The newly established Swedish Curators’ Association aims to strengthen the conditions for Swedish curators. During the spring, discussions have been held with, among others, the Ministry of Culture, which Magasin K was the first to report on. The association’s chair, Marianna Garin, states that the expertise of this professional group is an important resource that has been overlooked.
Text: Matilda Källén
Why did you establish the Swedish Curators’ Association?
– An important reason that became evident during the COVID-19 crisis was the acute situation for an already vulnerable professional group. Many lost their assignments at the same time that the crisis support available for various professional groups did not apply to curators. This led to a discussion about the need for a unified voice to advocate for curators’ issues in Sweden.
What issues have you raised with the Ministry of Culture?
– We are engaged in a dialogue focused on the overall development of the art sector. A constructive change in the support framework for culture is necessary, as well as addressing the unfair distribution of grants among different artistic groups. This profession has existed in Sweden for a long time, but the system has not kept pace. However, I sense that there is an interest in these issues. The field of visual arts and design is inherently weakened, and curators can help strengthen the job market in culture by creating exhibition opportunities, both nationally and internationally.
How will you proceed from here?
– We will continue the discussions and highlight the working conditions. Building networks is also important; we are looking at how other curator associations in the Nordic countries, which have been around longer, have operated, and how we can create a more competitive professional community as well.