2nd G20 Culture Group Meet To Begin In Bhubaneswar Tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: The 2nd Culture Working Group Meeting under India’s G20 Presidency, which will be held in Bhubaneswar from May 14 to 17, will highlight ‘Culture Unites All’ in campaign mode to bring out India’s unwavering belief in multilateralism based on peaceful coexistence among diverse cultures and communities.

The 2nd CWG meeting will build on the momentum gained from the 1st Culture Working Group meeting held at Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, which was followed by in depth expert-driven Global Thematic Webinars held over the past two months.

Delegates from G20 members, guest nations, and several international organisations will attend the meeting which will discuss pressing issues facing the culture sector to further deliberate in-depth work towards tangible, action-oriented recommendations.

The meetings will focus on 4 key priority areas of Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property; Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future; Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries and Creative Economy; and Leveraging Digital Technologies for the Protection and Promotion of Culture.

On the first day, eminent sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik will create a sculpture on Puri beach on the theme ‘Culture Unites All’. It will be inaugurated by Minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER G Kishan Reddy and Minister of State for Culture and Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal.

A set of cultural experiences have been curated for the delegates through the course of their visit. These include a visit to heritage sites like the Sun Temple at Konark and the Udayagiri Caves. The delegates will also experience special dance performances such as Singari, Sambalpuri, Odissi and Gotipua.

As a part of the 2nd G20 Culture Working Group Meeting, an exhibition titled ‘Sustain: The Craft Idiom’ will be organised at Kala Bhoomi – Odisha Crafts Museum in Bhubaneswar. Its theme focuses on the second priority outlined by the Culture Working Group – ‘Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future’.

The exhibition is scheduled to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on May 15. It will be opened to the public from May 16.