The G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Culture took place in Naples, Italy, from September 19 to 21, 2024.

Two key documents were adopted at this occasion:

• The Ministerial Declaration – Culture, common good of humanity, common responsibility (20 September 2024). Through this Declaration, the G7 Culture Ministers agreed on principles and concomitant actions in four areas, including on: Protecting and promoting cultural identities, and on Culture and Creativity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.
• The Naples Statement – Culture for the sustainable development of Africa and the world (21 September 2024). The Naples Statement was adopted at the occasion of the G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Culture Special Session by the Culture leaders of the African Union, Brazil, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, together with the Heads of UNESCO, the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) and the African Development Bank. They expressed their intention to:
  • ‘work with African governments to leverage culture as a key driver of sustainable development’ (para. 9) […] and ‘support efforts to boost cultural and creative sectors and industries […] (para. 11)
  • ‘promote the inclusion of culture as a standalone goal in future discussions on how to advance sustainable development beyond 2030.’ (para. 13).

International Reactions

UNESCO also welcomed the G7 Declaration of Culture Ministers, quoting Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant Director-General for Culture: ‘The adoption of the G7 Declaration is a clear commitment to culture by the world leaders. Cultural rights must be protected, asserted, and promoted at the highest level of policy and decision-making.’