Foreword

Co-operation between the Nordic Ministers of Culture to promote art, culture and media is a core area for the Nordic Council of Ministers. Here in the Nordic countries, we can strengthen our position through greater cultural co-operation across borders. As we face major internal and external societal and global changes, it is clear that a free and vibrant cultural life will play a crucial role in preserving our cohesion, sense of hope and quality of life.

The foundation for the Nordic Council of Minister’s co-operation in the cultural arena lies in our shared history of cross-border exchange between cultural actors, organisations and institutions. The principle of keeping an arm’s length distance between politics and culture provides guidance and underscores the importance of our trans-Nordic programmes, organisations and institutions. The Nordic support afforded to the cultural sector opens the door for network building, the exchange of experiences and common projects, among other things. Measures which emphasise transnational added value must be given priority.

The Co-operation Programme sets the course for Nordic co-operation on culture policy in the 2025–2030 period. As per the programme for 2021–2024, it describes the political goals and priorities that shall contribute towards boosting cultural resilience in the Nordic Region, thereby contributing to the realisation of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Vision 2030 for the Nordic Region to be the most sustainable and integrated region in the world.

Over the coming years, the Council of Ministers for Culture will place special focus on maintaining resilient and democratic societies. Efforts to promote an inclusive cultural life that is accessible to all will be prioritised, not least in order to support children and young people and their well-being. Events over the last few years have shown that two areas which require both discussion and common action are the continued protection of free, artistic expression and our preparedness when it comes to the protection of cultural heritage. Co-operation in previous programme periods on disinformation and the influence of tech giants on democratic discourse, as well as the role of culture and the media in the green transition, have yielded concrete results on which we can build further. Together, the Nordic countries can strengthen the role of culture internationally and build sustainable, resilient societies.

Parisa Liljestrand, Swedish Minister for Culture and
Karen Ellemann, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers

Culture and media actors in the Nordic Region, representatives from civil society and the research community, and the Nordic Council have all provided input on the challenges and areas of co-operation that fall under this programme. Nordic cultural institutions and strategic partners from within the cultural sector who receive financing from the Nordic Council of Ministers have also provided input as part of the process.

Parisa Liljestrand
Swedish Minister for Culture

Karen Ellemann
Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers