The first G20 Culture Ministers' Meeting will be held in Rome on 29 and 30 July, an unprecedented and historical choice by the Italian G20 Presidency.
It is a strategic choice connected with the importance of the cultural sector in Italy and with the need for a shared assessment of the impacts of the global pandemic. Culture is, in fact, a strong tool to ensure a swift recovery, both with regard to the values which will underpin the post-pandemic regeneration and to the role of the creative sectors of the economy in creating new jobs and opportunities. Culture represents a crucial engine for sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth, fitting coherently into the agenda of the Italian G20 Presidency.
Along with the Ministers of the G20 and of invited countries, participants include the main international organizations active in this sector, such as UNESCO, OECD, the Council of Europe, the Union for the Mediterranean, international organizations of the cultural sector such as ICCROM, ICOM and ICOMOS, and major actors in the fight against crimes related to cultural heritage, such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Interpol and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
The G20 engagement group dedicated to the young generations (Youth 20) is also directly involved in the process.
Over almost a year of intense work, five main areas of interest were identified as key topics on which to concentrate the efforts of the G20 Culture, culminating in the Rome meeting on 29-30 July.
– The protection and promotion of culture and creative sectors as engines for sustainable and balanced growth. Culture has been seriously affected by the pandemic, but it can help to face the pressures and the growing economic, social and ecological gaps, contributing to the regeneration of our economies and our societies, both heavily affected by Covid-19. The necessary support must be ensured for those working in the cultural sector so that they continue to nourish of our societies.
– Protecting cultural heritage against risks, including natural disasters, environmental degradation and climate change, deliberate destruction and looting, illicit trafficking in cultural property. Identifying potential joint and coordinated actions to strengthen the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage. Italy and UNESCO will continue to work together in this sense and have announced the project "Task Force Italy on Unesco's invitation".
– Promoting digital and technological transformation in the cultural and creative sectors as new driving forces for growth, facilitating universal access and participation in culture and promoting cultural diversity.
– Building capacity through training to address the complexity of the contemporary world and cultural sector challenges, including rapid digitalization, green transition and demographic change, and helping to achieve the international Sustainable Development Goals.
– Tackling climate change through culture. Adverse events caused by climate change endanger cultural heritage. On the other hand, the cultural sector offers tools to contribute to the mitigation and adaptation to climate change, in particular thanks to the development of innovative monitoring technologies.
