G20 Culture Working Group tries to build consensus on four priority areas for Ministerial Declaration

The third G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) meeting being held in Hampi, Karnataka is witnessing discussions to build a consensus on four priority areas for the eventual Ministerial Declaration.

The four priority areas that are being discussed are: * 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

“We have progressed from identifying and deliberating the four priorities to seeking consensus on the action-oriented recommendations that would be a significant step in placing culture at the heart of policymaking," Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs & Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi explained while speaking at the inaugural session of the meeting on Monday (July 10, 2023).

“We strive to build consensus on the ministerial declaration containing the four priority areas which are cornerstones in our vision of an inclusive and sustainable future," Joshi added. According to him, the priorities showcase a world that is culturally diverse yet unified, a world where cultural heritage is both a pillar of the past and a pathway to the future.

Urging the participants to remember the power of unity, the beauty in diversity, and the huge potential that culture holds for human development, Joshi remarked, “We are united by the same dreams, driven by the same passions, and inspired by the same hopes."

He also said “Let our work today pave the way for a future where culture is not just a part of our identity, but a driving force for sustainable development, social inclusion, and global harmony.”

Incidentally, the CWG is aiming to enter the Guinness Book of World Records by creating the largest display of Lambani embroidery patches. This attempt involves over 450 women artisans from the Lambani community, closely associated with Sandur Kushala Kala Kendra displaying around 1300 lambani embroidery patch works made by them at the G20 event.

The Lambani are an erstwhile nomadic tribe renowned for colourful and eye-catching patchwork embroidery work. They are often referred to as a community that loves to adorn, be it clothes and accessories or their homes and surroundings.