In 2019, we launched a new initiative regarding cultural policy work – “How we want to secure children and young people’s right to the performing arts in schools” – with two consultations with members to gather information and agree on the situation in the country. In 2020 – 2022 we have continued to discuss the issue in various rounds with individual politicians, with the Swedish Parliament´s Culture Committee and the organization Swedish Municipalities and Regions, with our members and with other actors around the country as regional and municipal consultants and intermediaries.

In the absence of comprehensive national surveys and comparisons in this area, we started in-depth work to identify existing structures, explore new opportunities and develop proposals for a re-launch. We needed to gather material, statistics, and experience from both the producer and the organizer side and to develop proposals for new solutions in consultation with both the field and politicians.

This work resulted in a cultural policy report that was published and presented in the spring of 2022. The report includes a survey to all Swedish municipalities and regions containing 20 questions about goals, statistics, budget, and organization of the performing arts distribution to schools. In addition, we have gathered information in meetings with the Swedish Arts Council, the Swedish Agency for Cultural Analysis, and representatives from the cultural administrations in the three major cities, as well as held meetings with Teatercentrum in Denmark and Scenekunstbruket in Norway.

Read the summary of the report in English.

Additionally, we are happy to share our experiences working towards the political field: get in touch with Niclas Malmcrona, nm@assitej.se, if you wish to set up a meeting.