Swedish art on display in European Parliament

Every country holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU gets the opportunity to showcase an art exhibition together with the European Parliament. On 26 April, Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand unveiled the Swedish Presidency’s exhibition in the Parliament in Brussels.

Commissioned by the Swedish Government, Public Art Agency Sweden has supplied works of art for the exhibition, which are on display in the Parliament during the Presidency.

“Art and artists play a crucial role in democratic society. Art can promote mutual respect and understanding, and it can lead us to challenge and reassess our own world view. In a time characterised by rapid changes, art can create valuable opportunities for contemplation and reflection,” says Ms Liljestrand about the exhibition.

The exhibition consists of selected work from the European Parliament’s art collection and what’s known as the Corona Collection, the latter of which includes over 500 works of art by around 350 artists working throughout Sweden. In 2021, Public Art Agency Sweden was allocated SEK 25 million to increase the State’s art purchases, the aim being to support Swedish arts during the pandemic.