madhya Pradesh.
Shekhawat urged that collaboration among all countries is essential to ensure the preservation of these invaluable cultural assets.