Ministerial Meetings

Inter-American Meetings of Ministers of Culture and Highest Appropriate Authorities

The process of Inter-American Meetings of Ministers of Culture and Highest Appropriate Authorities forms part of the main mission of the Department of Education and Culture, that of promoting policy dialogue and consensus at hemispheric level on priority topics of the public policy agenda in the field of culture. All of the above within the framework of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development of the OAS (CIDI).

The First Meeting was called in response to a mandate from the Summit of the Americas of Quebec, and was held on July 12 - 13, 2002 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. This meeting brought to fruition OAS Member States' desire to create a common space that would allow them to establish priorities and hemispheric plans of action within the field of culture. For More information >>

The Second Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Culture and Highest Appropriate Authorities took place in Mexico City on August 23 - 24, 2004. On that occasion discussion focused on the place that culture occupies in social development and economic integration in the Americas. Regarding this question, Ministers analyzed and discussed three main topics:

•  Culture as an engine for economic growth, employment and development.
•  Challenges faced by cultural industries.
•  Culture as a tool of social cohesion and fight against poverty.
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The Third Ministerial Meeting was held on November 13 - 15, 2006 in Montreal, Canada and it focused on four main topics:

•  Preservation and presentation of cultural heritage
•  Culture and the creation of decent jobs and the overcoming of poverty.
•  Culture and the enhancement of the dignity and identity of our people.
•  Culture and the role of indigenous peoples.
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