The 2nd Culture Working Group meeting under India’s G20 presidency, scheduled from 14 May to 17 May began in Bhubaneswar. G. Kishan Reddy, Union Tourism and Culture Minister and Nityananda Rai, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs gave an address during the meeting.
The meeting held deliberations on the priority theme of the CWG and the drafting and finalization of the G20 Culture Ministers’ Declaration. This meeting witnessed participation from G20 members, guest nations, and representatives of several international organizations. The meeting saw extensive deliberations on the priority theme of the Culture Working Group, wherein, delegates discussed ways the G20 can strengthen the global commitment to prevent illicit trafficking and facilitate the return and restoration of cultural property. The way forward on the drafting and finalization of the G20 Culture Ministers’ Declaration was also discussed during the meeting. After the meeting, Union Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the exhibition titled ‘Sustain: The Craft Idiom’ at the Odisha Crafts Museum.
Padma Shri awardee Sudarshan Patnaik displayed an exquisite sand artwork on the theme ‘Culture Unites All’ at Puri Beach in Odisha on May 14. G. Kishan Reddy, Culture and Tourism Minister and Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State for Culture and Parliamentary Affairs inaugurated it. The third Culture Working Group meeting will be held in Hampi on 15-18 July 2023 and the Culture Ministers meeting is scheduled to be held in Varanasi in August.
