The National Association of Sweden's Art Associations reacts to the fact that the government is not allocating more money to the art sector.
”The result? Fewer exhibitions, reduced opening hours and a hard blow to the arts – especially outside the major cities”, the association writes in a comment.
It is mainly about the fact that the government's budget lacks funding for the increased compensation that visual artists are to have according to a new agreement.
”The Artists' Centre welcomes increased compensation to visual artists, who have the lowest income in comparison with other cultural areas, but the state must also take responsibility for its own decisions", says Anna Ridderstad, chairman of the Artists' Centre in a comment.
Erosion
The County Museums point out that the budget means a continued erosion of culture in the country. Tornedalsteatern also claims that the government is undermining the activities due to the lack of resources.
The theatre is now interrupting its work on a reconciliation process between the state and the minority, as it has to focus on the core business locally and regionally.
”With the current state subsidy, the theatre has no opportunity to maintain a professional level on the artistic parts of the business. There is also no opportunity to be a national stage for Tornedalians, Quaynes and Lantalaiset”, the theatre writes in a statement.
Divided
Gunnar Ardelius, Secretary General of the Swedish Museums, is more divided on the cultural budget. He is pleased with the investment in the so-called foundation museums and that the government is allocating money to investigate a national museum card.
At the same time, we want a vital and living museum sector throughout the country – and the investments in the county museums are lacking. More needs to be invested here, says Ardelius to TT.
Looking at the entire cultural budget, it has a lower share of the government's total budget for 2026 than it has had since the year 2000. We would like to see a more offensive cultural policy, now that we have a society in change and major investments are being made in other areas.
