Bhubaneshwar to host G20 Culture Working Group meeting next week

The 2nd Culture Working Group Meeting of the G20 under India’s presidency is being organised in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, from 14th -17th May, according to an official statement issued today.

The meeting will be attended by delegates from G20 member countries, guest nations, and several international organisations. The delegates will discuss pressing issues facing the culture sector and come up with tangible, action-oriented recommendations and best practices for sustainable development.

The 2nd CWG meeting will build on the momentum gained from the 1st Culture Working Group meeting held in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, which was followed by in depth expert-driven Global Thematic Webinars held over the past two months.

The meetings of the Culture Working Group focuses on 4 key priority areas articulated under Culture Track of India’s G20 Presidency:

*Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property

* Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future

*Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries and Creative Economy

*Leveraging Digital Technologies for the Protection and Promotion of Culture.

As part of the events during the meeting, an exquisite Sand Art exhibit by Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik is being created at Puri Beach on 14th May. The theme for the exhibit is ‘Culture Unites All’, which will be inaugurated by the Minister for Culture and Tourism, G. Kishan Reddy and Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for Culture and Parliamentary Affairs.

India’s G20 Culture Working Group’s ‘Culture Unites All’ is a campaign to highlight India’s unwavering belief in multilateralism based on peaceful coexistence among diverse cultures and communities. The theme of ‘Culture Unites All’ recognises that by embracing cultural exchange and understanding, we can transcend boundaries, foster connections, and inspire meaningful dialogue among individuals, communities, and nations.

A set of cultural experiences have been curated for the delegates through the course of their visit. These include a visit to heritage sites like the Konark Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Udayagiri Caves. The delegates will also experience special dance performances native to the State of Odisha such as Tribal (Singari), Sambalpuri, Odissi and Gotipua dance.

An exhibition titled ‘Sustain: The Craft Idiom’ will be organised at Kala Bhoomi – Odisha Crafts Museum in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The exhibition’s theme focuses on the second priority outlined by the Culture Working Group – ‘Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future’.

The exhibition is set to be inaugurated on 15th May by Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Naveen Patnaik; Minister for Culture and Tourism G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of State for Culture and Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal and Minister for State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai. The exhibition will be open to the public from 16th-22nd May.