SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Music House is being shut down – threatening Swedish music life

A house of music was never opened, another was closed down, and at least one more is threatened with closure. The cuts in grants to study associations have now begun to affect Swedish music life. It's a cultural twilight, says Magnus Pejlert at Sensus.

» Published: 01 August 2024

Music House is being shut down – threatening Swedish music life
Photo: Anders Wiklund/TT

Already during the first year with reduced grants to study associations, the effects are being felt in Music Sweden. Malmö was supposed to get a new cultural center with rehearsal rooms, studios, and an instrument workshop. Instead, the entire Study Association Culture's Educational Activities had to shut down due to the government's reduced grants – and thus, there will be no new cultural center in Malmö.

After searching for several years, we finally found a suitable location. But now it won't open as planned. It's clear that it's a major setback for everyone who had hoped and engaged, says Åsa Kratz, Chair of the Study Association Culture.

"Democracy issue"

Right now, rehearsal rooms and other important meeting places for music life are disappearing around the country. In the spring, ABF Umeå region decided to shut down the Music House in Umedalen, one of Umeå's largest and oldest rehearsal rooms. In Luleå, the Music House was saved after five study associations received a joint grant from Luleå municipality.

The Music House in Landskrona is also under threat. It is run by the study association Sensus, which has already had to close offices in different parts of the country, says Magnus Pejlert, music responsible at Sensus.

This is just the first round. We will have to continue cutting. It's a short-sighted budget, a cultural twilight. The infrastructure within music that we and other study associations have built up over a long time is now being rapidly dismantled.

He believes it's a democratic issue to have access to rehearsal rooms around the country.

It shouldn't be that only those who have parents who can afford to convert the garage can form a band. Then, music risks becoming like hockey: only for the middle and upper classes.

Threatening the "Swedish music wonder"

In the long run, Sweden's music life is threatened, according to Joppe Pihlgren, who is the CEO of the industry organization Svensk Live:

The study associations have been a factor in the breeding ground where successful artists, managers, agent companies, and concert organizers have been able to grow and thus contributed to the lucrative Swedish music wonder, he says.

He estimates that the savings the government is now implementing amount to about 0.4 promille of the state budget.

It's nothing. A petty saving that threatens the survival of study associations and the broad music life.

Mats Almegård/TT

Facts: Background

TT

In a series of articles, we are making stops among cultural institutions and cultural practitioners whose activities are threatened by strained finances.

The prerequisites:

The pandemic grants that many cultural institutions received during the pandemic have ceased.

In the wake of the economic crisis, several cultural actors have been hit by increased rents.

The 2023 culture budget resulted in abolished, reduced, or stagnant grants for several cultural actors.

From a political perspective, discussions have been held about increased private financing of culture, which has led to debates about the role and function of culture – as an inherent value in itself or as a driver of growth.

Currently, there are nine state-subsidized study associations in Sweden. This is since Kulturens Bildningsverksamhet discontinued its activities last year.

In 2023, the study associations shared approximately 1.8 billion kronor in grants from the government. In 2024, this grant was reduced by 250 million kronor. Next year, the grants will decrease by 350 million and the year after (2026) by 500 million compared to the 2023 level.

This is part of a reprioritization where more money will instead go to vocational training and folk high schools.

The nine state-subsidized study associations are: ABF – The Workers' Educational Association, Folkuniversitetet, Ibn Rushd Study Association, Medborgarskolan, Nykterhetsrörelsens Bildningsverksamhet, Sensus Study Association, Studiefrämjandet, Study Association Bilda, and Study Association Vuxenskolan.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Hugh Grant wants the police to investigate the tabloids
2 MIN READ

Hugh Grant wants the police to investigate the tabloids

Gothenburg Film Festival Opened
1 MIN READ

Gothenburg Film Festival Opened

Marilyn Manson avoids prosecution
1 MIN READ

Marilyn Manson avoids prosecution

The Museum Director Sounds the Alarm: "The Louvre is Falling Apart"
1 MIN READ

The Museum Director Sounds the Alarm: "The Louvre is Falling Apart"

Bonnier withdraws Snyder's "About Freedom"
1 MIN READ

Bonnier withdraws Snyder's "About Freedom"

Agri Ismail Can Get Debutant Prize
1 MIN READ

Agri Ismail Can Get Debutant Prize

Call to Action for Linde and Farrokhzad - "Shocked"
1 MIN READ

Call to Action for Linde and Farrokhzad - "Shocked"

Winnerbäck and Kraftwerk to Stockholm Festival
1 MIN READ

Winnerbäck and Kraftwerk to Stockholm Festival

Film Elite Upset over Minister's Absence
1 MIN READ

Film Elite Upset over Minister's Absence

Film-inspired Kneecap to Way Out West
1 MIN READ

Film-inspired Kneecap to Way Out West

The Government wants to ban IPTV – prohibition is being investigated
2 MIN READ

The Government wants to ban IPTV – prohibition is being investigated

The Movies You Must See at the Gothenburg Festival
2 MIN READ

The Movies You Must See at the Gothenburg Festival

Alfredson on his Oscar miss: "It is what it is"
2 MIN READ

Alfredson on his Oscar miss: "It is what it is"

Junior Lerin confirmed for "Let's Dance"
1 MIN READ

Junior Lerin confirmed for "Let's Dance"

The Jury is Selected – Trial Against Asap Rocky Begins
2 MIN READ

The Jury is Selected – Trial Against Asap Rocky Begins

"Lost" Tina Turner Song Rediscovered
1 MIN READ

"Lost" Tina Turner Song Rediscovered

Lifts Stolen Music – Receives Bindefeld Scholarship
3 MIN READ

Lifts Stolen Music – Receives Bindefeld Scholarship

Swedish Documentary Filmmaker: A Little Shocked
1 MIN READ

Swedish Documentary Filmmaker: A Little Shocked

The Swedish director: It's fucking incredible!
1 MIN READ

The Swedish director: It's fucking incredible!

Swedish Director Oscar-Nominated
3 MIN READ

Swedish Director Oscar-Nominated