In the Budget Bill for 2017, the Government is investing in better conditions for culture by strengthening the performing arts and increasing the public lending right. The purpose of the Government’s increased investments is to provide more culture for more people throughout the country.
The initiatives are part of the Budget Bill for 2017, which is based on an agreement between the government parties and the Left Party.
SEK 259 million to strengthen music throughout the country
The Government is strengthening the performing arts by providing a total of SEK 259 million in 2017–2020. This reinforcement is intended to secure a broad range of high-quality music and good access to music activities throughout the country. In this way, culture will be able to reach more people. The main part of this reinforcement will be distributed within the cultural cooperation model. The Swedish Arts Council and the county councils will therefore pay particular attention to music in their grant allocation. Part of the reinforcement will also be allocated to the Royal Opera and Drottningholms Slottsteater.
In addition to this investment in music, the Government is strengthening the entire cultural cooperation model by providing a total of SEK 120 million in 2017–2020.
Better conditions for cultural creators
The Government's agreement with authors' organisations will mean a significant reinforcement of the public lending right also in 2017. The public lending right was raised this year as well.
For 2017, the total public lending right is expected to amount to approximately SEK 156.8 million, which is an increase of SEK 7.8 million compared to 2016. The appropriation for compensation and grants to artists will be almost SEK 15 million higher next year than in 2016. The appropriation will total SEK 395.5 million.
Individual cultural creators are important parts of cultural life. To retain a living and vibrant cultural life, it is important for all cultural creators to have reasonable working conditions. The Government sees a continued need to analyse and review the conditions for cultural creators.