International cooperation in the field of culture
Sweden has a large number of international cooperation projects in the areas of responsibility covered by the Ministry of Culture. The aim of these projects includes drawing attention to and focusing on individual issues as well as exchanging experience across national borders. Below is a presentation of some of the international organisations, councils and other bodies through which Sweden works.
Nordic Council of Ministers
Nordic cultural cooperation aims at promoting and safeguarding diversity in cultural expression in the Nordic region, strengthening the Nordic dimension in cultural life and promoting mobility for artists and their work. A new structure for cultural cooperation is effective as of 2007. The previous approach, with many institutions, will give way to a larger portion of the cooperation that will be channelled via thematic initiatives and time-bound programmes. The aim of the new structure is for more financing to go directly to actors in the field of culture. The Nordic Cultural Fund and the Nordic Film and TV Fund will continue to distribute support to projects, but will be supplemented by three programmes:
- Nordic Mobility and Residence Programme
- Nordic Art and Culture Programme
- Nordic Game Programme
Nordic Culture Point
To coordinate and support programme activities and the new structure, a Secretariat has been set up, called Nordic Culture Point.
European Union - EU
Sweden has been a member of the European Union since 1995. The Union currently comprises 27 member countries. A total of 32 countries, including the EEA countries and applicant countries, are involved in the EU's work in the education and culture sectors.
The EU does not legislate directly on education and culture. Cooperation takes place through various cooperation programmes and joint agreements. In the media field, certain binding legislation is provided through the Television without Frontiers (TWF) Directive.
Culture Programme and Cultural Contact Point Sweden
The day-to-day work of the EU in the area of culture is dominated by the Culture Programme, which supports cultural cooperation projects between a number of European countries. The Culture Programme has been set up to promote cultural creation, increase the mobility of artists and create favourable conditions for the dissemination of their work. Information on EU culture issues is provided by the Cultural Contact Point Sweden (CCP Sweden) information office, which also assists in the implementation of EU programmes in support of culture. Under an agreement with the European Commission, the National Heritage Board (Riksantikvarieämbetet) and the Swedish Arts Council (Statens kulturråd) are responsible for Cultural Contact Point Sweden, the National Heritage Board is responsible for cultural heritage issues and the Swedish Arts Council is responsible for art forms and cultural activities.
The Council of Europe
The Council of Europe's most important role is to strengthen democracy, human rights and the rule of law in all its 46 member states. Work in the field of culture takes place in the steering committees for culture and cultural heritage issues.
The Council of Europe is working proactively to promote freedom of expression, free media and media diversity in Europe. Freedom of expression and a free exchange of views that also provides scope for divergent and differing perspectives are guaranteed in a number of ways including through several European conventions.
The Ministry of Culture is taking part in the work through the Steering Committee on the Mass Media and the expert group for media in crisis situations.
UNESCO
UNESCO is the UN body responsible for cooperation in education, science, culture and communications/media. All four of these programmes have poverty reduction, sustainable development and dialogue between different cultures as the overall theme for their contribution to peace. In Sweden, the Swedish National Commission for UNESCO is responsible for cooperation with government agencies, institutions and people within UNESCO's areas of activity, and serves as a link between UNESCO and Sweden.
UNESCO's cultural programme mainly focuses on creating guidelines for the member countries so that they can protect and strengthen cultural diversity. The programme can be divided into four parts: to develop common rules in the form of normative instruments; to cooperate so as to protect the world's cultural and natural heritage; to strengthen the role of cultural policy in social development; and to facilitate the work of professional artists and facilitate the exchange of artistic products on the market.
International Network on Cultural Policy - INCP
The International Network on Cultural Policy (INCP) is an informal forum where culture ministers can exchange experience and views on current cultural policy issues. So far, the network has mainly worked with cultural diversity and its importance to social and economic development. In this area, the network has actively supported the inception of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, which was adopted in October 2005.
The Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC)
Cultural cooperation in the Barents Euro-Arctic Council takes place through a working group in which Sweden is represented by the county administrative boards in Norbotten and Västerbotten Counties, and a representative from the Ministry of Culture. The cooperation is based on concrete multi- and bilateral projects, festivals and seminars. Three meetings of culture ministers have been arranged; the most recent was held in Oulu in 2002.
Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS)
Regular meetings between culture ministers in the region form a platform for cultural cooperation in the CBSS. The next meeting will be held in Riga in 2008. Otherwise, cultural cooperation mainly focuses on the common cultural heritage in the Baltic Sea region through expert cooperation between cultural heritage departments in which the National Heritage Board takes part. Sweden currently holds the Presidency of the CBSS (July 2006-July 2007).
