DRAFT 2009
Le Centre Culturel Suédois à Paris (CCS, now Institut Suédois Paris; Swedish Institute in Paris) was about to be closed down according to proposals from the Swedish government in the spring and summer 2009 . Here I intend to develop a presentation of some of the opinion activities, publications and other manifestations in support of the institute. The outcome of the process where our activities certainly played a role: The institute was not closed! For now here are some items and links, all of them in Swedish. Later I might search and publish material in English and French. Any suggestions are very welcome, to ake.sandberg2 (a) gmail.com
On the French national holiday, le quatorze juillet, July 14, a musical and cultural event in support of the CCS was organized at Mosebacke Etablissement in Stockholm. Many musicians and others performed, speaches were held, and jazz musician Claes Janson presented them all. A numerous audience enjoyed the evening and manifested their support. Media covered the event in several articles and transmissions. Here is the flyer for the event: Mosebacke Event 14 July 2009 and there are fine photos of artists and speakers by Joar Jacobsson.
When it comes to publications and opinion articles, as the planned closing down was of a national cultural concern we first tried the two leading Stockholm morning newspapers, Dagens Nyheter and Svenska Dagbladet, both declined publishing in spite of very competent authors. We however found to good channels, Uppsala Nya Tidning in the university town of Uppsala and very respected when it comes to cultural and research policy, and Göteborgs-Posten, the dominating journal on Sweden’s west coast and second city Gothenburg.
In a first article leading representatives from Royal Swedish academies, including the Swedish Academy that awards the Nobel Price in litterature wrote in Uppsala Nya Tidning, July 21, 2009: “Rädda Svenska institutet i Paris”
An opinion article in Göteborgs-Posten was written and signed by leading personalities mainly from the cultural and research sectors , July 22, 2009: “Sverigebilden utomlands kräver Svenska Institutet”
I wrote a short opinion piece in Aftonbladet, August 12, 2009: “Svensk posei i Paris ställs mot vårdbehov i Sverige” criticizing a writer for arguing in a rather populist way that as long as there were unsatisfied needs in hospital care in Sweden, money should not be used for something like a CCS in Paris.
Swedish public radio, Radio Sweden broadcast several programmes on the closing and our Mosebacke event and articles. A direct transmission was made in the channel Radio Stockholm, interviewing singer Maya de Vesque, Claes Jansson and Åke Sandberg during the event preparations in the afternoon, which informed people about what’s on later that evening.
An interview in Rdio Sweden’s programme ‘Mitt i Musiken’ (In the middle of the music) , Sveriges Radio P1, was published July 14, 2009. Interview with musician Claes Jansson