Effects of Cultural Politics on Artistic Selection

A sub-project within the research program, Musikskapandets villkor (“Conditions of Music–Making”).

Every creative artist in modern society, sooner or later, ends up in a situation where aesthetic ideals are confronted by economic limitations. This can include the grant requirements for awarding of financial support, or value in a commercial market environment. For an independent musician, it can sometimes be a balancing act between musical ideals and the possibility to earn a living.

The project explored the effects of state-funded cultural support on free-lance musicians and is a sub-project within the research program, Musikskapandets villkor (“Conditions of Music–Making”), which was a collaboration between Svenskt visarkiv and Umeå University. The study was led by Dan Lundberg, the head of Svenskt visarkiv, during the period September 2010–2011. The project final report Bilder ur musikskapandets vardag. Mellan kulturpolitik, ekonomi och estetik was published in 2014. The project leader was Professor Alf Arvidsson at Umeå University. The project was supported from Vetenskapsrådet (Swedish Research Council).

Dan Lundberg’s study resulted in three scientific articles and a number of conference reports.