BRICS culture ministers adopt Bhopal Declaration to deepen cultural ties

The BRICS Culture Ministers' meeting, held under India's presidency in Bhopal on Saturday, adopted the 'Bhopal Declaration' aimed at strengthening the institutional framework for cultural cooperation among member and partner nations. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced the outcome after the meeting, which saw participation from 14 countries — 10 BRICS members and four partner nations.

The declaration provides a shared roadmap covering both contemporary and traditional areas of culture and heritage. A key focus is cooperation in cultural and creative industries, including the exchange of methodologies, experiences, and best practices. Mr. Shekhawat said the framework will help creators and artists network and expand market access through digital tools.

Another significant element is enhanced cooperation on provenance research and the return and restitution of cultural property. The declaration supports exploring artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled tracing tools to aid these efforts. It also addresses transparency and fair remuneration for creators when copyright-protected works are used in AI systems.

The declaration includes provisions to strengthen collaboration on UNESCO's multinational nomination processes. Mr. Shekhawat explained that while a nation can nominate one heritage site per year, joint nominations by multiple countries are subject to limits. The new framework aims to improve coordination on shared and interconnected cultural heritage.

Safeguarding traditional knowledge systems and cultural expressions is another priority. The declaration also covers cooperation among museums, libraries, and archives in documentary heritage, digitisation, and conservation, alongside protection of creators' rights.

The ministerial meeting followed three Culture Working Group sessions held earlier in 2026. The first meeting took place virtually on 29–30 April, the second in Varanasi on 4–5 June, and the third in Bhopal on 5–6 August. According to a statement from the Union Ministry of Culture, the meetings were part of the BRICS Culture Track under India's chairship.

As a concrete initiative, India announced a pilot Voluntary Artist Registry. The registry is intended to facilitate cultural exchanges, strengthen professional networks, and create more opportunities for artists and creative practitioners across BRICS nations.

A two-day BRICS culture festival was also held in Bhopal on 6 and 7 August, preceding the ministerial meeting. The adoption of the Bhopal Declaration marks a step forward in institutionalising cultural cooperation among the participating countries, with emphasis on shared heritage and creator support in the digital age.