We Expand Worlds A publication by the City of Gothenburg Cultural Affairs Administration, December 2018 Editor: Åsa Nohlström Photography: Lo Birgersson, Frida Winter Text: Marit Larsdotter, Joanna Glad Printing: Stibo We Expand Worlds Culture is a necessary force in an ever-changing world. It is a democratic right that can be thought-provoking and push boundaries. A city where everyone is able to enjoy art and culture is a city that is relevant to people from all over the world. In this publication, we describe how the City of Gothenburg Cultural Affairs Administration’s activities contribute to expanding worlds. Our stages and our different spaces highlight multifaceted stories about our modern age, past times and our future. We provide space for reflection, encounters and discussion. Supporting and safeguarding the independent arts scene and the inherent value of art are vital aspects of our mission. Art and culture should be at the centre of Gothenburg’s development. This is how the city becomes humane. We make it possible to experience our cultural heritage, while also nurturing it for future generations. Knowledge, curiosity about the wider world and receptiveness are the com- mon forces that drive us towards our goal of an open, equal city. Read on, and find out more about some of the people who work with activities that provoke, move and surprise. Anna Rosengren, Administration Director, City of Gothenburg Cultural Affairs Administration Contents 8 “When you get a visit from someone who hasn’t been here before, what do you show them?” 14 A sector for independent arts, culture and funding 16 Art in public spaces 20 “Young people should be visible, be heard and have the possibility to create” 26 Culture rolls in 30 The library – literature, democracy and free speech 32 Libraries enrich children 38 A valuable living room for young people 44 Museums – a context in time and space 46 The importance of preserving artworks 52 The fortified city 56 It’s about human stories 60 Regulations and the City of Gothenburg Culture Programme “When you get a visit from someone who hasn’t been here before, what do you show them?” By interviewing people in a particular city district, shipyard and I would sometimes come here with the Cultural Affairs Administration can find out him, so the whole area is particularly special for me.” what values exist there that may not be immediately ‘Woman, 28’ has lived in the area for many years visible. and likes the fact that as the inner city grows, she is The aim is to secure the place of culture in the living more and more central. ‘Man, 53’ thinks the fast-growing city. old workers’ homes on Lindholmen form a unique environment which he likes showing to visitors. There’s a chilly wind and the sky promises rain. Pas- Vanja nods away as she takes her notes. sengers hurry with determination to and from the The interviews are part of what is known as a Älvsnabben river ferry. In the warmth of Lindhol- cultural consequence analysis – an inventory tool men library, it’s easier to find people who have time for mapping a particular area, much like a social or to answer a few questions. child consequence analysis. The aim is to identify Vanja Larberg and Ylva Berglund from the the area’s potential and see what can be developed Cultural Affairs Administration are on a mission; and integrated as the city district grows. The five well wrapped up, questionnaires in hand, and eyes values mapped in a cultural consequence analysis and ears on high alert. Vanja has done the same are the cultural environment (usually the older built thing before, several times, in Kortedala, but today environment), creative industries (artists/cultural they’re on Lindholmen. The brief is to invent the workers active in the area), identity (how people in less visible cultural values of this Gothenburg the area perceive its essence), aesthetic values and district – and that means culture from a broader meeting-places (both social and cultural). Experts perspective. in each area research their field. In an armchair in the library sits ‘Man, 67’, as he The main focus in the interviews is on me- is known in the anonymous survey: eting-places and identity. What meeting-places are “I love it here by Kuggen, with the water and the there, beyond the ones a short-term visitor can see, light. And the new Älvrummet lobby feels like a such as a library? dynamic space,” he says. “My father worked at the “When we did the interviews in Kortedala for 8 instance, it turned out that the area’s video rental The idea behind producing a cultural planning shop was an important meeting-place,” says Vanja. strategy is to ensure that culture and cultural “It was open late and the owner was friendly and values are included at an early stage as a new area welcoming. We would never have automatically emerges. The hope is that values like those that exist counted the video rental shop as a meeting-place,” in the Lindholmen case in the shape of creative she explains. and cultural businesses such as Gothenburg Film Not since the time of the Million Programme Studios and artists’ studios, which strongly contri- has there been as much construction taking place in bute to the character of the area, should be fostered Gothenburg as there is now. By 2035 the city will and integrated in the planning process. have 80,000 more homes, 80,000 more workplaces Having people and businesses that tell the story and 150,000 new residents. This is a tremendous of the area’s past is importantfor the future of a challenge on many levels: How should we prepare city district. It means a lot that the stories have for a change in climate? been listened to and that these interests have been Where will the skills we need come from? How acknowledged. can we keep the city linked together? In other The city will always change, and to some extent words, there is enough to deal with even disregar- this development is necessary, and there are plenty ding matters such as what residents think of as the of ideas about how to respond to these changes. As essence of an area, what they want to preserve and an example, Mie and Sara mention a studio strategy develop. formulated by the City of Stockholm in which And this – the fact that most other aspects are the Culture Administration is working with the easier to consider and measure and calculate the Property Management Department to ensure that cost of – is exactly why the city’s planners need there are always studios for professional artists – at to focus on the cultural consequence analysis and reasonable rents. cultural planning. On a more overriding level, the aims of the City’s We take the ferry back across the river and make cultural planning are: To clarify the city’s character our way to Norra Hamngatan, where the Cultural and history, lay a good foundation for sustainable Affairs Administration is based. Development development, and increase opportunities for the Managers Mie Svennberg and Sara Schütt are in people of Gothenburg to influence the physical the middle of planning an upcoming meeting with environment. the city’s politicians. Or as Sara Schütt sums it up: “We want to describe the values culture has and “The cultural planning strategy sets the agenda. how important they are in the city of the future,” As we plan the city’s development moving forward, says Mie. the cultural planning strategy helps us to build a The City of Gothenburg’s long-term cultural city together where people want to live, be stimula- planning goal is to create an attractive living en- ted and develop.” vironment in the city. 9 10 11 A SECTOR FOR INDEPENDENT ARTS, CULTURE AND FUNDING Culture opens up worlds where we can come together and discuss, on a foundation of unbiased exploration. Contact with the big issues, and deepened perspectives. Experiences that provoke, move us and make us feel like we belong. 14 The Cultural Affairs Administration’s operations in constantly ongoing. Like everything else, culture the Independent, Arts, Culture and Funding sector grows and changes with the world around us. We encompass a wide range of areas. They include the don’t own the culture scene, instead we have a Cultural Funding and Support Unit and the city’s mission to support the initiatives that exist,” says stage for guest performances, Stora Teatern, as well Myriam Mazzoni, Head of the Cultural Funding as Göteborgs Konsthall and Frilagret. Göteborg and Support Unit. Konst which produces art interpretations for public The fact that art has an inherent value is the foun- spaces across the city. Speldags outreach cultural dation of all artistic activity. And when artists can activities, enriching everyday life for those unable to work freely, the result can be that other values arise travel to events. Summer entertainment that offers like ripples on water. However, creating these values variety and a sense of community. The Gothenburg is not the job of the artist. Dance and Theatre Festival presenting national and “Our mission is to ensure that there is a good international stage art. Events and networks involve foundation in Gothenburg for artists and arts the local culture scene and manifest the power and creators to work and operate freely and indepen- possibilities of culture. The content provided by the dently. After all, if there are no artists, there’s no art. sector takes place throughout the city, inside and in And a vibrant city and its inhabitants need the between the buildings.