This document addresses the Swedish government’s cultural heritage policy as proposed in the 2016/17 session. It aims to foster a rich and innovative cultural life accessible to all while preserving and making cultural heritage available. Despite the government’s efforts to build on the previous administration’s policies, the authors argue that the current approach lacks clarity and inclusivity, especially regarding centralist perspectives and definitions of key concepts like education, democracy, and growth.
A significant focus of the document is on the inclusivity and accessibility of cultural heritage. The authors emphasize the importance of involving all museums, not just the central state museums, in the broader cultural landscape. They propose measures to ensure that state museums collaborate with other museums and suggest that cultural heritage should be integrated into broader economic and industrial policies. This approach aims to maintain each museum’s unique characteristics and to support their role in the community.
The document also highlights the need for improved legislation to protect mobile cultural heritage, such as historic vehicles and aircraft, which are often maintained by private or civic groups. The authors argue for a legislative framework that ensures these artifacts are preserved, used, and developed as part of the living cultural environment. This includes safeguarding against the inadvertent destruction of cultural heritage through political or bureaucratic decisions.
