It was on Thursday that the Swedish Democrats' party leader Jimmie Åkesson said in an interview with TT about the cultural policy and art debate in Sölvesborg. About cultural policy, he said:
- Culture policy is becoming important now in the situation that has left us in segregation, hundreds of thousands of people living here physically but not mentally. If they are ever to become part of the community of the majority population, then we must make our values and our cultural heritage and way of thinking accessible. It is clear then that cultural policy will play an important role.
Regarding the development of art purchases in Sölvesborg, Jimmie Åkesson said that it was "very politically controlled".
- There have been socialist politicians who have had guidelines on purchasing contemporary, challenging art. Now we say that it should not be, but that you should buy art that people experience as ... yes, art that does not split, offends or provokes, but which most people may think is nice and nice, and on it the way to create cohesion instead of polarization, Jimmie Åkesson tells TT.
"I am amazed at these statements"Now Minister of Culture Amanda Lind (MP) in Dagens Nyheter responds to the statements made by SD's party leader.
- These are startling statements and a terrible view of the free art and artist collective in Sölvesborg, says Amanda Lind and continues:
- I am amazed at these statements. This confirms the authoritarian culture view they have and Jimmie Åkesson confirms in the interview that the art in his eyes should be to create cohesion, not to offend and to form a society according to the ideals of the Swedish Democrats. It is dangerous, says the Minister of Culture to DN.
On Thursday, SVT was able to reveal that the government intends to commission the cultural analysis authority to investigate the principle of arm's length.