Public Cultural Funding in Sweden Plummets, Sparking Fears of Regional Inequality

Public cultural funding in Sweden has experienced a significant decline since 2018, a trend that has sharply accelerated under the current Kristersson-led Tidö government. According to several recent reports and critiques, this decline jeopardizes equal access to culture across the country, exacerbating disparities particularly between urban and rural areas.

State expenditures for culture dropped from 10.3 billion SEK in 2018 to 8.8 billion SEK in 2024, with reductions amounting to about 1.5 billion SEK post-pandemic, as reported by Anna Troberg, president of the DIK union. This has led to the lowest level of state cultural budget allocation in over 25 years, shrinking from 0.83% to 0.62% of the total state budget. Meanwhile, regional funding fell slightly from 4.8 billion SEK to 4.4 billion SEK during the same period. Municipalities marginally increased their cultural spending from 14.4 billion SEK to 14.5 billion SEK but still struggle to fill the funding void left by state cuts.

This financial squeeze has forced many cultural institutions to close; for example, 30% of study associations have shuttered facilities due to reduced resources. Smaller and rural municipalities are most affected, with only around 1% of budgets allocated to culture compared to more robust investments like Umeå’s 4%. Such disparities have led Anna Troberg to describe the cultural landscape as a 'postcode lottery,' where access depends heavily on geographic location.

Critics argue that the government's strategy under Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand relies too heavily on private funding and cultural canonization policies rather than ensuring stable public support. Troberg emphasizes that cultural welfare is a constitutional right that cannot be outsourced to private entities, urging the government to take responsibility for maintaining equitable cultural access.

Reports also highlight a bleak outlook for municipal cultural schools serving over 200,000 students, with 80% of municipalities anticipating no improvement or further deterioration in funding conditions.

The cumulative effect of these funding cuts challenges the cultural ecosystem in Sweden, risking the erosion of community engagement and cultural participation especially outside major cities. As regions increase their efforts to supplement budgets, the uneven funding raises urgent questions about long-term cultural equity and government accountability.