What conditions does culture in Boden need to develop? How can the municipality of Boden contribute to this work? This is presented in Boden Municipality’s proposed cultural plan for 2022-2026.
As Boden grows, it is important that the city is not just a place for industry, or for nature experiences for that matter. Boden Municipality believes that more values are needed to create an attractive place to live and work. Here, culture is a very important factor. With an open, accessible and dynamic cultural life, Boden becomes an exciting and interesting place to live and work. Culture challenges, brings us together, creates unexpected meeting places and stimulates renewal and innovation. It improves the quality of life for residents and helps to attract new visitors and residents to the municipality.
The Culture North project in Harad attracts participants of all ages.
This is the reason why the culture, leisure and youth department at the municipality of Boden has developed a new cultural plan for the municipality of Boden in 2021, which will apply for the period 2022-2026. The plan shows the municipality’s will for what needs to be prioritized and what efforts need to be made to create an even more open and accessible cultural life for all current and future residents of Boden.
The proposal has been developed together with representatives from the cultural sector, cultural associations, seniors, young people and residents of Boden with the aim of investigating the needs and development areas that should be prioritized for a better cultural life in Boden.
Strategic development areas
The cultural plan is divided into five strategic development areas that will be the focus of the next four years. The areas of development are:
- An inclusive cultural life
- Good conditions for creators
- Creative and increased collaboration
- Cultural public spaces & meeting places
- A more visible cultural life
Culture Night in Boden.
Based on these development areas, the municipality has planned a wide range of actions for the coming years. Much of it is about increased inclusion and collaboration between different bodies to enable everyone to participate in cultural life: children, young people, the elderly, national minorities, people with disabilities and rural residents. This applies to experience, participation, creation and influence in culture.
Another important issue is premises and public spaces. Here the municipality wants to promote a central meeting place for cultural events, promote meeting places for creative work throughout the municipality and adapt more of the municipality’s premises for various cultural activities. The role of culture in urban planning will also be strengthened through early involvement in the process. The municipality also wants to strengthen the conditions for cultural creators through networks, dialogues, skills development and increased support.
Timetable
A draft cultural plan has been prepared during 2021 and was presented on 26 October. Until November 7, residents could read the plan and make comments. After adjustment based on the comments received, the cultural plan goes to the Culture, Leisure and Youth Committee for decision. The aim is for the plan to be adopted by the Culture, Leisure and Youth Committee in December 2021 and then by the City Council in January 2022.
The implementation of the plan is a common concern for the whole municipality and the plan will be subject to annual monitoring. In 2023/2024, a deeper qualitative follow-up and updating of the cultural plan will be carried out. The outcome of this can, if necessary, result in revised objectives and adjustments to the content and focus of each development area. In 2026, the implementation and impact of the plan will be evaluated for further development of a new plan.
Nina Uusitalo, cultural developer at the municipality of Boden.
Contact
Nina Uusitalo, Cultural Developer, Culture, Leisure and Youth Department, Municipal Management Administration, tel: 0921-62490, e-mail: nina.uusitalo@boden.se
