Bhopal will host the third BRICS Culture Working Group (CWG) meeting and the BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting from Wednesday, bringing together delegates from BRICS member and partner countries to strengthen cultural cooperation and discuss issues such as heritage conservation, museums, cultural and creative industries, capacity building, and people-to-people exchanges.
Organised under India’s BRICS Presidency by the Union Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh government, the four-day event will conclude on August 8 with the adoption of the BRICS Culture Ministers’ Declaration, which will outline the roadmap for future cultural cooperation among participating countries.
Union Culture Secretary Vivek Agrawal said delegations would begin arriving on Wednesday. The opening day has been earmarked for registration, accreditation, bilateral meetings and visits to exhibitions ahead of the formal deliberations. Delegates will also visit the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya to witness demonstrations of traditional crafts and tribal culture, followed by a cultural programme.
Three exhibitions—Gyan Bharatam, Project Mausam and Project Brihattar Bharat—will be inaugurated at the Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre (Minto Hall) on Wednesday and will remain open to the public throughout the conference. According to Agrawal, the exhibitions will showcase India’s manuscript heritage, maritime links and civilisational connections.
The third BRICS Culture Working Group meeting will be held on August 6 to deliberate on the draft ministerial declaration and cooperation in areas including cultural heritage, museums, cultural and creative industries, capacity building, and cultural exchanges. Its recommendations will be placed before the Culture Ministers during their meeting on August 8.
The conference will also feature the BRICS Cultural Festival, including the presentation of the “BRICS Peace Song – Peace is the Language of the Land” and “Amritasya Madhya Pradesh”, a cultural performance by more than 125 artists highlighting the state’s rich heritage.
Madhya Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary (Culture) Shiv Shekhar Shukla said all arrangements for the event had been completed, adding that the meeting would also provide an opportunity to showcase the state’s cultural heritage and tourism potential. Following the ministerial meeting, delegates will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sanchi on August 8, while an optional visit to the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters has been scheduled for August 9.