The Swedish cultural policy objectives are formulated as follows:
Culture is to be a dynamic, challenging and independent force based on the freedom of expression. Everyone is to have the opportunity to participate in cultural life. Creativity, diversity and artistic quality are to be integral parts of society’s development.
To achieve the objectives, Swedish cultural policy is to promote:
- Opportunities for everyone to experience culture, education and develop their creative abilities
- Quality and artistic renewal
- A dynamic cultural heritage that is preserved, used and developed
- International and intercultural exchange and cooperation in the cultural sphere
- Equal access to arts and culture for children and youth
The Ministry of Culture
The Ministry of Culture in Sweden is responsible for issues regarding culture, media, democracy, human rights, minorities, national minorities including Sami culture and language. The ministry also oversees anti-discrimination policy and issues regarding civil society and faith communities, as well as sport and youth.
Swedish Arts Council
The Swedish Arts Council is a government agency founded in 1974. We support arts and culture in many different forms – literature, museums, libraries, performing arts, music, reading promotion, arts, culture in schools, crafts etc. We also provide other services to support the development of arts and culture in Sweden and abroad.
Each year we distribute approximately 2,5 billion SEK for arts and culture. The majority of the funding is distributed to the Swedish regions.
The Swedish Arts Council is based in Stockholm and has a staff of approximately 90 employees.
International activities
The Swedish Arts Council promotes international and intercultural exchange and collaboration across the entire culture field. The agency also promotes the role of culture in strengthening freedom of expression and democratisation internationally.
We support international collaboration and exchanges in performing arts, music, visual arts, design and literature by awarding project grants and yearly working grants to Swedish based organisations.
The agency also promotes internationalisation of Swedish performing arts, by coordinating Swedish presence at international performing arts fairs and conferences, mostly together with the other Nordic countries.
Another government agency, the Swedish Arts Grants Committee (Konstnärsnämnden), provides grants for individual artists and for international collaborations and projects. They also coordinate international programmes and residencies for professionals in art, music, dance and film.