UK ministers backed the KwaDukuza Declaration on Culture adopted on 29 October 2025 at the G20 Culture Working Group ministerial in Zimbali, KwaZulu‑Natal. The UK was represented by DCMS minister Stephanie Peacock, who supported collective action on the creative economy, digital culture, safeguarding and climate‑related heritage risks.
Peacock’s remarks reiterated support for multilateral cooperation through the G20, UNESCO and the British Council, alongside practical backing for professionals who work and tour internationally. She noted that artificial intelligence and wider digital transition are changing how culture is created, distributed and valued, and said the UK would collaborate to shape an inclusive, resilient and sustainable digital environment for culture.
Two treaty milestones framed the meeting. The United Kingdom deposited its instrument of ratification of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage on 7 March 2024, with entry into force on 7 June 2024. South Africa deposited on 24 January 2025, with entry into force on 24 April 2025. The speech referenced these steps to underline commitments to living heritage.
South Africa’s presidency confirmed the KwaDukuza Declaration sets a cooperation framework covering heritage protection, strengthening the creative economy, cultural diversity and dialogue. Guiding themes include safeguarding and restitution, linking cultural policy to socio‑economic strategies, use of digital technologies, and the culture–climate interface. The full text is to be published by South Africa’s Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
For the UK sector, these signals align with the government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan. Ministers announced an initial £60 million package on 17 January 2025, followed by a £380 million package on 23 June 2025 for R&D, access to finance, skills and regional growth. The British Business Bank has also been directed to increase its backing for creative SMEs as part of the wider industrial strategy.
Touring and export remain a stated priority. Government messaging around the meeting sat alongside schemes such as the Music Export Growth Scheme, which has been expanded to help emerging artists reach new markets and support international operations.
The speech also highlighted the custodial role of institutions. Peacock cited the British Library’s Endangered Archives Programme as having undertaken 130 projects across Africa. More broadly, the programme reports more than 400 projects across 90 countries with freely accessible digital collections, indicating preservation at scale that complements UK policy objectives.
Climate risk featured prominently. DCMS’s International Cultural Heritage Protection (ICHP) programme works with partners including the British Council on climate, conflict and serious organised crime strands. Recent activity includes Withstanding Change, a Cultural Protection Fund project that has restored or protected six sites across Egypt, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Jordan, with additional funding extending the work into 2026.
Countering the illicit trafficking of cultural property is a parallel focus. The ICHP has supported OSCE training to establish a heritage crime task force in Ukraine and launched a UNODC partnership in 2024 to strengthen investigation and prosecution capacities in Egypt and Lebanon. These strands mirror the declaration’s call for stronger coordination.
On digital culture and AI, the UK framed priorities around access, participation and inclusion while recognising the pace of technological change. South Africa used the ministerial platform to spotlight fairness for online creators and greater algorithm transparency-issues likely to inform future G20 workstreams.
UK ratification of the 2003 Convention brings domestic delivery tasks. DCMS has published consultation material and a response confirming a community‑based approach to building inventories, following 16 online roundtables and more than 1,100 survey responses. Implementation will shape identification, nominations and safeguarding measures across the UK.
The KwaDukuza outcomes will feed into the November 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit and the handover to the 2026 United States presidency. For UK cultural bodies, the direction is clear: expect deeper multilateral programmes on heritage protection, digital culture and the creative economy, with domestic delivery linked to the Sector Plan and international funds.