New Swedish Performing Arts 2018/19 1
SWEDISH CULTURAL POLICY The goal of Swedish cultu
ral policy is to promote a lively, independent cultural sector. Cultural policy encompasses the working conditions of creative practitioners, public access to culture in all its forms, and the preservation, use and development of cultural heritage. According to the cultural policy objectives adopted by the Swedish parliament in 2009, culture should be a dynamic, challenging, independent force built on freedom of expression. Everyone should have the opportunity to participate in cultural life. Creativity, diversity and artistic quality should define social development. To fulfil its objectives, cultural policy should promote: – Opportunities for everyone to experience and learn about the arts and to develop their creative abilities – Quality and artistic renewal – Preservation, use and development of a living cultural heritage – International and intercultural exchanges and collaborations – In particular, the right of children and young people to culture The public sector cultural budget totals SEK 27 billion (2016), equivalent to SEK 2,724 per head of the population. In 2018 the central government budget allocation for culture was increased by SEK 745 million. Central government accounts for 44%, local government for 41% and regional government for 15% of the public-sector cultural budget. THE SWEDISH ARTS COUNCIL The Swedish Arts Council (Kulturrådet) is a government agency reporting to the Ministry of Culture. Our mission is to promote the development of and access to culture by distributing and monitoring public funding and through other activities. Specifically, we are tasked with promoting initiatives of artistic and cultural policy value by organisations and practitioners in the following fields: – Theatre, dance, music and other performing arts