Culture

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.