Wanås in Skåne and Rackstadmuseet in Värmland are struggling against economic headwinds. On Gotland's Körsbärsgården, this year's art summer looks like it will be the last.
It's war between the government and cultural life, says Marita Jonsson, one of the founders.
Euphorically, she talks about the art course for children. The lecture about Svenskt Tenn the evening before was held in a packed local and one of the young artists who recently exhibited at Körsbärsgården wants to give a performance.
I have to keep the spirit up and the operation here is fantastic right now, but it won't last a year without operational support from the region and the Cultural Council. It's a tough situation, says Marita Jonsson.
The founders work for free – yet they're making a loss. But since the rejections come late, it would have been even more expensive to cancel the agreements with the artists and terminate.
Private sponsorship goes towards purchasing individual works, but cannot finance the basic operation, she emphasizes. The pandemic support from the Cultural Council has ceased, and to get operational support from there, the region must first contribute more money. Region Gotland's operational support only goes to county institutions, she explains.
There's a small pot of free money where we get a small grant. But if we get more, someone else will be left without, important operations are competing with each other for small sums, it's very uncomfortable, says Marita Jonsson, who believes the government must act.
This is incredibly important today, it gives hope and courage when people get to work and create simply.
On Ice
The international sculpture park Wanås Konst has long received the public operational support that Körsbärsgården is asking for. But these have shrunk since they haven't been adjusted for inflation and cost increases, emphasizes CEO Milena Høgsberg.
Fewer new initiatives, noted art critics this year. Maintenance and marketing are on ice, but Wanås refuses to raise prices.
Entrance fees are crucial, but if we raise prices too much, we'll become a place only for those who can afford it. We have a social mission. Often, we're the first cultural experience for the local population, says Høgsberg.
Own Strength
The audience's reduced purchasing power is also severely felt at Rackstadmuseet in Arvika, which generates 75 percent of its revenue through its own efforts.
There, pioneers from the turn of the last century are exhibited, but they also invest in exhibiting contemporary art. Without contemporary art, there's no future cultural heritage, reasons museum director Anneli Strömberg.
What worries me most now is how one views culture, and specifically contemporary art.
Erika Josefsson/TT
Background Facts
TT
In a series of articles, we're making stops among cultural institutions and cultural practitioners whose operations are threatened by strained economies.
The conditions:
The pandemic grants that many cultural institutions received during the pandemic have ceased.
In the wake of the economic crisis, several cultural actors have been hit by increased rents.
The state budget for 2023 brought with it abolished, reduced, or stagnant grants for several cultural actors.
Politically, discussions have been held about increased private financing of culture, which has led to debates about culture's role and function – as an inherent value in itself or as an engine for growth.
Körsbärsgården: Located on southern Gotland. Since 2010, founders Marita and Jon Jonsson have successively built up an art hall, sculpture gallery, pavilions, and a sculpture park. Now run as a foundation. This summer, among other things, Japanese artist Sadaharu Horio and "Skäll på Wroom" by Pia and Mark Ingelse are on display.
Wanås Konst: Located in Knislinge in rural Skåne. A comprehensive international sculpture park founded in 1987. Has around 70 permanent works and a center for art and learning run by a foundation. This year, the international group exhibition "The ocean in the forest" is on display.
Rackstadmuseet: Located in Arvika. Exhibits works by pioneers of the Swedish arts and crafts movement at the turn of the last century, but also arranges artist residencies and exhibits contemporary artists, this summer paintings by Karin Broos.
