In the spring of 2022, SI introduced the crisis support programme Crisis Support Ukraine. It was a targeted call where SI directly contacted several well-established and experienced Swedish organisations, inviting them to submit concept proposals, which were further developed in dialogue with SI. The initiatives were also shaped in direct contact with Ukrainian partners, based on the specific needs of Ukrainian cultural actors.
The idea behind the support was for Ukrainian change-makers to be able to continue their professional work despite all the obstacles, to create new professional contacts in Sweden and other countries, for them to acquire new knowledge and creative tools, but also to gain respite and be able to plan for their future.
During the spring of 2022, SI received about 20 applications, of which it was possible to approve funding for twelve. The programme’s total budget amounted to just over 10 million SEK. The funded projects were highly varied: literature and theatre, feature films and documentaries, contemporary art and architecture, to name a few. In terms of project format, residencies were particularly popular.
Examples of Projects:
- Stockholm and Gothenburg Film Festivals: Both had Ukraine and Ukrainian film as the thematic focus of their programmes. The Gothenburg Film Festival also arranged residencies for Ukrainian filmmakers in Sweden. This residency format continues after the project’s conclusion, with other funding. The 2023 residency program resulted in, among other things, a film that found a co-producer from Gothenburg and premiered at the Berlin festival in February, as well as a short film shot in Ukraine.
- B2B Doc, a regional documentary network, arranged emergency residencies for Ukrainian female documentary filmmakers in Sweden and other European countries. B2B also organized a series of pitches for their documentaries at international industry events and helped the female directors find necessary funding to complete their projects.
- Baltic Art Center in Gotland and the SWAN artist residency network launched residency programs for Ukrainian artists in need. They hosted over 30 Ukrainian artists in Sweden. Additionally, they supported existing cultural residencies in safer parts of western Ukraine, organising exhibitions, discussions, and webinars.
- The art venue RIKSTOLVAN in Skåne opened its doors to Ukrainian playwrights. Several new Ukrainian plays were written in Sweden, one of which was purchased by the Gothenburg City Theatre and performed in 2023. RIKSTOLVAN became a hub for Ukrainian drama in Sweden, organising drama therapy sessions for refugee children, performances, public readings, film screenings, and exhibitions. Since 2023, the residency is supported by the Nordic Culture Point, and the project also includes a secretariat for the translation of contemporary Ukrainian drama.
- The literary magazine 20-tal worked on translating, publishing, and promoting new Ukrainian literature in Sweden – with a special focus on contemporary Ukrainian prose written by women. This fall, the magazine published its most extensive issue ever with a theme on Ukraine, covering humour, poetry, humanitarian work, history, dance, film, and imagery. It highlighted how small joys of daily life and uplifting solidarity must find space even under the most dreadful circumstances.
- The Swedish Architects Association, together with their Ukrainian counterparts, created a platform for professional exchange and networking between Swedish and Ukrainian architects, considering the immense reconstruction work that awaits Ukraine after the war. The Swedish architects and their Ukrainian colleagues held a series of workshops and seminars on topics such as memory and material cultural heritage, the architecture of war, and strategic insights for the upcoming reconstruction. These professional discussions laid the groundwork for a digital exhibition and a professional publication, which are now available on their website.
Continued Support for Ukraine:
SI continues to support Ukraine in various ways. Through the SI Ukraine Cooperation Programme, Swedish actors and their partners in Ukraine are offered grants to jointly carry out projects aimed at supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction, reform efforts, and EU integration in areas such as inclusive economic development, entrepreneurship and trade, as well as human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and gender equality. The projects selected for funding under the 2024 call will be announced shortly.
The SI Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme funds projects where Swedish organisations work with cross-border challenges and opportunities alongside organisations from EU countries around the Baltic Sea and countries in the EU’s Eastern Partnership, including Ukraine. A new call will open in November.
The SI Creative Partnerships Programme provides an opportunity for Swedish actors cooperating with several countries in the Eastern Partnership, multilaterally. The program enables cooperation projects focusing on democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression. The next call is tentatively scheduled to open in December 2024.