Cultural Affairs and Arts

Policy accepted October 10, 2024

That funding be provided for the most diverse cultural sectors possible, such as all art forms, museums and art galleries, national culture, academic work, media and libraries, swimming pools and other community spaces.

To promote the culture and arts of marginalized groups, such as through media publication, traveling exhibitions, concerts, or art workshops, for their benefit and health promotion.

To review the operations and strategy of Harpa concert hall and to promote culture and life throughout the building.

A dance house to be established in cooperation between the state and municipalities, with the participation of professional associations of dancers and choreographers.

That the independence of the media be ensured and the publication of those media strengthened that are based on healthy criticism and strive to analyze all class angles of society.

That a copyright policy be enacted in accordance with the current intellectual property policy

To promote the participation of immigrants in art education and access to cultural life with a special initiative.

That artists' salary funds be significantly strengthened, the number of recipients increased, and the duration of salaries extended, along with an increase in project grants.

That culture and the cultural industry always have environmentally friendly standards and work is done according to the strictest requirements in climate matters.

For everyone to be able to enjoy culture and arts regardless of economic status, class or position.

That the culture of all societal groups is held in high regard and that it, along with various art forms, is given equal consideration.

To ensure the operation of libraries and cultural centers throughout the country, along with activity centers with community kitchens that are accessible to all, and to define their role and societal importance.

That a national opera be established and given a place in laws on performing arts in the same way as Þjóðleikhúsið.

That Icelandic filmmaking be greatly strengthened with a stronger fund system that supports more diverse film projects, in addition to preparing the ground for the development of an Icelandic streaming service.

To increase the number of independent scholars and ensure their livelihood security.

To ensure access for all to art education regardless of economic status by abolishing tuition fees.

That foreign artists be granted access to the cultural space and that foreign artists from outside Evrópusambandsins receive a residence permit to work on their art.

To ensure the rights and conditions of artists at institutions that receive public grants.

A Ministry of Culture should be established to ensure the advancement of arts and culture within the administration as well as within society.

Additional content

This detrimental culture has prevailed for the past 30 years in all corners of the world and has permeated societies with its negative values, now threatening our living conditions and the planet. Culture, whether popular culture or the arts, should take into account humanity and nature and be for the benefit of all, not just the few and powerful, with a vision for the future, young generations, and guided by empathy and humanity.

For everyone to enjoy culture and arts regardless of economic status, class, or position, it is important to abolish general admission fees to publicly run cultural and art institutions, and also to promote a strong foundation for artistic and cultural life through education in creative fields. Digital culture shall also be supported by the state and made accessible to all schools and educational institutions.

All cultural work in Iceland shall be strengthened, and a special effort shall be made to promote independence, self-identity, increase visibility, and encourage the participation of marginalized groups such as prisoners and people in healthcare institutions, as well as immigrants and people of other ethnic backgrounds.

It is important that state contributions reflect the diversity of Icelandic culture in the 21st century and multiculturalism as part of Icelandic society. Thus, state contributions shall also be a tool for equality when it comes to the creation of and access to culture for all who live in Iceland. State financial contributions in any form shall therefore also be evaluated by interdisciplinary experts in the fields of arts and culture, as well as in social sciences. Furthermore, cooperation between cultural institutions throughout the country shall be promoted so that funds are utilized in the best possible way for professional activities.

To promote the culture of marginalized groups, it is important that their voices are heard, for example through the publication of media or street newspapers, traveling exhibitions, concerts, and other benefits for them, and also that art workshops and other cultural activities can be used as health interventions and prevention, for example for disabled people and the elderly.

Libraries and cultural centers throughout the country shall be redefined from the ground up, along with swimming pools and other social spaces, and neighborhood culture in cities and towns shall be ignited with activity centers accessible to all and including community kitchens. The role of religious institutions as social spaces with open arms shall also be re-evaluated.

Creative industries are also an industry that the state must cultivate and support, just like other industries in the country. It is important to operate concert halls, a national opera, and dance houses alongside the large theaters, but it is also important that these venues serve art and the people, not the other way around. Therefore, an assessment of the operations and strategy of Harpa concert hall shall be conducted, and culture and life throughout the building shall be strengthened.

Icelandic filmmaking shall be greatly strengthened with a stronger fund system that supports more diverse film projects, in addition to paving the way for the development of an Icelandic streaming service.

It is important to review the purpose and operation of media, and investigative journalism shall enjoy immunity as an analytical force in society. An investigative journalism fund would then be established to support journalists who need space and funds to carry out long-term investigative work. Freedom of opinion must also be ensured at the national broadcasting service, and that all voices from all social strata are broadcast. Thus, for example, there shall be increased participation of immigrants and workers in the content creation of the national broadcasting service, presenting a true picture of Icelandic society. Furthermore, independent scholars shall be guaranteed a livelihood, especially if they broaden their perspective with an emphasis on the voiceless and the poor.

It is important that educational policies promote creative fields and ensure access for all to art education by abolishing tuition fees and with a special effort regarding marginalized groups who are less likely to pursue art education.

The Socialist Party wants to ensure economic security for artists to work independently on their art, regardless of market fluctuations and exclusion by a clique society. The conditions for artists shall be better secured by increasing the number of artist salaries and extending the period for which they are granted, along with an increase in project grants, and also by ensuring the rights and conditions of artists working for institutions that receive public funding. Furthermore, artist salary funds for performing artists are urgent when there are often breaks between projects and many of them are self-employed throughout their careers. It is also important that foreign artists are granted access to cultural spaces and that artists from outside the European Union receive residence permits to work on their art.

Culture and the cultural industry must and shall always consider gender, origin, and class when formulating policies and implementing their content, treating everyone equally. The aim shall be to make culture-related jobs family-friendly, and also for the cultural industry to always adhere to environmentally friendly standards and work according to the strictest requirements in climate matters. Furthermore, a Ministry of Culture shall be established to ensure the advancement of arts and culture within the administration as well as within society as a whole.