The 4th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting was held in Curitiba, Brazil on October 11, 2019, where ministers from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa gathered to promote cultural activities among BRICS countries. During the meeting, they:

• Recognized the crucial role of creative economy and innovation in driving economic growth and commended Brazil for hosting various cultural events, including the BRICS Exhibition on “Open Borders” and the IV BRICS Film Festival.
• Agreed to implement the Action Plan for Cooperation in the Field of Culture (2017-2021), which aims to strengthen cultural cooperation among BRICS countries.
• Re-affirmed their commitments made in the Declaration of Maropeng, signed during the 3rd BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting in South Africa in 2018.

The meeting resulted in several agreements, including:

• The establishment of a BRICS Culture Working Group, comprising senior officials, to foster greater cooperation between BRICS countries, encourage cooperation in the creative economy, and share knowledge, experience, and best practices in arts, culture, and heritage. The Working Group will organize at least one videoconference per year to review progress and develop terms of reference.
• The continuation of institution-to-institution collaborations among BRICS cultural institutions, such as the BRICS Alliance of Museums, BRICS Alliance of Art Museums and Galleries, BRICS Alliance of Libraries, and the BRICS Alliance for Theatre for Children and Young People. South Africa was commended for hosting the Conference on BRICS Alliance for Theatre for Children and Young People, and India will host the BRICS Joint Exhibition titled “Bonding Regions and Imaging Cultural Synergies” by the end of 2019.
• The promotion of cooperation in the creative economy, recognizing its importance for economic development. This includes discussing a BRICS Film initiative as a platform to promote and develop the film industry in BRICS member states, as well as working together to develop a thorough understanding of the creative economy of BRICS countries.
• The encouragement of collaboration in fashion and design, including support for participation in each other’s premier fashion shows and the hosting of BRICS fashion forums.
• The importance of preserving and conserving cultural heritage, including archeological sites, archives, and the exchange of knowledge, expertise, skills, and technologies in the field.

The meeting concluded with the signing of a declaration, which was executed in five duplicate originals, all of which are equally valid. The ministers expressed their appreciation to the Government of Brazil for hosting the 4th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting.