Culture

The Government intends to proceed with the proposal to allow the use of vaccination certificates at public gatherings and public functions from 1 December 2021. The aim is to limit the spread of the virus among unvaccinated people in particular by preventing them from gathering in large groups, while public gatherings and public functions can continue to receive visitors.

Gothenburg has been admitted to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the field of literature. It will be Sweden’s third city in the UNESCO network.

The Government’s Music Export Prize for extraordinary services to Swedish music exports in 2020 goes to Oscar Holter. The Government’s 2020 Special Prize for long-standing contributions to Swedish music exports goes to Ale Möller. The Government’s 2020 Honourable Mention for achievements of particular importance to the internationalisation of Swedish music goes to the duo Sunshine.

The Government’s Music Export Prize is awarded every year to an artist who has been internationally successful during the preceding year and has contributed to Swedish musical export success and to a positive image of Sweden. The winner will be announced by Minister for Foreign Trade and Nordic affairs Anna Hallberg.

The government has previously presented a plan for how the advice and restrictions introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are to be adapted and removed. At a press conference on 7 September, the government announced that restrictions on attendance numbers at public gatherings and events are planned to be removed as of 29 September 2021.

The Government has today decided to allow Nationalmuseum to transfer the painting The Lamentation of Christ by the School of Lucas Cranach the Elder (inventory number NM 6344) to Muzeum Narodowe we Wrocławiu (National Museum in Wrocław) in Poland.

The Government previously presented a plan for adapting and phasing out the restrictions put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At a press conference on Monday, June 28 2021, it was announced that a number of restrictions will be lifted as of 1 July 2021, in line with stage 2 of the Government’s plan.

The Government proposes that the area of culture be allocated an additional SEK 750 million for extended emergency support and incentives in 2021 to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and facilitate the resumption of activities once the situation allows. The proposal is based on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

The Government intends to introduce new financial support to organisers of events planned for period July–December 2021 that cannot be held or must be greatly limited due to the restrictions resulting from the spread of COVID-19. The proposal means that the State will cover part of the financial risk. The design of the support is currently being prepared at the Government Offices, and the Government intends to present the details at a later date. This is based on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

The Government proposes that the area of culture be allocated an additional SEK 1.28 billion for emergency support and incentives in 2021 to mitigate the economic impact of the spread of COVID-19 and to facilitate a restart of activities once the situation allows. The proposal is based on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

Businesses that are unable to operate as a result of a closure decision under the new Pandemic Act will be able to receive financial support to cover their fixed costs during the closure. Up to 100 per cent of the costs will be reimbursed. The proposal is based on an agreement between the Government, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

The Government has decided that as a general rule, it is now prohibited to organise public gatherings and events with more than eight participants. The aim is to counter the spread of COVID-19.

To address the crowding that has been seen in nightclubs, the Government has decided that public dance events for more than 50 people will once again be prohibited. The Government has also adopted a new exemption from the ordinance, allowing public gatherings and public events with a maximum of 300 seated attendees, rather than the 500 previously discussed. The changes come into effect on 1 November.

Today, 23 October, the Government’s 2019 Cultural and Creative Industries Export Prize was awarded to Goodbye Kansas Studios. The rising star award went to Rave Review.

The Government’s prize for extraordinary services to Swedish music exports in 2019 has been awarded to the rock band Ghost. The Government’s 2019 Special Prize for long-standing contributions to Swedish music exports has gone to Marie Dimberg.

The Government proposes the following investments in culture in the additional amending budget, the autumn amending budget and the Budget Bill for 2021. The Government’s proposals are based on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

During the spring, the Government, the Centre Party and the Liberals presented several crisis packages to support culture in response to the new coronavirus. The proposals included SEK 500 million for event organisers and independent artists to mitigate the economic impact of the crisis.

The Government, the Centre Party and the Liberals are proposing an investment of SEK 150 million to strengthen cultural life and the cultural infrastructure across Sweden in 2020. The funding will be allocated via the Swedish Cultural Cooperation Model - a model for cooperation and funding of culture between the Government, regions and municipalities.

The Government has taken a decision on how the SEK 500 million crisis package to culture is to be allocated and on the terms of the support, including by adopting a new ordinance on state aid for cultural events that have been cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19.

The Government, the Centre Party and the Liberals are proposing support of SEK 319 million in 2020 for several state-funded cultural institutions, including the Vasa Museum, Skansen open-air museum, the Royal Dramatic Theatre, the Royal Swedish Opera, Riksteatern and Ájtte for lost revenue due to the new coronavirus.