- Cultural leaders of the G20 have met for the second time since Saudi Arabia
  inaugurated the Cultural Ministerial Meeting during its presidency last year 
- The G20 Culture Ministerial Meeting is a leading cultural policy forum for a 
  sector worth US$2.3 trillion globally 
- Saudi Arabia moves forward with its cultural transformation, fostering its 
  domestic creative talent and supporting multilateral efforts to conserve 
  global culture

The second G20 Culture Ministerial Meeting (CMM) has taken place in Rome, 
building on the success of the Saudi-led initiative inaugurated under its 
presidency last year. 

A Ministerial Declaration on culture will be adopted by the G20 members. It is 
expected that Ministers will agree to strengthen rules combatting illicit 
trafficking of cultural property and give greater prominence to the role of 
culture as a driver of climate action, particularly the preservation of 
cultural heritage. They are also likely to promise greater investment in 
culture-related education, training, employment and provide greater access to 
culture online.

In a statement following the meeting, UNESCO celebrated the expected outcomes: 
"Italy has taken important steps with a view to integrating culture on a 
permanent basis in the G20… This dynamic is in line with the historic advance 
achieved at the initiative of Saudi Arabia, which put culture on the G20's 
agenda in 2020."

The CMM is a high-level platform intended to tackle issues of critical 
importance to the global cultural and creative economy, which is estimated to 
be worth US$2.3 trillion. The addition of a cultural pillar to the G20 agenda 
boosts a sector affected by the pandemic more than most, given that G20 members 
represent 60% of the world's population and 80% of global GDP.

The Kingdom was represented by HH Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, 
Minister of Culture, who said: 

"Saudi Arabia celebrates the return of culture to the annual G20 Agenda, 
recognizing the importance of culture in advancing the G20 mission for greater 
global economic cooperation. We thank our Italian hosts for building on the 
momentum generated in Riyadh last year.

"For the last two years, G20 members have discussed the critical importance of 
culture – its preservation and development – as a driver of economic growth.

"Saudi Arabia is seeing the benefits firsthand as we undergo a cultural 
transformation across the Kingdom – from the addition of the Ḥimâ 
Cultural Area as our sixth UNESCO World Heritage Site, to celebrating 
home-grown talent on the global stage at world renowned events, such as the 
Venice Biennale and Cannes Film Festival."

Saudi Arabia, which is undergoing a cultural transformation as part of Vison 
2030, has made great strides towards preserving and developing its cultural 
sector. This includes developing a world-leading center to preserve underwater 
cultural heritage in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf Region, announced at last 
year's CMM, the establishment of new cultural festivals throughout the Kingdom, 
and the creation of new support ecosystems for Saudi creatives.

Saudi Arabia is also supporting other multilateral efforts to conserve global 
culture. In 2019, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Culture signed a Memorandum of 
Understanding with UNESCO to contribute $25 million to the preservation of 
heritage worldwide. The Kingdom invests in initiatives that will enhance 
international cooperation for research and capacity building, education, 
training and to explore the tremendous potential of digitalization in the 
cultural sector.

Notes to Editors: 
UNESCO
-  UNESCO statement: G20 adopts Culture Declaration for the first time 
[https://fr.unesco.org/news/g20-adopte-declaration-culture-premiere-fois#:~:text
=The%20Ministers%20of%20Culture%20of,of%20the%20COVID%2D19%20pandemic]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1585684/G20_Rome.jpg 

SOURCE:  Saudi Arabia Ministry of Culture