SD wants to stop funding the folk theatre: “Socialist project”

The political battle over the Folkteatern in Gothenburg has flared up again. Ahead of the election, both the Moderates and the Sweden Democrats want to dismantle the regional funding for the theater, which they argue has become a politically colored cultural institution.

Folkteatern, which operates with support from the Västra Götaland Region, has been the subject of debate for some time. The Sweden Democrats describe the institution as a “socialist project” and believe that taxpayers’ money should not be used to finance an organization they perceive as politically one-sided.

The Moderates share the view that the region’s financial support should come to an end. According to representatives from both parties, public cultural grants should be redistributed or reduced, and cultural institutions should to a greater extent shoulder their own costs.

The criticism is dismissed by Folkteatern. The theater management emphasizes that the organization has a broad cultural mission and produces performing arts for a wide audience while reflecting contemporary social issues. According to its representatives, the fact that the theater sometimes addresses political subjects is a natural part of art’s mission and not an expression of partisan opinion-making.

Proponents of continued public funding also argue that free and publicly funded cultural institutions are an important part of democracy, and that politicians should not steer content by withdrawing financial support.

Cultural policy debate

The issue of Folkteatern is part of a broader discussion about cultural policy in Sweden. In recent years, the Sweden Democrats have repeatedly criticized publicly funded cultural institutions they believe are characterized by left-wing political perspectives.

The Moderates have also advocated, in several contexts, for a review of cultural grants and have emphasized that tax money should be used more restrictively.

The issue is expected to be part of the cultural policy debate in connection with the election campaign. How the issue develops will be decided after the election and by the political majority in the Västra Götaland Region, which is responsible for financing the Folkteatern.