Brasil and OEI lead Ibero-American Countries’ proposals to the Culture WG

In addition to the “International Seminar on Public Policies for the Creative Economy: G20 + Ibero-America”, which took place alongside the final technical meeting of the Working Group, the first meeting of Ibero-American Vice Ministers on the creative economy was held on Friday (9). Over the next two years, the Forum will be presided by Brasil.

Based on the assumption that more voices and proposals heard result in a higher quality of debate, the coordination of the Culture Working Group (WG) during the Brazilian presidency of the G20 and in collaboration with the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science, and Culture (OEI), the Ministry of Culture of Brasil (MinC) decided to integrate representations of the G20 members to those of the countries of the American continent in which Portuguese or Spanish are the predominant languages.

In addition to the “International Seminar on Public Policies for the Creative Economy: G20 + Ibero-America”, which took place alongside the final technical meeting of the Working Group, the first meeting of Ibero-American Vice Ministers on the creative economy was held on Friday (9). The meeting represents a milestone in establishing common understandings and projects between Latin American countries. A total of 13 countries attended the event, including Spain and Portugal as guests, in addition to international partner entities. 

Among the OEI proposals welcomed by mutual agreement is the establishment of the Ibero-American Program for Cultural and Creative Industries, which is structured around two axes: creative economy and copyrights. “These two key fields encompass very important challenges, both in generating data and knowledge about the cultural economy, and in ensuring fair and adequate compensation for our creators, especially in the current context of the digital economy,” stated the Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Culture (MinC) Marcio Tavares, who presided over the meeting.

“There are other G20 colleagues here who have also joined the program: Argentina, Spain, Mexico, and Portugal have been engaging in these discussions. During the seminar, we had Ibero-American participants as well as those of other G20 countries exchanging ideas, and that will enrich the conceptual note and the charter to be signed by the Ministers in November in Salvador, during our ministerial meeting. Without a doubt, with more points of view, there will be a greater wealth of cultural contributions, promoting this diverse and participatory vision that President Lula’s leadership of the G20 has demanded us to adopt at the Culture Working Group as well,” added Tavares, referring to the cooperation between Ibero-America and the G20 on the creative economy agenda.

Forum of Vice Ministers for the Creative Economy

The main outcome is the agreement to formalize the body through the announcement of the Forum of Vice Ministers for the Creative Economy which, over the next two years, will be presided by Brasil. During the pro-tempore presidency, the country becomes responsible for promoting the meetings and monitoring the initiatives that have been agreed upon, which should lead to the creation of programs and the promotion of financial support to culture makers. Through the Forum, the countries will be able to structure longer-lasting policies and actions, focusing on strategies for generating wealth and income in society, based on the creative economy.

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