In an email to TT, the Swedish Academy's permanent secretary Mats Malm comments on the initiative of the Academy.

“Nothing is normal at all now. The situation requires openness to the unusual of all, ”he says.

The Swedish Academy awards each year between SEK 15 and 20 million in grants and awards of own funds and from the foundations that are managed.

“In this situation, it seems reasonable to redistribute some of the funds allocated for applications to customary arrangements, but also allocate equally new funds. Five million should be able to do some good, ”states Mats Malm.

The majority will be used for work grants but some will also go to support organizations due to events that have been affected.

The Writers' Union, Dramatikerförbundet and Svenska Pen have participated in appointing the judging group. The forms are now being processed and the announcement will open in the coming weeks.

TT: Who will be able to get the money?

"They are primarily aimed at writers, cultural writers and translators in the areas of the Academy, the Swedish language and literature," replies Mats Malm.

TT: Is the money enough?

“In this situation, there is probably nothing enough. We think this should lead to a lot of good. "