It is common practice for the outgoing government, while waiting for a new one to take office after a parliamentary election, to present a so-called transitional budget - in many ways an extension of this year’s state budget. Culture’s share of the budget is almost as large as it was in 2026, but is decreasing somewhat because several temporary initiatives are ending and are not being replaced.
In 2026, the culture budget was SEK 9.6 billion. In 2027, the figure is SEK 9.5 billion.
An urgent issue in the cultural sector has been the World Culture Museums’ SEK 35 million shortfall in covering increased rents for the Mediterranean Museum and the Museum of East Asia in Stockholm, which are otherwise threatened with closure. However, the transitional budget does not include any additional funding for this.
Among the temporary initiatives that are not being extended are the state development grant for cultural schools (SEK 100 million) and the promotion of reading in socially disadvantaged areas (SEK 30 million).
What do you think?