In a series of meetings leading up to the G20 summit, South Africa has placed cultural heritage, social and economic strategies, digital technology, and climate action firmly on the agenda.

At the fourth G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) Ministerial Session in Zimbali on Monday, the group’s chairperson Lisa Combrinck said significant progress has been achieved in the meetings.

Combrinck reflected on the four key priorities: safeguarding and restitution of cultural heritage to protect human rights; integrating cultural policies into socio-economic strategies for inclusive, rights-based development; harnessing digital technologies for the protection and promotion of culture and sustainable economies; and exploring the intersection of culture and climate change in shaping global responses.

Regarding the first priority on cultural heritage, Combrinck said there has been discussion around cultural restitution. 

“African countries and the AU (African Union) in particular are championing those kinds of issues, the return of cultural goods, artefacts, and of human remains. That has really come to the fore in the discussions,” Combrinck said. 

She said there has also been debate around the second priority, which involves social and economic strategies and culture’s relation to sustainable development. 

Combrinck said a crucial issue that has gained prominence is the value of creative work and whether individuals employed in cultural and creative industries are truly engaged in decent work and jobs.

She asked what could be done to make their jobs more permanent and less precarious.

Combrinck said there has also been discussion about initiatives such as fair trade, fair pay, and a fair culture movement.

“Even today, in these particular proceedings, we’re still going to discuss agreed-upon language for those particular things. We’re still trying to find common ground around it,” Combrinck said.

On the issues of digital space and the field of digital technologies, Combrinck said it has been a significant topic of discussion in recent weeks. 

“A lot of the discussion has been around the effects of AI and what happens under conditions where AI runs rampant, and the need for an ethical AI, the need to maintain and retain human-centric, human-centred, human development,” Combrinck said. 

She said the ultimate priority is cultural action to mitigate the effects of climate change.

“There are particular concerns by the museum sector on what climate change is doing to the actual museums, to the infrastructure, but also to what is inside them. That is something that has really seized our attention,” Combrinck said. 

“The whole question of climate adaptation strategies, national plans, and international frameworks has come to the fore. Some are relatively new issues. Some of these issues came to the fore last year in Brazil with Salvador de Bahia’s leaders, with the cultural ministers’ declaration.” 

Combrinck said South Africa’s presidency has seen agreements reached but there are still disagreements.

“So only time will tell, the next few hours, the next two days, as to whether we succeed in our endeavours, but either way, we leave a rich legacy for the next presidency of the G20,” Combrinck said. 

“As South Africa, as a cultural working group, we are also going to be launching a publication tomorrow (Tuesday) that really highlights the work, the main issues, and the concerns of the cultural working group.”

thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za 

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