Bhopal gears up for BRICS Culture Ministers' four day conference

Bhopal is set to host the third BRICS Culture Working Group (CWG) meeting and the BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting from Wednesday, bringing together delegates from BRICS member and partner countries to strengthen cultural cooperation and discuss issues such as heritage conservation, museums, cultural and creative industries, capacity building, and people-to-people exchanges.
According to agency reports,organised under India's BRICS Presidency by the Union Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh government, the four-day event will continue till August 8 and culminate with the adoption of the BRICS Culture Ministers’ Declaration, outlining a roadmap for future cultural cooperation among participating countries.A wide range of issues, including heritage conservation, museums, cultural and creative industries, capacity building and people-to-people exchanges, will be discussed during the conference. The first two days will focus on official-level deliberations, while Culture Ministers and Deputy Ministers will meet over the final two days to reach a consensus before formally endorsing the declaration.
Union Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal said the event would deepen cultural engagement among BRICS nations while highlighting India's artistic traditions and heritage."This event will promote cultural dialogue, strengthen cooperation among BRICS member countries, and showcase India's rich cultural heritage, artistic traditions, and civilisational legacy," Aggarwal told reporters.He said delegations would begin arriving on Wednesday, with the opening day reserved for registration, accreditation, bilateral meetings and visits to exhibitions. Delegates will also visit the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya to witness demonstrations of traditional crafts and tribal culture, followed by a cultural programme.Three exhibitions—Gyan Bharatam, Project Mausam and Project Brihattar Bharat—will be inaugurated at the Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre (Minto Hall) and will remain open to the public throughout the conference, showcasing India's manuscript heritage, maritime links and civilisational connections.

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: Secretary of Ministry of Culture, Vivek Agrawal says, "The third working group meeting of BRICS and the final meeting is a ministerial meeting which will last for four days. On the 5th and 6th, there will be a meeting of officers and on the 7th and 8th,… pic.twitter.com/Jhv7rrIfOu

— IANS (@ians_india) August 4, 2026

The third BRICS Culture Working Group meeting on August 6 will deliberate on the draft ministerial declaration and cooperation in areas such as cultural heritage, museums, creative industries, capacity building and cultural exchanges. Its recommendations will be placed before the Culture Ministers during their meeting on August 8.India will also present two major proposals aimed at institutionalising cultural cooperation within BRICS. The first proposes the creation of a Common BRICS Digital Platform featuring a directory of artists, information on creative industries, and integrated documentation of manuscripts and architectural heritage.The second proposal seeks to promote joint or multinational UNESCO nominations among BRICS countries. Under this initiative, Project Monsoon aims to secure global recognition for the shared Buddhist traditions and temple architecture of Southeast Asian countries through collaborative nominations.
A two-day BRICS Cultural Festival will be held on August 6 and 7 at Ravindra Bhavan, featuring performances by artists from BRICS countries. Highlights include the presentation of the "BRICS Peace Song – Peace is the Language of the Land" and "Amritasya Madhya Pradesh", a cultural performance by more than 125 artists showcasing the state's rich traditions.Delegates will also visit the Tribal Museum, State Museum, Van Vihar, the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sanchi, while an optional visit to the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters has been scheduled for August 9. Special traditional dishes from Madhya Pradesh, including dal bafla, nimona, rikmach, quiya ki sabji, Chambal thopa, chandia, bada, and millet-based kodo and kutki, have also been arranged for the visiting delegates.
Madhya Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary (Culture) Sheo Shekhar Shukla said all preparations for the event had been completed."All arrangements for the event have been completed. The meeting will also provide an opportunity to showcase the state's cultural heritage and tourism potential," Shukla said.Originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, BRICS has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. India is chairing the grouping this year, with the Bhopal meeting expected to further strengthen cultural collaboration among the expanded BRICS membership.