The G7 Culture meeting will be held in Naples from September 20 to 21, 2024. The meeting program also includes a stop in Pompeii.

Officially in its second edition, following the first edition held in Florence in 2017, the G7 Culture will be held in Naples and will also have a stop in Pompeii. The G7 Ministers of Culture meeting, chaired by Italy, will be held at the Royal Palace in Naples.  At this meeting, issues such as “Climate change, the impact of artificial intelligence, reconstruction and preservation of Ukraine’s cultural heritage and sustainable development in Africa” ​​will be discussed. 

The program includes a first day devoted to topical issues. In particular, ministers will discuss support for Ukraine in protecting and reconstructing its cultural heritage, the impact of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, on the creative industries, and the fight against the illicit trade in artworks. The effects of climate change on cultural heritage, a topic of growing importance, will also be addressed.

On the second day, September 21, G7 members will engage with the Presidency and Commission of the African Union and other international partners on the opportunities culture offers to foster sustainable development on the African continent. The meeting will promote collaborations and training projects that benefit African cultural institutions. Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Edmondo Cirielli will introduce the discussion. Representatives from Brazil, India and Greece will also participate, as well as the heads of organisations such as UNESCO, ICCROM and the African Development Bank.

In addition to institutional engagements, the program also includes several cultural visits. On September 19, the G7 delegations will stop at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples and attend a performance by young artists from the San Pietro a Majella Conservatory. The next day, it will be Pompeii’s turn: the Pompeii Archaeological Park will host a Nuova Orchestra Scarlatti concert conducted by Beatrice Venezia in the ancient city’s arena. And this is despite the controversy on the eve of the event, which is continuing: M5S members in the culture committee have already asked Minister Giuli to review the decision to entrust the concert to Beatrice Venezi because of her position as a consultant to the Ministry of Culture (the same entity organises the concert).