Sweden's mobility schemes

To promote international exchange and cooperation in the cultural sphere, the Swedish Arts Council provides funding for international cultural exchange initiatives. Awards can be made for the performing arts, art and design, museums, literature, arts periodical and libraries. Grants are awarded for travel expenses, or, for example, when international artists make guest appearances in Sweden and for hotel and travel expenses within Sweden.

The Swedish Arts Grants Committee government agency has a comprehensive operation to promote the internationalisation of artists. Work on international exchange takes place in all artistic areas. IASPIS is the Swedish Arts Grants Committee’s international programme for professionally active practitioners in visual arts, design, applied art objects and architecture. According to the reports of the agency, IASPIS is a successful and important part of the agency’s activities and an important actor in the area of visual arts. Through IASPIS it is possible to apply for scholarships for international cultural exchange in the form of exhibitions, study and working trips abroad and international cooperation projects in Sweden. The activities of IASPIS also comprise an international and a Swedish studio programme and audience activities. IASPIS invites curators, critics and other specialists for shorter or longer visits and manages a comprehensive international network. Its remit is to develop contacts between artists in Sweden and actors in the international arena and, in this way, contribute to artistic depth and improved working conditions.

In 2008, the international exchange of artists was boosted with SEK 4 million to, among other things, expand international exchange in the dance area, the so-called International Dance Programme. According to proposals in the 2012 Budget Bill, a structure for international exchange in the music area will also be established in 2012–2014, whereby SEK 2 million is allocated annually during the period. Support in cultural policy is at present largely targeted towards music commissioners who engage a composer. There is a great need among composers to widen their international contacts and thus deepen their artistry and broaden their labour market. Since its establishment in 2011, Music Development and Heritage Sweden has a platform to support international and intercultural exchange.