Partner-driven cooperation in the field of culture 2011–2013
To fulfil the objectives of Swedish aid policy and cultural policy The Swedish Arts Council was commissioned to administer and allocate aid funds cooperation projects in the cultural field for the period 2011-2013.
This funding covered Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, China, India and Indonesia. 63 individual projects were carried out in total. The Swedish Arts Council ran the project in partnership with The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
According to The Swedish Arts Council artistic exchanges helped to fulfil some of the objectives of Swedish aid policy and cultural policy. The Swedish arts Council notes that the partner-driven cooperation projects have formed a platform for greater freedom of expression, greater gender equality, helped to combat poverty and enabled democratic processes to be accommodated in society.
A majority of the projects integrated the development cooperation policy objectives in their activities. Many projects arranged discussion forums in which questions concerning freedom of expression, human rights, democracy and combatting poverty were discussed. The Swedish Arts Council considers that these discussion forums formed a platform for greater freedom of expression. Participation in partner-driven cooperation projects has brought individual cultural actors new commissions and greater export opportunities. Some of the projects raised the status of the field of art, which can create jobs and thus also greater opportunities to earn a living.
To create opportunity of artists to develop their artistry is also promoted by highlighting artist policy issues in the national and international arena.
Participation in partner-driven cooperation projects has brought individual cultural actors new commissions and greater export opportunities. Some of the projects raised the status of the field of art, which can create jobs and thus also greater opportunities to earn a living.
SEK 23 million 2011-2013.
The Swedish Arts Council found that the goal of stakeholder involvement, to establish long-term relationships between partners in Sweden and partner countries, was achieved and that cultural cooperation can create opportunities to establish long-term relationships. A majority of project owners wished to bring about a continuation of the projects, but the lack of financing is mentioned in several cases as an obstacle. An important component in the creation of long-term relationships is the importance of equality in the sense that the project is of mutual benefit. Projects that are not reciprocal have less opportunity to lead to long-term relationships.