Task to highlight good sporting activities
In 2012 the Swedish National Centre for Research in Sports at the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences has the task of analysing why some children and young people stay in club-run sporting activities and others do not.
Committee to review press subsidies
Photo: Pernille Tofte
On 15 December the Government decided to appoint a parliamentary committee to review state subsidies to the daily press. Professor Hans-Gunnar Axberger will chair the committee. Its tasks will include analysing the need for support and presenting proposals on the design and administration of a future support system. The final report is to be submitted by 31 August 2013.
Umeå Capital of Culture a task for cultural institutions
Photo: Robert Rösth
Twenty-two agencies and institutions in the cultural sphere have been tasked with working collaboratively with Umeå Municipality to look into their role ahead of and during Umeå's year as European Capital of Culture in 2014. The municipality of Umeå is preparing a programme based on eight Sami seasons and built around a range of programme areas.
New Chair of the Swedish Film Institute
On 15 December the Government appointed Göran K Johansson as the new Chair of the Swedish Film Institute Foundation (SFI) for the period 1 January 2012-31 December 2014. Prior to joining the SFI, Mr Johansson was Chair and CEO of Concerts Sweden.
Ministers study cultural heritage in practice
On 7 December, Minister for Culture Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth and Minister for Employment Hillevi Engström visited Arkivcentrum, Upplandsmuseet and the State Archives in Uppsala to see examples of how the Boost for Cultural Heritage initiative will work in practice. The Boost for Cultural Heritage was presented in the Government's Budget Bill for 2012 and is an initiative that gives people with disabilities the chance to return to the labour market. Jobs are being created to digitise, inventory and preserve cultural heritage.
VAT exemptions for voluntary activities and match-fixing discussed at Council meeting in Brussels
Minister for Culture and Sports Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth took part today in the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council (EYCS) meeting in Brussels. Discussions at the Council meeting focused on VAT exemptions for voluntary activities, match-fixing and the growing importance of cultural and creative industries.
- The issue of match-fixing is important and there are problems in various parts of Europe, even if we are fortunate that it is not so common in Sweden. I have presented Sweden's position, stating that the role of the EU is unclear, and instead emphasised the responsibility of sport organisations and gaming companies, says Ms Adelsohn Liljeroth.
New State Secretary Joakim Stymne
Photo: Marika Thorn Gillström/Government Offices of Sweden
The Government decided today to appoint Joakim Stymne as State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture. Mr Stymne will take up his position with immediate effect. From 2006 until now, Mr Stymne has worked as State Secretary for International Development Cooperation at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. As previously announced, State Secretary Ingrid Eiken is leaving the Ministry of Culture to take up a position on 15 February 2012 as Managing Director of Mäklarsamfundet (association of estate agents).
Björn Eriksson new national coordinator for safe sporting events
Photo: Government Offices of Sweden
Former County Governor Björn Eriksson was today appointed national coordinator to combat crime in connection with sporting events. His mandate includes working for better coordination between relevant government agencies and organisations at central, regional and local level.
In March 2011, the Government tasked the late County Governor Per Unckel with working to achieve better cooperation between relevant agencies and organisations at central, regional and local level to combat sports-related crime. He was also to help clarify the division of responsibility between relevant parties and facilitate efforts to draw up a uniform model for information exchange. Björn Eriksson will now continue this work. He is to regularly inform the Government Offices about this work and present proposals on how to combat crime in connection with sporting events. The final report is to be presented by 31 March 2013.
Decision on Boost for Cultural Heritage
On 15 December, a government decision was made concerning the ordinance on the regulatory framework for the Boost for Cultural Heritage. The Swedish National Heritage Board will be responsible for administering the initiative and the grants. It is estimated that the Boost for Cultural Heritage will result in some 4 400 people taking up development employment in the area of cultural heritage in 2012-2014.
The Government prioritises Baltic Sea issues
On Thursday the Government decided to mandate all 21 county administrative boards and 34 government agencies to work actively on Baltic Sea issues. The Government is also establishing a network of agencies to implement the EU Baltic Sea Strategy, under the leadership of the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth.
The agencies that come under the Ministry of Culture and which have been mandated with contributing to the implementation of the Strategy are the Swedish Museum of Natural History, the Swedish National Heritage Board and the National Maritime Museums.
