126 billion in cultural revenue

The Althing recently approved my proposals for parliamentary resolutions on the visual arts strategy and the music strategy until 2030, along with approving a bill for the first comprehensive legislation on music in Iceland. The goal is clear; to enhance the framework of these art forms for the future.

With the visual arts strategy, a vision for the future of the visual arts environment until 2030 is established, with the main objectives being that Iceland should have a vibrant visual arts culture, that the support system for visual arts in Iceland should be simple and efficient, that Icelandic visual arts should be visible and an increasingly significant industry, and that Icelandic visual arts should hold an international place.

Specific measures are proposed to simplify while also strengthening the institutional and support framework for visual arts and to nurture more effectively than before the infrastructure of the visual arts industry. This can improve the competitiveness of companies and enhance the export and marketing of Icelandic visual arts.

A new music strategy and comprehensive legislation on music is of the same nature; to enhance the framework of the music life in Iceland. The regulations will pave the way for a new Music Centre to be established this year, which is intended to engage in the development and support of all kinds of musical activities as well as export projects across all music genres. Additionally, the centre will handle the registration, management, and dissemination of Icelandic musical works. The establishment of the Music Centre is a significant step towards giving the art form more weight and facilitating the pathway for Icelandic musicians, both domestically and internationally. A new and larger Music Fund will also become a reality. It will combine three existing funds in the field of music. Its key role will be to enhance Icelandic music, sound production, and development work in the music industry. With the establishment of the fund, the funding environment for music will be greatly simplified, and efficiency and impact will be substantially increased!

The regulations similarly include provisions for a special music council that will serve as an advisory body to the authorities and the Music Centre regarding music affairs. The music council is intended to be a powerful consultation platform between the authorities, the Music Centre, and the music sector, as it represents a significant strength that diverse and varied perspectives come forward in all policy-making work in the field of music.

The aforementioned will be crucial to further support culture and the creative industries in the country and to support the growth of those who are in these industries. As evidence of their scope, Statistics Iceland recently published an updated Cultural Index for the second time. According to that index, operating revenues in culture and creative industries exceeded 126 billion ISK in 2021, growing by 5.6% from the previous year. Approximately 15,400 individuals aged 16-74 work in culture, representing about 7.3% of the total number of employed, according to a labour market survey by Statistics Iceland.

I am determined to continue ensuring the foundations of these fields so that they create increased quality of life and value for Icelandic society in the future. I also wish to thank the dynamic group of people from grassroots who contributed to the aforementioned policy-making, their contribution was significantly important.

Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir, Minister of Culture and Business Affairs and Deputy Chair of the Progressives.

The article was first published in Morgunblaðið on 23 May 2023.