In 2011, a new decentralised structure will be piloted for the state contribution to cultural activities. This may have an effect on the study associations’ important freedom to arrange cultural activities on their participants’ terms.“Sweden is facing a paradigm shift which will demand increased cooperation within and between study associations and collaboration with other non profit organisations” is the opinion of the Swedish Adult Education Association (Folkbildningsförbundet).

In Sweden, the implementation of the government’s new decentralised cultural policy is based on a number of government reports. The 2009 cultural report proposed that the country’s regions should have more influence on and responsibility for the distribution of state funding for culture. These ideas were followed up by the 2010 Cultural Cooperation Report and the concept “Interaction – a new model for state support for regional cultural activities”. In short, this involves the development of a new cultural policy in which the organisations of civil society and local authorities are expected to work together in a new and more organised way.

More effective

Under the proposed new cultural policy, each of the country’s regions will be obliged to draw up a regional cultural plan describing local cultural activities and the distribution of resources. The plans will then form the basis for the distribution of the state cultural subsidy.

The government has two main reasons for implementing this decentralisation process: it is expected to make the procedure more effective by adapting cultural support to regional differences and conditions. It is also expected to be democratic by encouraging local involvement in culture.

The Swedish parliament has not yet voted to go ahead with the decentralisation of cultural activities but there are still big changes to come in 2011. A pilot scheme is currently being rolled out in five regions: Västra Götaland, Skåne, Halland, Gotland and Norrbotten county. The idea is to launch the model in these five regions as of 2011 and for the whole country to be included within five years.

Adult education

With such a radical restructuring the changes will unavoidably also have an effect on the cultural activities of the study associations. A strict regional cultural structure may mean that the study associations’ willingness and ability to cooperate with other players in society will have a crucial impact on the structure of their own cultural activities.

The question is to what extent the study associations will be forced to adapt their own cultural activities to the requirements of the local authorities and other interest holders. The study associations may, for example, be expected to give up the basic principle of independence which has hitherto been an essential feature of Swedish adult education.

The study associations have of course already been involved in projects in close cooperation with local authorities and non-profit organisations. But in the future the government’s requirement for regional and local cooperation in cultural matters may mean that the study associations will have to pay more attention to the needs of others, for example the needs of industry and the labour market.

Opportunities

The umbrella organisation of the Swedish study associations, the Swedish Adult Education Association, is responsible for promoting the concept of adult education and strengthening the position of the study associations in society. Their concern is now that the regionalisation will be pushed through too quickly.

“Our impression is that many cultural institutions are now concerned to justify their current roles and financial contribution. This may help to guarantee continued support for spectator culture,” says Maicen Ekman, the association’s Secretary General,. “It is therefore particularly important for us in the study associations to look for new ways of cooperating with other organisations – new target groups and new arenas.”

But the new regional structural model may also bring new opportunities for adult education. There is an inherent expectation that the study associations will get involved in dialogue and agreements on all levels so that adult education becomes a resource in the regional operation.

“The study associations are of course already working with other organisations within the social field, integration and culture. This means we can be a forum for decision makers, the public and association activities,” says Maicen Ekman.

Core values

A report recently published by the Swedish Adult Education Association analyses the new cultural policy on the basis of the current role of the study associations and adult education in society. It discusses among other things the threat to the freedom and independence of adult education.

“The risk is that the study associations will become one of many producers in a large education market, or one of many amateur cultural organisations offering the cultural activities that the regions/local authorities want to have. This means that the local authorities will call the tune, the associations will be the providers and the participants will be the customers.”

“On behalf of the study associations, we must therefore protect the core values of adult education on all levels and at all times, in order to draw attention to the study associations and ensure their activities are valued.”