Measures for gender equality in the area of culture
Where
Sweden
When
2012
Key objectives of the measure:
The overall objective of Swedish gender equality policy is equal power for women and men to shape decisions that affect society and their own lives. Gender mainstreaming is the main strategy used to reach the gender equality policy objectives and means that decisions in all policy areas must be characterised by a gender equality perspective. The idea is that since gender equality between women and men is created where everyday decisions are taken and where resources are distributed, the gender equality perspective must exist throughout all activities. As mentioned previously, all agencies in the area of culture must incorporate a gender equality perspective in their activities, which is stated in the agencies’ instructions.
In the area of music, the distribution of men and women still deviates from the ambition of a gender-equal distribution. This applies, for example, in certain musical genres and among composers. The central government agency Music Development and Heritage Sweden has thus been instructed to, in cooperation with the Swedish Arts Council and the Swedish Arts Grants Committee, support projects with the aim of promoting increased gender equality in the music sector. The objective is to in the long term contribute to women and men becoming more equally represented in the music sector in those music genres where the need is greatest. A total of SEK 8 million is being allocated during the period 2011-2014.
Main feature of the measure:
Support to Swedish film production and certain forms of support for distribution and screening are financed through the film agreement between the state, the film industry and several television companies. In the present film agreement, which entered into force in 2006, it is stated that the proportion of women in central functions in film production must increase during the period of agreement (2006-2012) and that funding shall be distributed to at least 40 per cent of the under-represented sex in central functions in film production.
Despite this, there is a clear imbalance between men and women with regard to the distribution of film support. To strengthen gender equality efforts, a special initiative was therefore introduced in 2010 to encourage young women’s filmmaking. Sweden’s 19 regional resource centres can apply for funds to create greenhouse projects aimed at girls and women aged 15–26. The long-term goal of the initiative is to contribute to a better balance between men and women in the distribution of support to Swedish film production. In total, this concerns approximately SEK 8 million until 2014. In 2012, the Swedish Film Institute will evaluate the first two years of the greenhouse support initiative.19
In 2010, the National Historical Museums was also instructed to produce material and develop methods for more gender-equal representation in collections and exhibitions. It must be possible to use the methods throughout the entire museum sector. The remit also includes, among other things, highlighting good examples nationally and internationally and cooperating with universities and other higher education institutions, and other concerned institutions and organisations in the area of culture. The long-term objective of the initiative is to increase the work of the museums to highlight and provide new perspectives on their collections and exhibitions based on gender-equality aspects. In total, SEK 3 million has been allocated for the period 2011–2012.
Area(s) of Monitoring
Cultural Domain(s)
Cinema/ Audiovisual Arts
Music
Visual Arts