The XI BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting concluded in Bhopal on Saturday with the adoption of the Bhopal Declaration, providing a forward-looking framework to strengthen cultural cooperation among BRICS member states and partner countries.
The meeting was held under India’s BRICS Chairship and focused on translating dialogue into practical initiatives and deepening institutional cooperation in the cultural sector.
The BRICS Culture Track under India’s Chairship included three Culture Working Group meetings. The first was held virtually on April 29-30, followed by meetings in Varanasi on June 4-5 and Bhopal on August 5-6.
The Ministerial Meeting saw participation from 14 countries, including 10 BRICS member states and four partner countries. The participating BRICS members were Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Egypt participated virtually.
Belarus, Cuba, Kazakhstan and Thailand participated as partner countries. Culture Ministers from Indonesia, South Africa and the UAE also attended the meeting, while a total of 55 delegates participated in the meetings.
The deliberations were guided by India’s overarching BRICS theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, with emphasis on strengthening cultural cooperation through practical and sustainable initiatives.
The Bhopal Declaration seeks to expand cooperation in cultural and creative industries and the creative economy through the exchange of methodologies, experiences and best practices. It also encourages support for creators, professional networking and greater market access through digital tools.
The declaration calls for enhanced cooperation on UNESCO multinational nominations, provenance research and the return and restitution of cultural property, including the exploration of artificial intelligence-enabled tracing tools.
It also seeks greater collaboration on safeguarding Traditional Knowledge Systems and Traditional Cultural Expressions, as well as cooperation among museums, libraries and archives in documentary heritage, digitisation and conservation.
The declaration further emphasises the protection of creators’ rights, transparency and fair and equitable remuneration in relation to the use of copyrighted works in artificial intelligence systems.
As a concrete initiative under the Culture Track, India announced a pilot project to develop a Voluntary Artist Registry. The initiative is aimed at facilitating cultural exchanges, strengthening professional networks and creating greater opportunities for artists and creative practitioners across BRICS countries.
A key cultural component of India’s BRICS Chairship was the two-day BRICS Culture Festival held in Bhopal on August 6-7. The festival brought together participants from BRICS member and partner countries, with Belarus, Brazil, Indonesia, Russia and the UAE presenting cultural performances showcasing their artistic traditions.
The festival was centred on the Indian ethos “सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः” — “Harmony and Peace to All” — and provided a platform for cultural dialogue, artistic exchange and people-to-people connectivity. On the second day, artists presented a collective ensemble performance of the theme in the languages of participating BRICS countries, symbolising unity in diversity.
The Culture Track also facilitated bilateral engagements, with meetings held between India and participating countries at the levels of the Union Culture Minister and Secretary, Ministry of Culture. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cultural ties and exploring areas of mutual interest.
The programme also gave visiting delegations an opportunity to experience India’s cultural and civilisational heritage. On August 5, delegates visited the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya in Bhopal. Following the Ministerial Meeting, delegations are scheduled to visit Sanchi to explore its Buddhist heritage, while a visit to Bhimbetka is planned for the morning of August 9 to showcase its prehistoric rock shelters and ancient cultural heritage.
India expressed appreciation to all participating BRICS member states and partner countries for their constructive engagement and active participation during its Chairship.
India also reaffirmed its commitment to continued cooperation aimed at building a more connected, inclusive and future-ready cultural partnership within BRICS.
