Johannesburg: Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has urged the Group of Twenty (G20) countries to invest in culture as a driver for economic growth. During his address at the G20 Culture Working Group Session in Johannesburg, McKenzie emphasized that culture should not be viewed as a luxury or afterthought, but as a catalyst for inclusion, innovation, and meaningful transformation.

According to South African Government News Agency, McKenzie highlighted the role of culture as an economic engine and a tool for justice, innovation, and sustainability. He advocated for integrating culture into global policy-making, stressing that it creates jobs, heals divisions, and embodies the stories and aspirations of people. The Minister also called on the world’s most powerful economies to leverage their influence not only for profit but for the benefit of people, emphasizing cultural, social, and economic justice.

The G20 Culture Working Group will focus on key priorities such as safeguarding and restitution of cultural heritage to protect human rights, integrating cultural policies into socio-economic strategies for inclusive development, and utilizing digital technologies to promote culture and sustainable economies. Additionally, addressing the intersection of culture and climate change to shape a global response is on the agenda. These priorities align with South Africa’s G20 Presidency themes of solidarity, equality, and sustainability.

McKenzie further stated the importance of a community’s ability to tell its story, celebrate its heritage, and speak its language, questioning the true nature of progress if these elements are absent. The commitment to safeguarding cultural rights, promoting diversity, and ensuring equitable access to cultural life aims to create more inclusive societies grounded in dignity, equality, and respect for all.