Art, culture, sport and voluntary activity enrich a society and are essential to people’s quality of life, sense of community and development. The Government is implementing its Cultural Initiative through targeted measures and a general increase in allocations in the government budget to art, culture and voluntary activity. Allocations for art and cultural purposes will continue to be substantially increased in 2012. The Government’s policy objective is to increase the allocation for culture to 1 per cent of the government budget by 2014.
In the Norwegian national budget for 2012, allocations for culture under the Cultural Initiative amounted to NOK 9.061 billion. The allocation for culture makes up 0.92 per cent of the 2012 national budget, which means that the government is on schedule in terms of reaching its one per cent goal.
The Cultural Initiative gives culture a higher status as a social and policy area. The Government’s vision is that Norway will be a leading cultural nation in which culture is given prominence in all sectors of society. Art and culture have great value in themselves. Investment in this sector has a strong influence on the achievement of other social goals such as business development, employment, integration and inclusion, health, learning and creativity.
Content of the Cultural Initiative 2.0 and main priorities
In 2005, the Red-Green coalition government alternative formed by the Labour Party, the Socialist Left Party and the Centre Party went to the polls promising the implementation of a Cultural Initiative by 2014. With most of the promises now fulfilled, an updated Cultural Initiative, The Cultural Initiative 2.0, is presented below.
Under the Cultural Initiative 2.0, the following areas will have priority up to 2014:
1. One per cent of the government budget to be allocated to culture
All art forms and genres will benefit from the increase. A more equal distribution of culture funds between the counties is to be endeavoured. Reports to the Storting and plans of action from the 2005 – 2009 parliamentary term will be followed up. We will strengthen research on culture.
2. A municipal school of music and the arts that is open to all children
The Government will give municipal schools of music and the arts a boost, with a view to ensure a place for every child who wishes to attend, at a reasonable price. This is to be achieved through governmental stimulus funds and a strong municipal economy. We are also going to look into the development of a more comprehensive model which connects the municipal schools of music and the arts to the school and after-school programme. We will focus on making the municipal schools of music and the arts visible as well as on talent development.
3. Giving voluntary work a boost
Allocate 1 billion NOK to VAT compensation for the voluntary sector and ensure predictable framework conditions for the sector through Norsk Tipping, the state-owned gaming company, and the grass root share scheme, which gives the gamblers the opportunity to give part of their stake to a voluntary organisation of their own choice. Make it easier for voluntary organizations to raise money for themselves. We will cooperate with the voluntary organizations with regards to social inclusion and public health work. There will be a strengthening of the voluntary culture sector. The number of volunteer centres will be increased substantially.
4. Strengthening the libraries and the Norwegian language
Strengthen the libraries as arenas for the love of reading, learning and cultural experiences. Contribute to boosts of quality and competence in the libraries through development grants and model libraries, and by implementing new technology. The purchasing programmes for literature are to be strengthened. Establish a Norwegian language bank. Ensure good conditions for nynorsk. Make 2010 a national year of reading.
5. Support the success for Norwegian film
The goal is for Norway to assume a leading position among the Nordic countries in film, TV drama and documentaries, and that Norwegian films should constitute 25 percent of the cinema market. Norwegian film is to stand out internationally. There is to be a focus on regional film scenes. Another objective is to achieve 40 % women in key positions in Norwegian film.
6. Priority to Norwegian music of all genres
Secure a high-quality and varied supply of concerts across the whole country. Contribute to more Norwegian music being released. The support schemes for music are to be strengthened and developed further. A digital purchase scheme to facilitate access to music via the libraries will be established. We will strengthen the orchestras and ensembles and complete the founding of Northern Norway Symphonic Orchestra. Choirs and bands will be strengthened; one of several measures here is development programmes for conductors.
7. Focus on dance
Support the positive development in Norwegian dance. In this respect, a strengthening of the grant scheme for dance is one of several measures. We will focus on dance talent development. There will be a focus on activity in many varieties of dance across the country. The National Ballet will be strengthened.
8. High-quality opera and theatre venues across the country
We will secure a wide range of high-quality theatre by strengthening the institution theatres, as well as free dramatic art and the theatre festivals. Theatre for children and young people and amateur theatre will be given a boost. The regional and district operas are to be strengthened. The Norwegian Opera is to have international quality and offer opera experiences across the country.
9. Focus on architecture, visual arts and handicraft
Through following up the National Action plan for Architecture, Norwegian architecture and district development will be strengthened. We will focus on visual arts and handicraft through a development of exhibition venues, amongst other things. We will strengthen the grant schemes and facilitate improvement of conditions for young artist in particular. There will be a focus on art in public spaces.
10. Preserve Norwegian cultural heritage
Strengthen the passing on of culture through the museums, e.g. through digitization of cultural heritage. Ensure good conditions for folk music, folk dance and handicraft traditions. The passing on of church culture will be strengthened. Culture will be a central component of the bicentennial celebrations of the Norwegian Constitution in 2014.
11. Culture for life
Den kulturelle spaserstokken, “The Cultural Walking Stick”, is a grant scheme for cultural activities for senior citizens. We will treble the grants for this scheme and make it permanent. Moreover, we will strengthen the Cultural Rucksack and initiate a pilot project with a view to offer professional cultural experiences in kindergartens. We will introduce a youth and student card for discounts for cultural events in all counties. Culture in the workplace will be offered to more people.
12. Secure diversity and equality
Assist in enabling culture and the arts to reflect the diversity of the Norwegian community and follow up on experiences and measures from the Year of Cultural Diversity. Work for equality in all areas of cultural life. Combat genre chauvinism and promote equality between art forms and genres.
13. Sami culture
Sami culture shall be preserved and developed. Through increasing the allocation for culture to the Sami parliament, a Sami cultural initiative will be implemented. The Sami language will be strengthened.
14. Better living conditions for artists
We wish to improve living conditions for artists, with a particular emphasis on income conditions and welfare schemes. Improve the system of grant schemes and support the establishment of a dance and theatre alliance. Secure artists the rights to their own intellectual property. On the basis of this, make use of the opportunities offered by new technology.
15. Increase cultural activity locally
We will be agents for local effort in the cultural sector, a continued strengthening of local government finances being one of several means. Provide for high-quality cultural arenas across the country by increasing allocations to buildings for culture. Contribute to the following-up of the Culture Act. Decentralise decisions and reduce bureaucracy so that more money goes to activities.
16. International cultural efforts
Arrange for more cultural exchange between Norway and other countries.
Cultural work in the High North as well as cultural cooperation between Russia and Norway will be given priority. Culture will be utilized as a means to promoting Norway abroad.
17. Priority to business development and export of culture
Projects in culture and business will be encouraged, as will an increase in private donations to culture. Develop the growth potential in the connections between culture, business and tourism. Enable more artists to make a living from art. Facilitate export of Norwegian culture to an even greater extent.