BRICS Ministers of Culture Meet in St. Petersburg

The 9th Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Culture was held on 11 September 2024 as part of the 10th St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum. The event was attended by representatives from BRICS countries and special guests: Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation, and Yulia Kupina, Director of the Russian Ethnographic Museum, which hosted the event.

The participants of the meeting noted the important role of cultural events in the formation of a common meaningful space of the association, emphasized the development of modern technologies and touched upon the preservation of cultural heritage sites located in BRICS couture.

The meeting resulted in the adoption of the Declaration of the BRICS Ministers of Culture, which contains the main initiatives and plans for the near future.

“BRICS is more than just a group of states, it is a union of unique, distinctive cultures that all contribute to a shared cultural tapestry. BRICS serves as a bridge between different cultures. In our current situation, it has become an important tool for building a more just system of relations based on understanding and respect,” said Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation and Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee for Russia’s BRICS Chairship Anton Kobyakov.

“Our meeting today is particularly significant in that it is our first time to come together in the new expanded format. BRICS is a group open to anyone who thinks like we do, and it unites the world’s biggest political, economic, and, of course, cultural centres. It is a true family, and I am honored to be the first to welcome its new members to the annual Meeting of BRICS Culture Ministers,” Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova said to open the meeting.

A unique opportunity for cultural cooperation within BRICS has been provided by the BRICS Alliances: the Alliance of Museums, the Alliance of Libraries, the Alliance of Art Museums and Galleries, and the Alliance of Theatre for Children and Young People.

The Russian Minister of Culture suggested to create two more associations: an Alliance of Folk Dance and an Association of Film Schools. The first would unite top creative teams and educational institutions specializing in traditional dance to share experience, give creative young people an opportunity to initiate joint creative projects and hold festivals.

The second project will be implemented in conjunction with S.A. Gerasimov All-Russian State University of Cinematography, and will serve as a foundation for cultural exchange in film education, and develop cinematographic ties between young professionals within BRICS. Possible places to meet and share experience are the annual BRICS Student Film Festival, summer film school, academic conferences, and other events.

The BRICS Cultural Festival was held on 11 September as part of the programme of the Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Culture. A gala concert was held on the stage of the Alexandrinsky Theater, where the audience had the opportunity to go on a musical journey through the group’s member states.

The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s BRICS Chairship.