Culture and the arts in Malmö

It is the breadth of Malmö´s cultural life that makes it unique, thanks to the city´s combination of independent and institutional cultural bodies. The independent cultural scene, with its innovative and youthful productions in music, and theatre and the visual arts, reveals the presence of artists who are among the foremost in Sweden. Malmö´s cultural life is strongly influenced by the large ethnic and cultural variation among the city´s residents, who have roots in more than 170 countries. Malmö is multicultural in all senses of the word. This creates opportunities for stimulating cross-boundary exchanges, leading to a broad and diverse range of cultural activities and ensuring that the various forms of cultural expression are exposed to constant mutual influence. In brief, Malmö has an extraordinarily vibrant and multi-faceted cultural life.

The activities of the Department of Culture are based on the policy document A Vision, Main Aims, Guiding principles and Aciticity Concept for Culture in Malmö. The document was adopted in 2005. The vision articulates what the Culture Committee wants to achieve - generally - in termins of culture in Malmö. Culture and the Arts in Malmö should:
The following main goal forms the basis of all the operations and activities of the Culture Department: By means of a broader and deeper programme of high-quality cultural activities to encourage more and more people with varying circumstances to experience and actively practise culture to a greater extent and with enjoyment, participation and great involvement.

The overall strategic and development work is being done in the form of strategic programmes and will result in joint plans that will establish the guidelines for key areas of the Department´s operations: Plan för barn- och ungdomskultur, (Access, Diversity and Inclusion Plan for Malmö´s cultural activities) and Plan för vidgat deltagande (Cultural Entitlement Plan for Children and Young People of Malmö).

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