The cultural center Gjuteriet in Karlstad is in limbo, waiting for the municipality to make a decision on a note of several million kronor. Something that risks putting the operation into bankruptcy.
It exceeds everything we can handle, says Gjuteriet's chairman Lennart Wettmark.
In a brick building in central Karlstad, around 20 cultural associations are housed. Film, dance, and theater are some of the items on the menu, and hundreds of children are taught music every week. But the stage lights in the old industrial building risk being extinguished.
The property was built in 1913, and the building's age is now taking its toll. Ventilation and sewage have been condemned, and due to a 40-year-old contract, Gjuteriet has ended up in an impossible situation.
Run ideologically
In the mid-80s, Karlstad Municipality and the cultural association Karlstad entered into a land lease agreement regarding the property. When it was signed, no one foresaw future renovations for millions.
But that's the situation now, and due to the agreement, the association, which is run ideologically, cannot take out a loan on the property to gather the required funds.
It exceeds everything we can handle. It can't be reasonable to expect an ideological association to take care of maintenance in that way, when it's such sums, says Lennart Wettmark.
Gjuteriet receives around one million kronor in support from the municipality per year, but it's money that's intended to subsidize the rents for the activities in the house – it's not earmarked for maintenance.
No matter how they turn and twist it, the calculation doesn't add up, says Wettmark. And then Gjuteriet is facing a real bankruptcy threat.
"Expressed support"
Now the cultural association hopes that the municipality will take the note, or that the agreement will be changed. And Lennart Wettmark is cautiously optimistic. The municipality has set up an investigation, whose results will be presented in the fall.
Gjuteriet's board hopes to stay in the same premises.
Moving our operation to another house or something like that, we believe would be a blow. We've grown together over these 40 years, so it's also something that you'd be breaking if you start poking too much into it, says Wettmark.
In the best of worlds, the municipality takes over the operation of the property, he says.
So that we can focus on the content, to run the operation as best as possible. Because that's what we want most. But then it's about the municipality's economy and how they prioritize within the municipality. But we think our operation is very important.
In a series of articles, we're making stops among cultural institutions and cultural practitioners whose operations are threatened by strained economies.
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 cultural budget resulted in abolished, reduced, or stagnant grants for several cultural actors.
From a political standpoint, 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 an engine for growth.
Gjuteriet is a former industrial building that offers workspace to a range of Karlstad's different cultural associations within various interest areas.
About 20 associations rent their own permanent offices or meeting rooms, there are rehearsal rooms for amateur theaters, photo labs, video workshops, community radio studios, and more.
Additionally, among others, Studiefrämjandet operates in the property.
