That the share of culture in the budget is lower than in 26 years is due to the fact that the budget this year is unusually high, according to Parisa Liljestrand (The Moderate Party).
But Lawen Redar, cultural policy spokesperson for the Social Democrats, feels that the Minister of Culture does not fight for culture in times when its importance also increases.
I think it's wise to take initiatives that deal with how to promote a diversity of funding bases. But what happens is that such an investigation has been appointed at the expense of fighting for public funding of culture.
Noticeable
According to Lawen Redar, the budget hits the country hard - not least because folk education has lost a total of half a billion over three years.
It is very noticeable in parts of the country that are not Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö, she says.
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 hit to the art - especially outside the big cities", the association writes in a comment.
It's mainly about the budget lacking funding for the increased compensation that visual artists are supposed to have according to a new agreement.
Erosion
The county museums point out that the budget means a continued erosion of culture in the country - and the theaters are also affected.
Tornedalsteatern claims that the government is cutting them off and is now interrupting their work on a reconciliation process between the state and the minority, to focus on the core business.
"With the current state grant, the theater 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, Quayners, and Lantalaiset", the theater writes in a statement.
Divided
Gunnar Ardelius, Secretary General of the Swedish Museums, is more divided. He is pleased with the investment in the so-called foundation museums and that the government is investigating 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 missing. Here, more needs to be invested, says Ardelius to TT.
We would like to see a more offensive cultural policy, now that we have a society in change and large investments are being made in the rest.
Lawen Redar, however, appreciates the reading promotion efforts.
Some of the proposals that the Minister of Culture exemplified today are good, but the whole is insufficient.
