The 11th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting took place in Bhopal, bringing together industry leaders from BRICS member states and partner countries. Belarus was represented by Deputy Culture Minister Sergei Sarakach. The business program allowed participants to exchange views on issues of mutual interest, national experience in the field of culture, priorities, and views on specific areas of cooperation.
Discussions covered various issues, including the impact of artificial intelligence on creative industries, the protection of cultural heritage, and the repatriation of cultural property.
The BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting concluded with the adoption of a declaration in which the parties agreed to develop cooperation in the field of restitution of cultural property. Another practical outcome was an initiative of the Indian presidency to create a pilot voluntary register of BRICS artists.
In his speech, Sergei Sarakach noted that Belarus is ready to contribute to the development of cultural cooperation with BRICS countries. He also emphasized that the role of culture in preserving peace, harmony, and friendship is invaluable. «In the cultural space, trust is established more quickly, and important political and economic problems are often more easily resolved. Intercultural dialogue, which becomes a dialogue between people and nations, takes on particular significance and helps promote shared values and ideals, strengthening the integrative foundations of the commonwealth of states. We are developing by enriching each other’s cultures with new forms of creativity that emerge on the basis of the richest cultural heritage of our peoples,» the deputy minister emphasized.
In international cultural cooperation, the country consistently embodies the principle: Through art to peace and mutual understanding, the importance of which has been repeatedly emphasized by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. At the same time, respect for the sovereignty, laws, traditions, and cultural specificities of each nation remains the foundation of interaction, Sergei Sarakach added.
Among the prominent examples of cultural dialogue are the International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk and the Minsk International Film Festival Listapad. Belarus is focusing on expanding creative and educational exchanges, hosting Days of National Cultures and National Cinema, supporting young talents, and cooperating in the protection and restoration of historical and cultural heritage. «We see great prospects for cooperation in the field of cinematography,» Sergei Sarakach said. «The vast experience of BRICS filmmakers makes it possible to create joint cinematic projects at a high professional and artistic level.»
