A G20 of advances for Culture

Since the beginning of President Lula’s government, Brazil has accepted the challenge of repositioning culture in the international debate on sustainable development, with the G20 as its main showcase. At the end of this period, we achieved unprecedented results, which placed cultural policies as essential for reducing social inequalities.

Even more significant advances if we take into account the global context: new technologies bringing challenges to the creative sectors, a scenario of conflicts and attacks on democracy, legacies and historical constructions — which have culture as a recurring target — in addition to the intensification of the debate on climate change.

It was exactly this complex scenario that prevented the construction of a consensual charter in the last G20, chaired by India. A factor that made the responsibility of the Brazilian presidency even greater. The mediating tradition of our diplomacy, the role that Brazil occupies in the world imagination as a cultural wealth and the recreation of the MinC (Ministry of Culture), reinstituting professional management and committed to the cultural field, allowed us to reach a charter agreed upon by ministers of Culture and government authorities who are members of the G20, making lasting commitments in defense of Culture, recognizing its diversity and its transformative power in our societies.

The cultural sector represents an important asset of the world economy, but it needs a coordinated effort to face the challenges of our time. In 2024, the Ministry of Culture was responsible for conducting the G20 Culture Working Group (CWG/G20). Throughout the year, important debates were held, centered on four priority axes: Cultural diversity and social inclusion; Culture, digital environment and copyright; Creative economy and sustainable development; Preservation, safeguarding and promotion of cultural heritage and memory. Without forgetting the motto chosen by Brazil: For a Fair World and a Sustainable Planet.

The “Declaration of Ministers of Culture of the G20 of Salvador da Bahia”, approved on November 8th, will be a reference document for future negotiations. Since 2022, consensus has not been reached to obtain a declaration. Result achieved thanks to Brazil’s prestige and the commitment of negotiating teams from all countries, with the conviction that culture plays a fundamental role in the renewal of the multilateral system. Without culture, understanding cannot be achieved, relationships between societies cannot be deepened. In short, culture is the basis for dialogue and cooperation between nations.

For this reason, it is even more relevant that culture gained prominence in the “Rio de Janeiro G20 Leaders’ Declaration”, which dedicates an extensive paragraph to Culture, highlighting “the power and intrinsic value of culture in fostering solidarity , dialogue, collaboration and cooperation, promoting a more sustainable world, in all its dimensions and from all perspectives”.

Together, the Declaration of Leaders and the Declaration of Salvador da Bahia materialize important victories for culture in the world, emphasizing its essential role for sustainable development, inclusion and social participation. These are important victories, especially because they were obtained in a forum that has consensus as a rule.

In the Salvador da Bahia Declaration, we recognize the growing economic weight of cultural and creative sectors and industries, but we also highlight that it is necessary to adopt measures to balance trade flows between countries in the Global North and South. We paid special attention to the need for adequate payment to artists and creators, both online and offline. It also advances, in an unprecedented way, the discussion about culture and climate, about how culture impacts and is impacted by climate change.

With an eye to the future, and after intense negotiation, it was agreed to promote stronger and more effective global engagement in the discussion about copyright in the digital environment and the impacts of Artificial Intelligence on copyright holders, especially at the World Organization for Intellectual Property (WIPO). All countries are concerned, to varying degrees, about the need to ensure adequate payment for authors and artists, as well as the transparency of artificial intelligence (AI) models. The topic is controversial, but Brazil’s persistence ensured that this topic entered the agenda definitively.

There is also consensus on the need for an open and inclusive dialogue on the return and restitution of cultural goods, as well as combating illicit trafficking in cultural goods. The right to memory and the protection of cultural heritage, material and immaterial, continue to be important key ideas.

Culture emerges strengthened from this G20. Despite the geopolitical challenges and the complexities of the digital era, Culture has proven its strength on the multilateral stage, showing the path to understanding, peace, and how we can, in our diversity, create common development strategies.

We believe that culture can and should bring solutions to global problems. It is an effective and efficient ally in the fight against hunger and poverty, territorial and community empowerment, inclusion and gender equity. It can also help to combat climate change. Culture enables an environment in which diversity can flourish, reducing asymmetries and inequalities, and promoting sustainable, democratic and inclusive development. Thus, during our Presidency, we sought to defend a plural and diverse culture, which included the voice and colors of the Global South, protecting, safeguarding and promoting our heritage, our identities and our histories.

We remain firm in our commitment to strengthening the engagement of countries so that culture is a fundamental part and has its own pillar in the next UN development agenda. At this G20, we also guarantee the support of countries so that culture deserves prominent attention on the climate change agenda. Brazil co-chairs, alongside the United Arab Emirates, the Group of Friends of Culture-Based Climate Action, and now towards COP30, in Belém, we have the challenge of consolidating collective engagement in this process.

The success of the G20 in Brazil must be shared with all those who were involved in holding the various events and meetings that preceded this successful result.

We bequeath to the international community an important result for Culture and diplomacy: a comprehensive document, which positions culture as an agent for transforming society and a catalyst for sustainable and inclusive development. A document that absorbs the richness and power of Brazilian culture, in all its diversity, whilst also reflecting the democratic spirit of this Government. This is an important achievement, which was only possible with the commitment and leadership of President Lula, who guaranteed the Ministries resources and conditions to carry out this intense work, which focused on building a fairer world and a sustainable planet. Culture showed its strength and value in this G20, expressing and defending what brings us closer and connects us: our humanity and our capacity for creation.