Cities of Refuge 1
Checklist: During the residency period – Arrange
national registration with the Swedish Tax Agency. NOTE: When applying for a personal identity number from the Swedish Tax Agency, always apply for the artist in residence to be given a confidentiality marking. – Payment of scholarship. Plan for an alternative way of paying the first month’s scholarship, since it can take a few weeks before a Swedish personal identity number and bank account can be arranged. – When the Swedish personal identity number has been granted, open a bank account. – Register the artist with the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. – Offer Swedish language instruction to the artist and any accompanying family members. – Arrange preschool and school for accompanying children. – Be observant in case the artist needs to contact a psychologist or psychiatrist. – Provide information about the task of the city and its sphere of responsibility. – If the artist wishes, make an activity plan together for the inaugural period. – Help the artist to orient him/herself geographically in the city and show them the basic public services. – Arrange contact and membership with organisations such as Swedish PEN, the Swedish Writers’ Union, the Swedish Society of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, the Swedish Writers’ Union etc. – If possible, and if it would be appreciated, organise meetings with nearby colleagues/organisers/artists in residence/politicians. – Provide industry information about scholarships, project grants, publishers, newspapers and magazines etc. – Keep in touch. Even an artist that wants to avoid publicity needs social contacts. – Provide information about opportunities that are available for staying in Sweden after the refuge term. Ask whether the artist would like to plan for that already or if you should consider the subject later. – If the artist already knows that he/she wishes to stay in Sweden and perhaps even where to live, explore the possibilities of having the artist join a housing queue. – If the artist wishes to work with their art, see if it is possible for them to start a company and assist them with contacts in order for the artist to be able to do so. 30/49