The budget for the area of culture totals approximately SEK 6.7 billion for 2012. The budget for culture has increased by some SEK 730 million since 2006. This corresponds to an increase of about 12 per cent. Between 2011 and 2012, the budget will increase by SEK 179 million, which corresponds to 2.8 per cent. The culture budget's share of the overall central government budget amounts to 0.82 per cent.
Increased support to cultural activities throughout the country
The Government will increase state support to regional cultural activities by a total of SEK 75 million in 2012-2014. Support for regional cultural activities totals SEK 1 278 million.
The increased support will target activities that renew and develop the area of culture as regards both artistic expression and innovative ways of making culture accessible and spreading it to new and broader audiences. Among other things, it will create better conditions for the cultural cooperation model introduced in 2011.
The cultural cooperation model is a new way of distributing certain government funding to regional cultural activities. From 2011 onwards the counties of Skåne, Västra Götaland, Halland and Norrbotten and Gotland Municipality are included in the model, which means that the relevant county and municipal councils can allocate parts of government funding to regional cultural activities. The Swedish Arts Council is responsible for the county-level allocation of funds.
"The cultural cooperation model means that culture is brought closer to citizens. Regional priorities and variations gain a greater impact, which has led to increased commitment to culture in the regions. Alongside the increased support now being offered, this means better prospects of achieving the culture policy objectives," says Minister for Culture Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth.
One condition for inclusion in the model is that the county council has produced a regional culture plan. This plan is to be drawn up in collaboration with the municipalities in the county and in dialogue with civil society and professional artists. Preparations are under way in eleven counties to take part in the model from 2012 onwards.
Boost for Cultural Heritage
There is a great need to build up knowledge about and preserve the cultural heritage and cultural environment, and to make them accessible. A tailor-made labour market initiative, the Boost for Cultural Heritage, will therefore be implemented between 2012 and 2014.
Support will be available to regional and municipal cultural institutions, as well as to state institutions and other actors that conduct activities in, or connected to, the area of cultural heritage, such as non-profit organisations. It will be provided for measures aimed at knowledge-building, preservation and accessibility. This could include digitalising collections and archive material, or restoring cultural sites.
This is a new initiative that provides opportunities for actors in the area of cultural heritage to employ professional supervisors with relevant training. The initiative is intended for those who have a particularly weak attachment to the labour market after having left the sickness insurance system following an extended period of time and who have a disability that entails an impaired capacity to work. The Government estimates that a total of 4 400 positions funded by wage subsidies will be created in the next three years.
"The Boost for Cultural Heritage means that we can take important measures to preserve and present cultural heritage. At the same time it offers an opportunity for people who are particularly detached from the labour market to find meaningful employment and a way back into work. It is also pleasing that the Boost for Cultural Heritage will provide more jobs for culture professionals in the area of cultural heritage," says Ms Adelsohn Liljeroth.
The Swedish National Heritage Board will be tasked with administering the initiative together with other relevant government agencies in the area of culture. The Government estimates that a total of SEK 270 million will be allocated to the Swedish National Heritage Board from expenditure area 14 - The labour market and working life.
Enhanced support to music and initiatives targeting the independent performing arts
The Government will provide an additional SEK 26 million to the independent performing arts from 2012.
SEK 16 million of these funds will specifically target music, of which SEK 2 million is intended for an initiative for international exchanges in the music sector. Support to independent performing arts will be reinforced overall with SEK 10 million, of which SEK 1 million is intended for international activities.
Earlier this year, the Government also approved a special gender equality initiative in the music sector totalling SEK 8 million between 2011 and 2014, which Music Development and Heritage Sweden is implementing, together with the Swedish Arts Council and the Swedish Arts Grants Committee.
The independent music sector is important for artistic development, access to a broad selection of music throughout the country, and for the promotion of Swedish music internationally. The closure of Concerts Sweden means that funds will be freed up and targeted directly to the independent music sector. Grants will be awarded via the Swedish Arts Council, the Swedish Arts Grants Committee, and Music Development and Heritage Sweden.
Umeå European Capital of Culture 2014
Along with Riga in Latvia, Umeå has been named European Capital of Culture for 2014. The municipality has started work on a programme based on the eight Sami seasons. The programme is based on a range of programme areas encompassing a variety of forms of artistic and cultural expression, as well as tourism, outdoor activities and sport. The programme also has a strong focus on gender equality. For the artistic aspects of the programme, the Government intends to task the Swedish Arts Council and other agencies and institutions with providing active support for the European Capital of Culture year.
"The European Capital of Culture year is important for the entire country. From a culture policy perspective it is therefore important to send a clear signal to the Swedish Arts Council and other agencies now to get actively involved and support the artistic parts of the programme. The Government will assign tasks to the government agencies in the area of culture. Along with the expansion of and increased support to the cultural cooperation model, there are good prospects for active government involvement in the European Capital of Culture year," says Ms Adelsohn Liljeroth.
Extra allocation to Sveriges Radio, Sveriges Television and Sveriges Utbildningsradio
The total allocation for the three broadcasting companies Sveriges Television (SVT), Sveriges Radio (SR) and Sveriges Utbildningsradio (UR) for 2012 is SEK 6 989.3 million. In addition, a special allocation of SEK 100 million is proposed from the Broadcasting Account to make the SVT, SR and UR archives accessible to the public.
The Government proposes that SR, SVT and UR receive a total of SEK 100 million in additional funds from the Broadcasting Account in 2012 to make their archives accessible. The broadcasting companies' archives contain a rich cultural heritage consisting of radio and TV broadcasts dating back several decades. It is important that these archives are made accessible to the public, although this entails considerable costs. Generally speaking, it is more costly to make TV broadcasts accessible than radio broadcasts. Of the extra allocation, the Government proposes that SEK 60 million be allocated to SVT, SEK 32 million to UR and SEK 8 million to SR.