The allocation of public funds to arts and culture is not typically regulated by law in Sweden. National public funds are instead determined on a yearly basis by the parliament in the national budget. The only major exception to this rule has long been Public Service broadcasting, which is funded by a special tax (previously a TV license fee) and regulated in law. Some regulations regarding the Culture Cooperation Model (see chapters 1.2.3 and 1.2.6) are, furthermore, regulated in the law on certain government grants to regional cultural activities (2010:1919). When the government appointed re-evaluation of this model presented its report in 2023, it recommended the introduction of a new law on collaboration between state, region, and municipality in the cultural field, simplifying the processes within the model, and guaranteeing artistic freedom in the regional and municipal activities funded through the model (SOU 2023:58). This could be seen as a part of a larger trend towards increasing uses of legislation in Swedish cultural policy.
A lack of specific legislation has long been a characteristic feature of the Swedish model of cultural policy. Objectives are decided either by parliament decision (as with the general cultural policy goals), or in the specific instructions given either in the national budget (by annual parliament decision), or by the government. The majority of cultural policy is implemented by government agencies, and similar bodies, which are constitutionally separated from the government ministries, and only subjected to decisions and regulations made by the government collectively, or by parliament. The powers of a government minister are thus severely limited, but in practice include the power to make propositions to the government concerning instructions to government agencies, appointments of their directors and board members, and concerning the government bill on the national budget (see also chapters 1.1, and 1.3).
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