Every June, Almedalen Week in Visby brings together politicians, business leaders, academics, local and regional officials, trade unions and many others. Cultural perspectives are also given a great deal of attention, and in recent years many of these have been brought together under the umbrella of ‘Culture in Almedalen’. This year, 2026, the programme was expanded due to its popularity with the public. The panels focus primarily on cultural policy, and examples of topics discussed included this year’s culture barometer (Swedes’ views on cultural provision), the significance of cultural and creative industries for the economy, and a discussion with local authority representatives from areas investing most heavily in culture (Malmö, Umeå, Västra Götaland), and on broadening funding – including how to attract donors to the public cultural sector, which is high on Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand’s agenda. The programme was extensive, and one of the sessions I attended was entitled ‘Kulturriket 3.0 – a visionary cultural policy for a new era’, featuring, amongst others, Mikael Brännvall, CEO of Svensk Scenkonst, and Gunnar Ardelius, Secretary-General of the Swedish Museums Association. Their discussion was based on the premise that culture must be the foundation of a society, and it is, of course, a recurring theme that culture is crucial to a democratic society. But what does that actually mean? It can be useful to return to this point so as not to lose sight of the bigger picture, and that is precisely what the panellists did. They emphasised that it is through culture that we can engage with others’ views and experience other people’s worlds. And it is true that, through art, understanding reaches a different level – it becomes more engaging and empathetic. Art and culture are also significant for understanding the present day, and it is there that one can also explore alternative ways of thinking; this is, in fact, an important avenue for social analysis and social criticism. The philosopher and Honorary Doctor at LU, Jonna Bornemark, writes in her book The Renaissance of the Immeasurable (available only in Swedish) about art as a foundation: “Artistic expression is sometimes perceived as entertainment and as the icing on the cake in a dreary everyday life. But given art’s ability to capture the ‘what-ness’ of things, to engage with the unknown and thereby also to reshape our established categories, it is rather the plate on which the porridge sits.” (translation by DeepL)
This was also the theme of the discussion I took part in, organised by Folkuniversitetet and the University of Gothenburg together with the university’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Pauli Kortteinen; Anna Ekström, former Minister for Education and now Chair of the Association of Folk High Schools; and Sverker Sörlin, Professor of Environmental History at KTH and Chair of Folkuniversitetet. We discussed the value of culture based on the programme description, which read: “What place should art and culture have in a society where economic benefit has become the dominant measure of value? How do we understand the role of culture in education, democracy and people’s existential needs?”.
It was a privilege to discuss these issues with such a knowledgeable and engaged panel, and the turnout was actually very large. This was also true of the other cultural panels I attended, which shows that cultural issues are high on the agenda at Almedalen. Their number has grown every year, and I believe they will feature even more prominently in next year’s programme. It’s well worth travelling to Almedalen to promote the value of culture!
Anki Wallengren
Pro Vice-Chancellor for Culture and Educational Development
P.S. On Wednesday 2 December, the Cultural Forum for Art and Science and the Sustainability Forum at Lund University are organising an afternoon event on the importance of art and culture for a sustainable future, focusing on their ability to foster understanding, inspire engagement and offer new perspectives.
The programme will be updated in early November, but please do save the date now. Read more in the university calendar (in Swedish): Konsten att skapa framtiden: om kulturens betydelse för en hållbar framtid.
