Surveys to members of eight organisations

This chapter summarises the results of the survey sent to members of eight artists' organisations in February 2024. The findings are organised by country, with separate sections for each Nordic nation. Each section follows the structure of the survey questions, starting with a brief description of the participating organisations. The results are presented individually for each organisation, though in some cases, data from two organisations are presented in a single figure or table.

Denmark : Billedkunstnernes Forbund and Dansk Artist Forbund

This section presents findings from two organisations in Denmark. Dansk Artist Forbund (DAF) is a trade union representing artists within the music, performing arts, and entertainment industries. Its members include singers, musicians, dancers, and performance artists. Billedkunstnernes Forbund (BKF) serves as a trade union for professional visual artists.

In this section, the term 'performing artists' refers to members of Dansk Artist Forbund, while 'visual artists' refers to members of Billedkunstnernes Forbund. The findings are based on responses from 263 members of Billedkunstnernes Forbund and 183 members of Dansk Artist Forbund. For details on response rates and non-response, see Appendix 1.

Experiences of threats, violence and harassment at some point and last 12 months

Figure 1 illustrates the proportion of respondents who have ever experienced threats, violence, or harassment in their professional work, as well as those who have encountered it within the last 12 months. The survey included 21 types of incidents to capture experiences of threats, violence, or harassment.

Half (50 per cent) of the responding visual artists in BKF report having experienced threats, violence, or harassment at some point. A smaller proportion, 15 per cent, have been affected within the last 12 months. Among DAF respondents, 61 per cent report experiences of threats, violence, or harassment at some point, with a quarter (25 per cent) having been affected in the past 12 months.

Figure 1. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats, violence or harassment, Dansk Artist Forbund and Billedkunstnernes Forbund, per cent

Comment: Number of responses DAF = 183, Association of Visual Artists = 263.

Experiences of threats and harassment

Table 3 presents experiences of threats and harassment, which encompass 14 types of incidents.

Just over half of DAF respondents report having experienced threats at some point, with around a quarter having encountered threats within the last 12 months. The most frequently reported incidents are sexual harassment (20 per cent), face-to-face threats (17 per cent), being publicly targeted on the internet (14 per cent), threats or assaults on social media (13 per cent), and being illegally photographed or recorded (12 per cent).

Among responding visual artists in BKF, 36 per cent have experienced threats or harassment at some point, and 13 per cent have encountered it within the last 12 months. The most common incidents are sexual harassment (13 per cent), in-person threats (11 per cent), and threatening phone calls or other forms of threats and harassment (8 per cent).

Table 3. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats or harassment, Dansk Artist Forbund and Billedkunstnernes Forbund, per cent

	Dansk Artist Forbund		Billedkunstnernes Forbund
	At some point	Last 12 months	At some point	Last 12 months
Threats or harassment	51	24	36	13
Threatening statement face to face	17	3	11	2
Threatening phone call	6	1	8	2
Threatening sms/mms	7	2	5	1
Threatening letter/postcard	2	1	3	0
Threatening e-mail letter	9	2	7	3
Threats/attacks via social media	13	8	5	2
Sexual harassment	20	3	13	1
Hijacked internet account (or created fake one in your name)	8	4	3	2
Personal information exposed online	14	7	3	1
Unwanted goods ordered in your name	1	0	0	0
Threatening "gift"	1	0	1	0
Being unauthorisedly photographed/recorded	12	4	2	0
Unpleasant visit, stalking or mapping	9	2	7	3
Other forms of intimidation or harassment	4	2	8	4

Experiences of violence, vandalism or theft

Violence, vandalism, and theft are less common than threats and harassment, particularly in incidents occurring within the last 12 months. Thirty-two per cent of DAF respondents reported having experienced violence, vandalism, or theft at some point, while 4 per cent experienced it in the past 12 months. Theft is the most frequently reported incident, affecting 21 per cent at some point, with 1 per cent encountering it in the past year.

A similar pattern is observed among BKF respondents, with 32 per cent reporting experiences of these incidents at some point and 4 per cent within the past year. One-tenth of BKF respondents have experienced pushing or similar behaviour, and one in five have experienced theft.

Table 4. Proportion of respondents who have experienced violence, vandalism or theft, Dansk Artist Forbund and Billedkunstnernes Forbund, per cent

	Dansk Artist Forbund		Billedkunstnernes Forbund
	At some point	Last 12 months	At some point	Last 12 months
Violence, vandalism or theft	34	4	32	4
Punch, kick or similar	2	0	7	1
Push or similar	2	0	11	1
Violence with weapons	0	0	1	0
Arson/blasting	1	0	0	0
Graffiti	4	0	1	0
Theft	21	1	20	1
Other forms of violence, vandalism or theft	13	2	6	2

Experiences among women and men

This section presents differences in experiences of threats, violence, and harassment between women and men. Due to the small number of respondents, it is not possible to report experiences based on other background factors.

Figure 2 shows the distribution of experiences of threats and harassment among DAF respondents, distinguishing between women and men. Women are more likely than men to have experienced threats or harassment: 62 per cent of women have been affected at some point, compared to 45 per cent of men. Examining specific types of incidents, sexual harassment in particular stands out. Almost a third of women in DAF report having experienced sexual harassment at some point, compared to 13 per cent of men.

Conversely, men are more likely to have experienced violence, vandalism, or theft: 37 per cent of men report such experiences at some point, compared to 22 per cent of women. There are no significant differences between women and men regarding experiences within the last 12 months.

Figure 2. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats and harassment, and violence, vandalism or theft, by gender, Dansk Artist Forbund, per cent

There are small differences between women and men among BKF respondents. A slightly higher proportion of female respondents report experiences of threats and harassment, primarily due to women being more likely than men to have experienced sexual harassment: 17 per cent of women have been affected by sexual harassment at some point, compared to 5 per cent of men. Conversely, men are more likely to have experienced violence, vandalism, or theft.

Figure 3. Percentage of respondents who have experienced threats and harassment and violence, vandalism or theft, by gender, Billedkunstnernes Forbund, per cent

Experiences by professional categories

Dansk Artist Forbund includes members from several professional categories: circus or show performers, dancers, musicians, educators, actors, and singers. The findings indicate that experiences of threats and harassment vary across these groups: 68 per cent of singers report having been affected at some point, compared with 57 per cent of circus or show performers and 45 per cent of musicians. Percentages for other occupational categories are not reported due to limited responses.

Police reports and cancelled events

Figure 4 illustrates the proportion of individuals who have experienced an incident in the last 12 months and reported it to the police. About a quarter of DAF members have reported an incident, compared to 5 per cent of BKF members. In actual numbers, only a small number of incidents have been reported to the police.

Figure 4. Proportion of respondents who have reported incident(s) to the police, Dansk Artist Forbund and Billedkunstnernes Forbund, per cent

Comment: The question about reporting to the police was asked to those who had been experienced in the last 12 months. Number of responses DAF = 46, BKF = 39.

The question regarding cancelled events was posed to all respondents. In BKF, 3 per cent of respondents reported that, in the past 12 months, organisers or clients had cancelled assignments due to concerns or risks related to threats, violence, or harassment. The corresponding proportion among DAF respondents was 4 per cent.

Concerns about threats, violence, or harassment towards self or family in the last 12 months

Figure 5 illustrates the proportion of respondents who have been worried about experiencing threats, violence, or harassment themselves or concerning their family members in the past 12 months. The results show that 17 per cent of performing artists have been worried about experiencing these issues themselves, while 15 per cent have been worried about their family members being affected. Among visual artists in BKF, 11 per cent were worried about being subjected to threats, violence or harassment themselves, while 7 per cent were concerned about their family members being affected.

Figure 5. "In the past 12 months, have you been worried that you or a family member would experience threats, violence or harassment as a consequence of your authorship or artistry in the country where you live?", Dansk Artist Forbund and Billedkunstnernes Forbund, per cent

Comment: The question reads: "In the last 12 months, have you been worried that you or a family member would experience threats, violence or harassment as a consequence of your authorship or artistry in the country where you live?" Multiple answers were possible. The figure shows the proportion of respondents who said they were worried. Number of responses DNF = 183, BKF = 263.

Consequences of experiences of threats, violence and harassment

Respondents who reported having experienced violence at some point in the last 12 months or who had been worried during the same period were asked to respond to seven statements about the consequences of these experiences.

Figure 6 shows the responses among DAF members who have experienced threats, violence, or harassment, or have been worried about being affected in the last 12 months. It reveals that 28 per cent fully agree with the statement that they have needed support or help as a result of these experiences or concerns, and 46 per cent partly agree. Additionally, 27 per cent of respondents fully agree with the statement that they have received support or help in connection with their experiences or concerns. Over 60 per cent of respondents either fully or partly agree with the statement that they have taken safety measures. A slightly smaller proportion, just over 53 per cent, fully or partly agreed with the statement that they have avoided being seen in public.

Figure 6. Statements on the consequences of threats, violence, and harassment, Danish Artists Association, per cent

Comment: The question asks: "How do you feel about the following statements?" Responses are given on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The category "Partially agree" includes responses from values 2, 3, and 4. Number of responses = 115.

Figure 7 shows the distribution of respondents in the BKF. Here, 69 per cent fully or partly agree with the statement that they have needed support or help as a result of their experiences or concerns, and 52 per cent fully or partly agree that they have received support or help. One fifth fully agree that they have taken safety measures, and one third partly agree. Sixty-three per cent fully or partly agree that they have avoided being seen in public.

Figure 7. Statements on the consequences of threats, violence, and harassment, Billedkunstnernes Forbund, per cent

Comment: For question wording and options, see comment in Figure 6. Number of responses = 65.

Figures 8 and 9 show the results for three statements related to the consequences of experiences and concerns linked to professional practice.

The first statement concerns artistic freedom. Among the members of DAF who have experienced threats, violence, or harassment, 72 per cent fully or partly agree with the statement that these experiences or concerns have limited their artistic freedom, while one fifth disagree. Among those who have been affected, 22 per cent fully agree with the statement that these experiences or concerns have strengthened their commitment and willingness to express themselves artistically, and almost half partly agree. The distribution is very similar for the statements about limited artistic freedom and a stronger commitment to artistic expression.

Sixteen per cent fully agree with the statement that they have considered leaving or not pursuing a job or subject area, while 34 per cent disagree.

Figure 8. Statements on the consequences of threats, violence, and harassment related to professional practice, Danish Artists' Association, per cent

Comment: For question wording and options, see comment in Figure 6. Number of responses = 115.

Among the responding visual artists in BKF, 18 per cent fully agree with the statement that their experiences or concerns have limited their artistic freedom, and 52 per cent partly agree (Figure 9). A larger proportion, 31 per cent, fully agree with the statement that these experiences or concerns have strengthened their commitment and desire to express themselves artistically, while 38 per cent partly agree. Forty-five per cent have not considered leaving or avoiding a specific commission or subject area as a result of their experiences or concerns, while 15 per cent fully agree with the statement that they have.

Figure 9. Statements on the consequences of threats, violence, and harassment related to professional practice, Billedkunstnernes Forbund, per cent

Comment: For question wording and options, see comment in Figure 6. Number of responses = 65.

Perception of changes in threats, violence, and harassment in Denmark over the past three years

One of the questions asked respondents to assess whether threats, violence, and harassment have decreased, remained the same, or increased over the past three years (Figure 10). A relatively large proportion in both organisations expressed no opinion on developments during this period. Eighteen per cent of respondents in DAF and 21 per cent of respondents in BKF consider the situation to be unchanged. A very small proportion believe that threats, violence, and harassment have decreased over this period. Nearly a third of performing artists feel that threats, violence, and harassment have increased or increased significantly. The corresponding proportion among visual artists is 18 per cent.

Figure 10. Perception of the development of threats, violence and harassment against artists and/or authors in Denmark over the last three years, Dansk Artist Forbund and Billedkunstnernes Forbund, per cent

Comment: The question reads: "How do you feel about the following statement? I perceive threats, violence and harassment against artists and/or authors in the country where I live in the last three years:" Number of answers DAF = 183, BKF = 263.

Iceland : Samband Íslenskra Myndlistarmanna och Rithöfundasamband Íslands

This section presents the results from two organisations in Iceland. Samband Íslenskra Myndlistarmanna (SÍM) is an interest organisation for visual artists. Members either have individual membership, or are members through membership of one of the seven professional associations for visual artists under the SÍM umbrella. Rithöfundasamband Íslands (RSÍ) is a trade union organisation representing authors and translators.

In this section, the term "visual artists" refers to members of Samband Íslenskra Myndlistarmanna, and "authors" refers to members of Rithöfundasamband Íslands. The results are based on responses from 204 members of Samband Íslenskra Myndlistarmanna and 138 members of Rithöfundasamband Íslands. See Annex 1 for a discussion of response rates and non-response.

Experiences of threats, violence and harassment at some point and last 12 months

Figure 11 shows the proportion who have ever been subjected to threats, violence or harassment in connection with their profession as an artist or author, and the proportion experienced in the past 12 months.

Of the responding visual artists in SÍM, 43 per cent say they have experienced threats, Among the responding visual artists in SÍM, 43 per cent report having experienced threats, violence, or harassment at some point, and 10 per cent report experiences within the last 12 months. Of the responding authors in RSÍ, 41 per cent report experiences at some point, and 12 per cent report incidents within the last 12 months.

Figure 11. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats, violence or harassment, Samband Íslenskra Myndlistarmanna and Rithöfundasamband Íslands, per cent

Comment: Number of responses SÍM = 204, RSÍ = 138.

Experiences of threats and harassment

The category of threats and harassment includes 14 types of incidents. Table 5 shows that one-third of the responding visual artists in SÍM have experienced threats or harassment at some point, with 7 per cent reporting incidents in the last 12 months. The most common experience reported is sexual harassment, affecting 14 per cent of respondents at some point, followed by threatening statements made in person (11 per cent).

Among RSÍ respondents, 40 per cent report having experienced threats or harassment at some point, with 12 per cent indicating experiences within the last 12 months. The most common incidents reported include threats or attacks via social media (16 per cent), online harassment (15 per cent), threatening emails and sexual harassment (12 per cent each), and threatening statements made in person (11 per cent).

Table 5. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats or harassment, Samband Íslenskra Myndlistarmanna and Rithöfundasamband Íslands, per cent

	Association of Artistic Artists in Iceland		Rithöfundasamband Íslands
	At some point	Last 12 months	At some pointg	Last 12 months
Threats or harassment	33	7	40	12
Threatening statement face to face	11	1	11	3
Threatening phone call	5	0	8	1
Threatening sms/mms	3	0	3	0
Threatening letter/postcard	2	0	7	0
Threatening e-mail letter	4	0	12	4
Threats/attacks via social media	5	0	16	4
Sexual harassment	14	1	12	3
Hijacked internet account (or created fake one in your name)	3	0	4	1
Personal information exposed online	7	0	15	6
Unwanted goods ordered in your name	0	0	1	0
Threatening "gift"	1	0	0	0
Being unauthorisedly photographed/recorded	5	1	2	1
Unpleasant visit, stalking or mapping	5	2	7	1
Other forms of intimidation or harassment	7	1	9	1

Experiences of violence, vandalism or theft

The category of violence, vandalism, and theft encompasses seven types of incidents. Among the responding visual artists in SÍM, 28 per cent report having been affected by violence, vandalism, or theft at some point, with 5 per cent indicating experiences within the past 12 months. The most common incident is theft, which a fifth of artists have encountered at some stage. Another frequently reported category is other forms of violence, vandalism, or theft. Free-text responses suggest that these incidents mainly involve vandalism, such as cases where artwork has been damaged. In the past 12 months, 5 per cent of artists reported theft, while other types of incidents were less than 0.5 per cent.

Among RSÍ respondents, one in ten has experienced violence, vandalism, or theft at some point. The most common incidents include other forms of violence, vandalism, or theft (4 per cent) and pushing or similar acts (3 per cent). A very small proportion, 1 per cent, reported such experiences in the past 12 months.

Table 6. Proportion of respondents who have experienced violence, vandalism or theft, Samband Íslenskra Myndlistarmanna and Rithöfundasamband Íslands, per cent

	Association of Artistic Artists in Iceland		Rithöfundasamband Íslands
	At some point	Last 12 months	At some point	Last 12 months
Violence, vandalism or theft	28	5	9	1
Punch, kick or similar	1	0	1	0
Push or similar	2	0	3	0
Violence with weapons	0	0	0	0
Arson/blasting	0	0	0	0
Graffiti	4	0	1	0
Theft	20	5	1	0
Other forms of violence, vandalism or theft	9	0	4	1

Experiences among women and men

This section outlines the differences in experiences of threats, violence, and harassment between women and men. Due to the small number of respondents, it is not possible to report experiences based on other background factors.

Figure 12 illustrates the experiences of threats, violence, and harassment among women and men in SÍM. There are no significant differences in the overall proportion of individuals affected: 32 per cent of women and 35 per cent of men have experienced threats or harassment at some point. However, the distribution of different types of incidents varies more between the genders. A larger proportion of men have experienced various forms of threats compared to women. Conversely, women are more likely than men to have experienced sexual harassment. Men are also slightly more likely to have experienced violence, vandalism, or theft. The differences between women and men in experiences over the past 12 months are small.

Figure 12. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats and harassment, and violence, vandalism or theft, by gender, Samband Íslenskra Myndlistarmanna, per cent

Comment: Number of responses = 204.

Among the RSÍ respondents, there are no major differences between women and men in terms of the proportion who have experienced either threats and harassment or violence, vandalism, or theft (Figure 13). However, there are differences between women and men in terms of different types of incidents. Men are more likely to report having experienced various forms of threats. Eighteen per cent of women report having experienced sexual harassment at some point, compared to 5 per cent of men.

Figure 13. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats and harassment, and violence, vandalism or theft, by gender, Rithöfundasamband Íslands, per cent

Comment: Number of responses = 138.

Police reports and cancelled events

The question on reporting incidents to the police is not included for the participating organisations from Iceland, as it was only asked to those who had experienced threats, violence, or harassment in the last 12 months, and the number of respondents was fewer than 30.

In terms of cancelled events or commissions due to concerns about threats, violence, or harassment, this appears to be very rare. Among the responding artists (SÍM), less than 1 per cent reported experiencing cancellations. For responding authors (RSÍ), the corresponding figure was 4 per cent.

Concerns about threats, violence, or harassment towards self or family in the last 12 months

Figure 14 shows the proportion of respondents who, in the past 12 months, were concerned about experiencing threats, violence, or harassment themselves or towards their family members.

Among responding artists in SÍM, 9 per cent were worried that their relatives might be affected, while 3 per cent were worried about personally experiencing threats, violence, or harassment. Among responding authors in RSÍ, 6 per cent were worried about their relatives being affected, and 8 per cent were worried about facing such incidents themselves. Worry was more prevalent among those who reported previous experiences with these types of incidents.

Figure 14. "In the last 12 months, have you been worried that you or a family member would experience threats, violence or harassment as a consequence of your authorship or artistry in the country where you live?", Samband Íslenskra Myndlistarmanna and Rithöfundasamband Íslands, per cent

Consequences of experiences of threats, violence and harassment

Respondents who indicated having experienced violence at any point in the last 12 months, or who had been worried about threats, violence, or harassment during the same period, were asked to respond to seven statements regarding the consequences. Because the number of respondents from RSÍ is fewer than 30, their responses are not included.

In SÍM, 19 per cent of respondents fully agree that they have needed support or assistance due to threats, violence, or harassment, and 37 per cent partially agree (Figure 15). Nearly 40 per cent do not agree with this statement at all. Additionally, 51 per cent fully or partially agree that they have received support or assistance related to experiences or worries about such incidents. Twenty-seven per cent of those who have experienced threats, violence or harassment partly or fully agree with the statement that they have avoided being visible in public setting or media because of their experiences. Of the respondents, 27 percent agree partly or fully that they have implemented security measures.

Figure 15. Statements on the consequences of threats, violence, and harassment, Samband Íslenskra Myndlistarmanna, per cent

Of the respondents in SÍM, 7 per cent fully agree with the statement that their experiences of threats, violence or harassment have limited their artistic freedom (Figure 16). 39 per cent partly agree, while 44 per cent disagree. However, around a quarter believe that their experiences or worries about being subjected to threats, violence or harassment have strengthened their commitment and desire to express themselves artistically, while around 30 per cent disagree with this statement. One-tenth of the artists in SÍM who have experienced or been worried about being subjected to threats, violence or harassment in the past 12 months fully agree with the statement that they have considered leaving or not taking on a specific commission or subject area, and 34 per cent partly agree.

Figure 16. Statements on the consequences of threats, violence, and harassment related to professional practice, Samband Íslenskra Myndlistarmanna, per cent

Comment: See comment in Figure 14. Number of responses = 41.

Perception of changes in threats, violence, and harassment in Iceland over the past three years

The final question in this section asks respondents to assess whether threats, violence, and harassment against artists and authors have decreased, remained the same, or increased over the last three years. Figure 17 presents the responses from both organisations.

A majority of responding artists in SÍM, 65 per cent, say they are unsure about developments in Iceland. Among the respondents, 5 per cent believe that threats, violence, and harassment have decreased or decreased significantly, 20 per cent think the situation has remained unchanged, and 9 per cent believe it has increased or increased significantly.

A slightly smaller proportion of RSÍ respondents, 38 per cent, are unable to assess changes over time. However, a larger proportion, 25 per cent, believe that threats, violence, and harassment have increased over the past three years. 36 per cent think the situation has remained unchanged, and 2 per cent believe that threats, violence, and harassment have decreased or decreased significantly.

Figure 17. Perception of the development of threats, violence and harassment against artists and/or authors in Iceland over the last three years, Samband Íslenskra Myndlistarmanna and Rithöfundasamband Íslands, per cent

Norway : Creo and the Norwegian Authors' Union

This section presents the findings from two organisations in Norway. Creo is a trade union representing employees in the cultural sector. Its members work mainly in the performing arts and are both employed and self-employed. The respondents in the survey are mainly musicians and performing artists. Den norske Forfatterforening (DnF) is an association that represents fiction authors who write for adults.

In this section, the term 'performing artists' refers to members of Creo, while 'authors' refers to members of Den norske Forfatterforening. The results are based on responses from 403 members of Creo and 140 members of Den norske Forfatterforening. See Appendix 1 for further details on the response rate and non-response.

Experiences of threats, violence and harassment at some point and last 12 months

Figure 18 shows the proportion of people who have ever experienced threats, violence, or harassment in connection with their profession as a performing artist or author, as well as the proportion who have experienced these incidents in the past 12 months.

Among the responding performing artists in Creo, 45 per cent report having experienced threats, violence, or harassment at some point, while 10 per cent say they have experienced it in the past 12 months. Among the responding authors in DnF, 47 per cent have experienced threats, violence, or harassment at some point, and 16 per cent have experienced it in the past 12 months.

Figure 18. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats, violence or harassment, Creo and Den norske Forfatterforening, per cent

Comment: Number of responses Creo = 403, DnF = 140.

Experiences of threats and harassment

The category of threats and harassment includes 14 different types of incidents. Table 7 shows that 42 per cent of Creo respondents have experienced some form of threat or harassment at some point, with 15 per cent reporting such experiences in the past 12 months. The most common incidents include face-to-face threats (17 per cent), sexual harassment (16 per cent), and unauthorised photography or recording (12 per cent).

The table also reveals that 45 per cent of DnF author respondents have experienced threats or harassment at some point, and 9 per cent have experienced it in the past 12 months. The most common types of threats and harassment faced by authors are face-to-face threatening statements, online harassment, unpleasant visits, stalking or tracking, and sexual harassment. Each of these incidents has affected between 11 and 12 per cent of authors at some point.

Table 7. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats or harassment, Creo and Den norske Forfatterforening, per cent

	Creo		The Norwegian Authors' Union
	At some point	Last 12 months	At some point	Last 12 months
Threats or harassment	42	15	45	9
Threatening statement face to face	17	3	12	1
Threatening phone call	9	1	9	0
Threatening sms/mms	7	1	8	1
Threatening letter/postcard	3	0	8	0
Threatening e-mail letter	7	1	8	1
Threats/attacks via social media	6	2	11	1
Sexual harassment	16	3	12	2
Hijacked internet account (or created fake one in your name)	3	1	4	1
Personal information exposed online	5	1	12	1
Unwanted goods ordered in your name	1	0	1	0
Threatening "gift"	0	0	1	0
Being unauthorisedly photographed/recorded	12	4	4	0
Unpleasant visit, stalking or mapping	5	1	11	1
Other forms of intimidation or harassment	8	3	6	0

Experiences of violence, vandalism or theft

Table 8 presents the percentage of people who have experienced violence, vandalism, or theft. This category includes seven different types of incidents.

Violence, vandalism, and theft are less common than threats and harassment among both performers and authors. One-fifth of Creo respondents report having experienced violence, vandalism, or theft at some point. Theft is the most frequently reported incident, affecting 13 per cent of respondents at some point, and 2 per cent in the past 12 months.

Among DnF respondents, 12 per cent have experienced violence, vandalism, or theft at some point, and 1 per cent have been affected by these incidents in the past 12 months.

Table 8. Proportion of respondents who have experienced violence, vandalism or theft, Creo and Den norske Forfatterforening, per cent

	Creo		The Norwegian Authors' Union
	At some point	Last 12 months	At some point	Last 12 months
Violence, vandalism or theft	20	2	12	1
Punch, kick or similar	3	0	2	0
Push or similar	6	0	3	0
Violence with weapons	1	0	1	0
Arson/blasting	0	0	1	0
Graffiti	0	0	1	0
Theft	13	1	5	1
Other forms of violence, vandalism or theft	4	1	4	0

Experiences among women and men

This section highlights differences in experiences of threats, violence, and harassment between women and men. The responses from performing artists are also presented according to age group, foreign background, and profession.

Figure 19 illustrates experiences of threats, violence, and harassment among women and men within the responding members of Creo. It shows that women report experiencing threats and harassment at slightly higher rates than men. Of the women who responded, 47 per cent have experienced these incidents at some point, compared to 36 per cent of men. A particular type of incident that stands out is sexual harassment: 23 per cent of women report having experienced it at some point, compared to 10 per cent of men. On the other hand, men are slightly more likely than women to have experienced threatening statements in person, with 20 per cent of men reporting such incidents, compared to 15 per cent of women. Men are also more likely to have experienced violence, vandalism, or theft. A quarter of male respondents have experienced these forms of harm at some point, compared to 13 per cent of female respondents.

Figure 19. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats and harassment, and violence, vandalism or theft, by gender, Creo, per cent

Comment: Number of responses = 403.

Among the responding authors in DnF, the differences in experiences of threats, violence, and harassment between women and men are slightly smaller (Figure 20). It is important to note that the results are based on relatively small response groups (67 women and 71 men), and therefore, the findings should be interpreted with caution.

Nearly half of the men, 49 per cent, report having experienced threats and harassment at some point, compared to 39 per cent of women. Men are more likely than women to have experienced different types of threats, such as threatening statements in person, phone calls, letters or postcards, online posts, and unpleasant visits, stalking, or being mapped. However, a slightly larger proportion of women, 12 per cent, have experienced threats and harassment in the past 12 months, compared to 4 per cent of men.

Figure 20. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats and harassment, and violence, vandalism or theft, by gender, Den norske Forfatterforening, per cent

Comment: Number of responses = 140.

Experiences of performing artists by age, foreign background and occupation

Figure 21 shows the proportion of performing artists in Creo who have experienced threats, violence, or harassment, broken down by age group. The results vary depending on whether the data refers to experiences at any point in time or within the past 12 months.

When looking at experiences over time, the distribution is relatively even across the different age groups. However, the 35-49 age group stands out slightly, with 51 per cent reporting having experienced threats or harassment at some point. In contrast, the youngest age group is more likely than the oldest to have experienced threats, violence, or harassment in the past 12 months. Notably, online experiences stand out, with a higher proportion of younger people reporting having experienced various forms of online threats.

Figure 21. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats and harassment, and violence, vandalism or theft, by age Creo, per cent

Comment: The response group 80+ years is not reported due to small number of respondents (<30).

Figure 22 shows experiences of threats, violence, or harassment based on whether respondents have a foreign background

Foreign background refers to an individual who was born in a country other than the country of residence (Norway), or who has two parents who were born in a country other than the country of residence. The variable does not differentiate between the country of birth of the individual or the individual's parents. Individuals not living in Norway are not included in the analysis, but are few in number. Number with foreign background = 62, not foreign background = 342.

. The results indicate that there are no significant differences between those with a foreign background and those without, in terms of experiences of both threats and harassment, as well as violence, vandalism, or theft. However, due to the small number of respondents in the foreign background category, these results should be interpreted with caution.

Figure 22. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats and harassment, and violence, vandalism or theft, Creo, by foreign background, per cent

Experiences by type of employment

Another background question investigated is the type of employment. Respondents were asked to indicate which category best describes their working conditions. The results are analysed for the respondents from Creo.

The results show clear differences in experiences of threats, violence, or harassment depending on the type of employment. Among permanent employees, 35 per cent have experienced threats and harassment at some point, and 15 per cent have experienced violence, vandalism, or theft. Among the self-employed, 44 per cent have experienced threats and harassment at some point, and 22 per cent have experienced violence, vandalism, or theft. Among self-employed workers, the corresponding figures are 51 and 26 per cent, respectively. Thus, a higher proportion of self-employed respondents report having experienced these issues compared to permanent employees. Due to small response groups, it has not been possible to analyse specific categories of occupation in more detail.

Police reports and cancelled events

Among Creo members who have experienced threats, violence, or harassment in the past 12 months, 8 per cent have reported the incidents to the police. The question about police reports is not available for DnF members, as it was only asked of those who have experienced incidents in the past 12 months, and the number of DnF respondents is fewer than 30.

Cancellations of events due to concerns about threats, violence, or harassment were rare. 2 per cent of respondents in both Creo and DnF reported having experienced event cancellations in the past 12 months.

Concerns about threats, violence, or harassment towards self or family in the last 12 months

Figure 23 shows the proportion of respondents who, in the past 12 months, have been worried about being subjected to threats, violence, or harassment themselves, or about their family members being subjected to it.

Among the performing artists in Creo, 7 per cent have been worried about being affected themselves, and 5 per cent have been worried about their family members being affected. Among the responding authors in DnF, 10 per cent have been worried about being affected themselves, and 9 per cent have been worried about their relatives being affected.

Figure 23. "In the last 12 months, have you been worried that you or a family member would experience threats, violence or harassment as a consequence of your authorship or artistry in the country where you live?", Creo and Den norske Forfatterforening, per cent

Consequences of experiences of threats, violence and harassment

Those who indicated they had experienced violence at some point in the last 12 months or had felt worried during the same period were asked to respond to seven statements about potential consequences.

Figure 24 shows the responses among Creo members who experienced threats, violence, or harassment in the last 12 months, or who felt worried about being subjected to such incidents during the same period. Of these, 51 per cent fully or partially agree with the statement that they have needed support or help as a result of their experiences or worry. Almost half disagree with this statement. Furthermore, 40 per cent fully or partly agree that they have received support or help. Additionally, 23 per cent fully agree and 12 per cent partly agree that they have taken safety measures. A quarter of respondents strongly agree with the statement that they have avoided being visible in public as a result of these experiences or worries.

Figure 24. Statements on the consequences of threats, violence, and harassment, Creo, per cent

Comment: The question asks: ”How do you feel about the following statements?” Responses are given on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The category ”Partially agree” includes responses from values 2, 3, and 4. Number of responses =91.

The results for DnF are based on responses from a small sample of 35 members and should therefore be interpreted with caution. The responses show that 11 per cent fully agree and 52 per cent partially agree with the statement that they have needed support or help due to their experiences or worry (Figure 25). Additionally, 40 per cent of respondents disagree with the statement that they have received support. Nearly half of respondents fully or partially agree that they have taken safety measures, while 71 per cent fully or partially agree that they have avoided public visibility as a result of their experiences or worry.

Figure 25. Statements on the consequences of threats, violence, and harassment, Den norske Forfatterforening, per cent

Comment For question wording and options, see comment in Figure 24. Number of responses = 35.

Figures 26 and 27 present the results for three statements regarding the consequences of experiences and concerns related to professional practice. Just over half of Creo respondents disagree with the statement that experiences of threats, violence, or worry about such incidents have limited their artistic freedom, though nearly as many partly or fully agree. For the second statement, that these experiences or worries have strengthened their commitment or desire to express themselves artistically, more than half of respondents agree fully or partly, while nearly a tenth find it difficult to assess. In response to the third statement, which addresses whether these experiences or concerns have led respondents to consider leaving or avoiding certain projects or subject areas, 38 per cent fully agree, while 48 per cent do not agree at all.

Figure 26. Statements on the consequences of threats, violence, and harassment related to professional practice, Creo, per cent

Comment: For question wording and options, see comment in Figure 24. Number of responses = 91.

Figure 27 presents the results for authors in the DnF. In this group, 40 per cent disagree with the statement that experiences of threats, violence, or worry have limited their artistic freedom, while 57 per cent fully or partially agree. A significant proportion, 77 per cent, fully or partly agree that these experiences have strengthened their commitment or willingness to express themselves artistically, with 17 per cent in disagreement. Additionally, 20 per cent fully agree that they have considered leaving or avoiding a specific project or subject area due to these concerns.

Figure 27. Statements on the consequences of threats, violence, and harassment related to professional practice, Den norske Forfatterforening, per cent

Comment: For question wording and options, see comment in Figure 24. Number of responses = 35.

Perception of changes in threats, violence, and harassment in Norway over the past three years

The final question in this section addresses respondents’ views on the development of threats, violence, and harassment against artists and authors in Norway over the past three years. A significant proportion of respondents from both organisations indicated that they were uncertain and therefore did not make an assessment (Figure 28). Among those who did respond, 26 per cent of Creo members and 23 per cent of members of the Norwegian Authors' Union perceive the situation as unchanged. Very few respondents believe that threats, violence, or harassment have decreased over this period. Among authors, a third believe that these issues have increased, while a smaller proportion, 13 per cent, of performing artists share this view.

Figure 28. Perception of the development of threats, violence and harassment against artists and/or authors in Norway over the last three years, Creo and Den norske Forfatterforening, per cent

Comment: The question reads: "How do you feel about the following statement? I have experienced threats, violence and harassment against artists and/or authors in the country where I live in the last three years:". Number of responses Creo = 403, DnF = 140.

Sweden : Konstnärernas Riksorganisation and Sveriges Författarförbund

This section presents the results from two organisations in Sweden. Sveriges Författarförbund (SFF) is an interest organisation for active authors and literary translators. It represents authors who write fiction and non-fiction for both children and adults, as well as literary translators in similar fields. Konstnärernas Riksorganisation (KRO) is a trade union representing professional visual artists, crafts artists, and designers in Sweden.

In this section, the term "author" refers to members of Sveriges Författarförbund, while "visual artist" refers to members of Konstnärernas Riksorganisation. The results are based on responses from 1 152 members of Sveriges Författarförbund and 701 members of the Swedish Artists' Union. For further details on the response rate and non-response, see Appendix A.

Experiences of threats, violence and harassment at some point and last 12 months

Figure 29 shows the proportion of respondents who have ever experienced threats, violence, or harassment in connection with their profession as a visual artist or author, as well as the proportion who have experienced this in the past 12 months.

Almost half, 46 per cent, of the visual artists in KRO have at some point been subjected to threats, violence, or harassment, and 12 per cent have been subjected in the past 12 months. Among authors in the SFF, 36 per cent say they have experienced violence or harassment at some point, and 12 per cent have experienced it in the past year.

Figure 29. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats, violence or harassment, Konstnärernas Riksorganisation and Sveriges Författarförbund, per cent

Comment: Number of responses KRO = 701, SFF = 1 152.

Experiences of threats and harassment

The category of threats and harassment includes 14 types of incidents. Nearly one-third of the visual artists have experienced threats or harassment at some point, with 9 per cent having experienced it in the past 12 months (Table 9). The most common types of incidents include face-to-face threats and sexual harassment (9 per cent each), as well as threats and harassment via social media (7 per cent). Over the past 12 months, the proportion of those who have been subjected to different incidents varies between 0 and 2 per cent.

Thirty-five per cent of SFF respondents have experienced threats or harassment at some point, with 12 per cent having experienced it in the last 12 months. The most common types of threats and harassment include threats and abuse via social media (16 per cent), followed by threatening phone calls and emails (9 per cent each), and having their personal information exposed online and receiving threatening letters or postcards (8 per cent each). The proportion of individuals who have faced threats or harassment in the past 12 months is much lower, ranging from 0 to 3 per cent for the different types of incidents.

Table 9. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats or harassment, Konstnärernas Riksorganisation and Sveriges Författarförbund, per cent

	Konstnärernas Riksorganisation		Sveriges Författarförbund
	At some point	Last 12 months	At some point	Last 12 months
Threats or harassment	30	9	35	12
Threatening statement face to face	9	2	7	1
Threatening phone call	5	1	9	1
Threatening sms/mms	3	1	5	1
Threatening letter/postcard	2	0	8	2
Threatening e-mail letter	5	1	9	2
Threats/attacks via social media	7	2	16	6
Sexual harassment	9	1	5	1
Hijacked internet account (or created fake one in your name)	5	2	5	2
Personal information exposed online	3	1	8	3
Unwanted goods ordered in your name	1	0	2	0
Threatening "gift"	1	0	1	0
Being unauthorisedly photographed/recorded	4	1	5	1
Unpleasant visit, stalking or mapping	6	2	6	1
Other forms of intimidation or harassment	4	2	6	2

Experiences of violence, vandalism or theft

Table 10 shows the proportion of responding visual artists and authors who have experienced violence, vandalism, or theft. This category includes seven types of incidents.

Among the members of the SFF, 8 per cent report having experienced violence, vandalism, or theft at some point, while 1 per cent have experienced it in the past 12 months. Violence, vandalism, and theft are much less common than threats and harassment among authors.

A higher proportion of the visual artists, 34 per cent, report having experienced violence, vandalism, or theft at some point, with 5 per cent affected in the past 12 months. This is largely due to the higher incidence of theft and vandalism among visual artists. One in five visual artists has experienced theft of their work at some point. A further 10 per cent have experienced other forms of violence, vandalism, or theft at some point, and 3 per cent in the past 12 months. These incidents mostly involve damage or vandalism to works of art. Violence directed at individuals is very uncommon.

Table 10. Proportion of respondents who have experienced violence, vandalism or theft, Konstnärernas Riksorganisation and Sveriges Författarförbund, per cent

	Konstnärernas Riksorganisation		Sveriges Författarförbund
	At some point	Last 12 months	At some point	Last 12 months
Violence, vandalism or theft	34	5	8	1
Punch, kick or similar	1	0	1	0
Push or similar	2	1	2	0
Violence with weapons	1	0	1	0
Arson/blasting	0	0	0	0
Graffiti	8	1	1	0
Theft	21	2	2	0
Other forms of violence, vandalism or theft	10	3	4	1

Experiences of threats, violence, and harassment by gender, age, foreign background, and occupation

This section describes the experiences of threats, violence and harassment by gender, age, foreign background and occupation.

Experiences of threats, violence, and harassment among women and men

The proportion of KRO respondents who have experienced threats and harassment shows only small differences between women and men, both at some point and in the last 12 months (see Figure 30). However, women are more likely to experience sexual harassment: 11 per cent of women report having experienced sexual harassment, compared with 1 per cent of men. A larger proportion of men have experienced face-to-face harassment, with 13 per cent of men reporting this, compared to 8 per cent of women.

Figure 30. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats and harassment, and violence, vandalism or theft, by gender, Konstnärernas Riksorganisation, per cent

Comment: Number of responses = 701.

A slightly higher proportion of men than women among SFF respondents have experienced threats and harassment, both at some point and in the last 12 months (Figure 31). Specifically, 38 per cent of men have experienced it at some point, compared with 33 per cent of women. This difference is primarily due to men being more likely to have experienced different types of threats. When it comes to violence, theft, and harassment, no major differences are seen between the sexes.

Figure 31. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats and harassment, and violence, vandalism or theft, by gender, Sveriges Författarförbund, per cent

Comment: Number of responses = 1 152.

Experiences of threats, violence, and harassment by among age groups

Figure 32 shows the experiences of threats or harassment across different age groups among the respondents in KRO. As older individuals have typically worked as visual artists for longer, this could affect the distribution across age groups when considering those who have ever been affected. However, the differences between age groups are relatively small. There is a tendency for younger respondents to report having experienced threats or harassment to a greater extent. This pattern is also visible for experiences in the past 12 months, with nearly one in five people aged 20 to 34 having been affected by threats or harassment. These differences can largely be attributed to the higher online presence and visibility of younger people, with threats and harassment via social media being more common among them. It should be noted that both the youngest and oldest age groups have fewer respondents (under 50).

Figure 32. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats and harassment, and violence, vandalism or theft, by age, Konstnärernas Riksorganisation, per cent

Comment: Number of responses = 701.

Figure 33 shows the distribution of experiences of threats or harassment across different age groups among the responding authors. The youngest age group is not included in the analysis due to an insufficient number of respondents. Individuals over the age of 80 are less likely to have experienced threats or harassment, primarily because various types of online threats to a higher extent affect younger individuals.

Figure 33. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats and harassment, and violence, vandalism or theft, by age, Sveriges Författarförbund, per cent

Comment: Number of responses = 1 152. *The age group 20-34 is not reported due to the small number of responses (less than 30).

Experiences of threats, violence, and harassment by foreign background

Figures 34 and 35 show the proportions of respondents who have ever experienced threats, violence, or harassment, and those who have experienced them in the last 12 months, broken down by whether the respondents have a foreign background or not

Foreign background refers to individuals who were either born in a country other than their country of residence (Sweden) or who have two parents born in a country other than Sweden. This variable does not distinguish between the country of birth of the individual or their parents. People who do not reside in Sweden are excluded from the analysis, though they are few. Swedish Authors' Union, number of respondents with foreign background = 118, non-foreign background = 1034. Swedish Artists' Association, number of respondents with a foreign background = 69, no foreign background = 632.

. Among KRO respondents, there are no significant differences between those with a foreign background and those without (Figure 34). However, it is important to note that the number of respondents in the foreign-background category is relatively small, and the results should therefore be interpreted with caution.

Figure 34. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats and harassment, and violence, vandalism or theft, by foreign background, Konstnärernas Riksorganisation, per cent

Number of responses = 701.

The differences are slightly larger among the respondents in the SFF (Figure 35). Forty-seven per cent of those with a foreign background have experienced threats and harassment, compared to 34 per cent of those born in Sweden or with at least one Swedish-born parent. In the past 12 months, 17 per cent of respondents with a foreign background have been subjected to threats and harassment, while 11 per cent of those born in Sweden or with at least one Swedish-born parent have had similar experiences.

Figure 35. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats and harassment, and violence, vandalism or theft, by foreign background, Sveriges Författarförbund, per cent

Comment: Number of responses = 1 152.

Experiences of threats, violence, and harassment by occupation

The final background question addressed in this section concerns occupational field. This refers to the respondent’s own description of their main occupation in the arts, with options covering the professions represented in each organisation.

Figure 36 shows the proportion of visual artists, designers, and crafts artists who have experienced threats and harassment. A slightly smaller proportion, 22 per cent, of crafts artists have experienced such incidents, compared to 32 per cent of both visual artists and designers. The number of responding craft artists is small (63 respondents), so the results should be interpreted with caution.

Figure 36. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats and harassment, and violence, vandalism or theft, by main occupation, Konstnärernas Riksorganisation, per cent

Comment: Number of responses=701. The categories "student member" and "other in the arts" are not reported.

The proportion of respondents in the SFF who have experienced threats, violence, and harassment varies between different occupational categories (Figure 37). This is particularly true for the category of threats and harassment, while there are no major differences in the category of theft, violence, or vandalism. Journalists have the highest proportion: 54 per cent have experienced threats or harassment at some point, and 27 per cent have been affected in the last 12 months. Fiction and non-fiction authors have similar proportions: 41 per cent and 44 per cent have experienced threats or harassment at some point, and 14 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively, have been affected in the past 12 months. Authors of children's literature have experienced threats and harassment to a lesser extent than other categories. The same applies to translators, with 11 per cent having experienced it at some point and 2 per cent in the past 12 months.

Figure 37. Proportion of respondents who have experienced threats and harassment, and violence, vandalism or theft, by main occupation, Sveriges Författarförbund, per cent

Comment: Number of responses = 1 152. The categories "scriptauthor", "playwrightter" and "other in the field of writing" are not reported due to too few respondents (less than 30).

Police reports and cancelled events

Figure 38 shows that one-fifth of the respondents in KRO who have experienced threats, violence, or harassment in the past 12 months have reported one or more of the incidents to the police. The corresponding figure among responding authors in SFF is 13 per cent.

Figure 38. Proportion of respondents who have reported incident(s) to the police, Konstnärernas Riksorganisation and Sveriges Författarförbund, per cent

Comment: Based on those who responded that they had experienced an event in the last 12 months. Number of responses KRO = 82, SFF = 143.

Three per cent of responding authors reported having had events or commissions cancelled in the past 12 months due to concerns or risks related to threats, violence, or harassment. 2 per cent reported similar cancellations for the same reasons among the visual artists.

Concerns about threats, violence, or harassment towards self or family in the last 12 months

Figure 39 shows the proportion of respondents who have been worried about experiencing threats, violence, or harassment, or about their family members being affected in the past 12 months. Among the responding visual artists, 8 per cent have been concerned about experiencing these issues themselves, while 4 per cent have been worried about their family members. The corresponding proportions among the responding authors are 14 per cent for personal concern, and 8 per cent for concern about their family members.

Figure 39. "In the past 12 months, have you been worried that you or a family member would be subjected to threats, violence or harassment as a consequence of your authorship or artistry in the country in which you live?", Konstnärernas Riksorganisation and Sveriges Författarförbund, per cent

Consequences of experiences of threats, violence and harassment

Respondents who reported experiencing violence, threats, and harassment in the past 12 months, or who were worried about experiencing these, were asked to respond to seven statements about the consequences.

Figure 40 presents the responses from visual artists in KRO who have experienced or were worried about such incidents in the past 12 months. Twenty per cent of respondents fully agree with the statement that they needed support or help, and 29 partly agree. Meanwhile, 42 per cent disagree entirely. 10 per cent fully agree that they received support, while 30 percent partly agree. Almost half, 49 per cent, disagree with this statement.

Regarding safety measures, 32 per cent partly agree and 14 per cent fully agree with the statement that they have taken safety precautions. Another notable consequence is that 48 per cent agree (fully or partly) with the statement that they avoided being visible in public or in the media due to concern over threats, violence, or harassment. Half of the respondents do not agree with this statement at all.

Figure 40. Statements on the consequences of threats, violence, and harassment, Konstnärernas Riksorganisation, per cent

Fifty-two per cent of the authors in SFF fully or partly agree with the statement that they have needed support or help because of threats, violence, or harassment. Forty-three per cent fully agree that they have received support or help in connection with these issues. Among those who have experienced threats, violence, or harassment in the past 12 months, 17 percent fully agree that they have taken security measures, and 36 per cent partly agree. 54 per cent fully or partly agree with the statement that they have avoided being seen in public because of these experiences or concerns. However, as with the other statements, a relatively large proportion (42 per cent) does not agree with this statement.

Figure 41. Statements on the consequences of threats, violence, and harassment, Sveriges Författarförbund, per cent

Comment: For question wording and options, see comment in Figure 40.

Figures 42 and 43 show the results for three statements on the consequences of experiences of threats, violence, and harassment related to professional practice.

One-third of the responding visual artists in KRO disagree with the statement that threats, violence, or harassment have limited their artistic freedom (Figure 42). Almost half partly agree, and 15 per cent fully agree. A larger proportion, 24 per cent, fully agree with the statement that their experiences of threats, violence, or harassment have strengthened their commitment to and desire to express themselves artistically. Among those who have experienced threats, violence, or harassment, there is both the sense that these experiences have restricted their artistic freedom and the belief that they have increased their artistic commitment.

For the third statement, which asked whether they have considered leaving or refusing a commission or subject area due to concerns about threats, violence, or harassment, 13 per cent fully agree, while 36 per cent partly agree.

Figure 42. Statements on the consequences of threats, violence, and harassment related to professional practice, Konstnärernas Riksorganisation, per cent

Comment: For question wording and options, see comment in Figure 40. Number of responses = 136.

Of the responding authors who have experienced threats, violence, or harassment in the past 12 months, 63 per cent agree fully or partly with the statement that these experiences or concerns have limited their artistic freedom (Figure 43). Nearly a third disagree. A slightly larger proportion, 72 per cent, agree fully or partly that exposure or concern has strengthened their commitment and desire to express themselves artistically, with almost a quarter fully agreeing. Finally, 15 per cent of authors fully agree with the statement that they have considered not taking on a specific commission due to concerns about threats, violence, or harassment. 40 per cent partly agree, while a similar proportion disagree.

Figure 43. Statements on the consequences of threats, violence, and harassment related to professional practice, Sveriges Författarförbund, per cent

Comment: For question wording and options, see comment in Figure 40. Number of responses = 288.

Perception of changes in threats, violence, and harassment in Sweden over the last three years

Figure 44 presents the respondents' views on the development of threats, violence, and harassment in Sweden over the past three years. Among the SFF respondents, 44 per cent have no opinion. A relatively large proportion, nearly 40 per cent, believe that threats, violence, and harassment have increased during this period, with 5 per cent assessing that the increase has been significant. 12 per cent feel that the situation has remained unchanged, while 1 per cent think that threats, violence, and harassment have decreased.

Among the visual artists, more than half (56 per cent) have no opinion. 30 per cent believe that threats, violence, and harassment have increased or increased significantly, while 13 per cent feel that the situation has remained unchanged. Only 1 per cent state that threats, violence, and harassment directed at artists or authors have decreased over the past three years.

Figure 44. Perception of the development of threats, violence and harassment against artists and/or authors in Sweden over the last three years, Konstnärernas Riksorganisation and Sveriges Författarförbund, per cent

Summary of findings on experiences of threats, violence and harassment

This section summarises the findings and describes overall patterns, focusing on differences and similarities between organisations and occupational groups.

The results indicate that a significant proportion of the artists and authors surveyed have experienced threats, violence, or harassment at some point. The proportion of respondents that has experienced threats, violence or harassment at some point varies between 36 and 61 per cent, depending on the organisation (see Table 11). The proportion of respondents reporting threats, violence or harassment within the last 12 months ranges from 10 to 25 per cent. Notably, members of DAF stand out, with 25 per cent reporting such experiences in the past year, while the corresponding proportion for other organisations is between 10 and 16 per cent.

Table 11. Percentage of respondents who have experienced threats, violence or harassment, at some point and in the last 12 months, per cent

Organisation	Country	Area	At some point	Last 12 months
Creo	Norway	Performing arts	47	10
Dansk Artist Forbund	Denmark	Performing arts	61	25
Billedkunstnernes Forbund	Denmark	Visual arts	50	15
Konstnärernas Riksorganisation	Sweden	Visual arts	46	12
Samband Íslenskra Myndlistarmanna	Iceland	Visual arts	43	10
Den norske Forfatterforening	Norway	Author	45	16
Sveriges Författarförbund	Sweden	Author	36	12
Rithöfundasamband Íslands	Iceland	Author	41	12

The differences observed across organisations may, in part, be attributed to the varying occupational groups and specialisations they represent. Even within organisations focused on the same field, such as performing arts, occupational representation can differ significantly. For example, the Danish organisation DAF primarily represents freelance and self-employed artists, whereas the Norwegian organisation Creo mainly includes employed musicians affiliated with music institutions. In some cases, however, there are greater similarities, allowing for more accurate comparisons among organisations within the same domain. For instance, the three organisations in the survey representing visual artists have a comparable membership composition.

Differences in types of events

Table 12 presents the proportion of respondents, by organisation, who reported experiencing threats and harassment, and violence, theft, and vandalism within the past 12 months. Across all organisations, threats and harassment were more frequently reported than incidents of violence, theft, or vandalism. Experiences of threats and harassment are particularly notable among DAF members, with 24 per cent reporting such instances over the past year. For visual artists' organisations, violence, vandalism, or theft is slightly more prevalent, with approximately 4–5 per cent of members reporting such events.

Table 12. Proportion of respondents experienced in the last 12 months, by organisation and type of incident, per cent

	Creo	DAF	BKF	KRO	SÍM	DnF	SFF	RSÍ
	Performing arts	Performing arts	Visual arts	Visual arts	Visual arts	Authors	Authors	Authors
Threats or harassment	15	24	13	9	7	9	12	12
Violence, vandalism or theft	2	4	4	5	5	1	1	1

Table 13 displays the proportion of respondents who, at some point, have experienced threats or harassment, and violence, theft, or vandalism. Additionally, specific types of incidents are highlighted to provide a clearer understanding of events that may account for differences between groups.

Table 13. Proportion of respondents who has experienced threats or harassment and violence, vandalism or theft at some point, by organisation and type of incident, per cent

	Creo	DAF	BKF	KRO	SÍM	DnF	SFF	RSÍ
	Performing arts	Performing arts	Visual arts	Visual arts	Visual arts	Authors	Authors	Authors
Threats or harassment	42	51	36	30	33	45	35	40
Threatening statement eye to eye	17	17	11	9	11	12	7	11
Threats/attacks via social media	6	13	5	7	5	11	16	16
Sexual harassment	16	20	13	9	14	12	5	12
Violence, vandalism or theft	20	32	34	34	28	12	8	9
Theft	13	21	20	21	20	5	2	1
Other forms of violence, vandalism or theft	4	13	6	10	9	4	4	4

For authors, threats and harassment were the most common types of incidents, with social media and online threats being particularly prevalent. Authors from all three author organisations surveyed were among the groups most likely to have experienced threats and harassment on social media, as well as other forms of online threats, such as threatening emails and cyber-harassment.

Among the performing arts organisations that responded, sexual harassment, face-to-face threats, and theft emerged as the most common types of incidents. Sexual harassment was especially prominent, with 16 per cent of Creo members and 20 per cent of Dansk Artist Forbund members reporting they had experienced it at some point.

For members of the three organisations representing visual artists, theft and vandalism were among the most frequently reported incidents. Around one-fifth of members of the Danish BKF, the Swedish KRO, and the Icelandic SÍM reported experiencing theft at some point. Vandalism, classified under "other forms of violence, theft, or vandalism," was also a common issue among visual artists.

Differences between groups

The survey included a series of background questions, with the results summarised below. For several organisations, the small number of respondents limited the ability to analyse results across subcategories, such as age groups.

Differences in experiences based on profession

Experiences of threats, violence, and harassment vary across different occupational categories. As mentioned earlier, differences between the participating organisations can likely be attributed to the nature of the various professions and cultural fields. The greater the public visibility and contact with the audience, the higher the likelihood of experiencing such incidents. This is also evident when we look at the different professions represented in the respective organisations. However, in some cases, it is not possible to conduct detailed analyses due to small respondent groups. Among the observed trends, translators and children's book authors within the SFF report fewer incidents compared to journalists and authors of fiction and non-fiction. Within the performing arts organisation DAF, differences are also observed, with singers more frequently reporting such experiences than musicians.

Gender differences in experiences of threats, violence, and harassment

There are some differences between women and men regarding the proportion of individuals reporting experiences of threats, violence, or harassment, although these differences are generally small. However, larger differences emerge when examining the types of incidents. Overall, women in performing arts organisations tend to report experiencing threats and harassment more frequently than men, although there are exceptions between organisations. Sexual harassment is the most common type of incident for women across all organisations, except one. Between 8 and 29 per cent of women in the responding organisations have experienced sexual harassment at some point. For men, experiences of threats and harassment are more commonly characterised by direct face-to-face threats, being outed on the internet, and threats via social media.

Younger people are more affected by threats and harassment than older people

For four organisations, we have broken down the proportion of individuals affected by threats and harassment into different age categories. Older individuals, who are likely to have been in the workforce for longer, are more likely to report greater experiences of such incidents compared to younger individuals. However, the results regarding experiences in the last 12 months indicate that younger individuals are more likely to have encountered threats and harassment. These differences are mainly attributed to the increased presence and visibility of younger people on the internet, where a large proportion of threats and harassment occur.

Small response groups with foreign background

It is more difficult to summarise the situation based on background due to small response groups, and the results from the three organisations that allowed for analysis should be interpreted with caution. Additionally, the category of foreign background is broad and does not specify the country or region of origin. For two of the organisations, Creo and KRO, no significant differences are observed between individuals with a foreign background and those without. This applies to both experiences at some point and within the last 12 months. In contrast, within SFF, authors with a foreign background are more likely to have experienced threats and harassment, both at some point and in the last 12 months.