Agencies, companies and foundations, etc. within the Ministry of Culture's area of responsibility

The Ministry of Culture's area of activities includes responsibility for numerous government agencies, companies and foundations.

Government agencies

All central government bodies are government agencies, apart from the Riksdag. Agencies other than the courts and the Government Offices are called administrative agencies. These administrative agencies are accountable either to the Government or to the Riksdag.

The Government determines the objectives, guidelines and allocation of resources for the agencies' activities but it does not decide how the agencies should apply a law or what they should decide in specific matters.

Companies

Companies (limited companies) are legal entities whose form of organisation falls under civil law. This is a form of enterprise in which the participants, the shareholders, are free, in principle, from personal liability for the company's debts. Companies in which the majority of the shares are owned by the state are generally counted as state-owned companies.

Foundations

Foundations are legal entities whose form of organisation falls under civil law. These are formed by one or more founders allocating specific property to be independently administered for a specific purpose. State foundations refer to foundations that have been established by the state.