General Information
Technical Information
The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture invited stakeholders to contribute to the periodical report with information about their efforts and activities related to the scope of the Convention. Stakeholders include consultations with governmental entities, civil society organizations and non governmental actors.
The UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions was accepted in Iceland in 2007. A significant portion of Iceland’s cultural policies, legislation, regulation and institutional operational frameworks harmonize with the articles of the Convention and did so prior to Iceland’s acceptance of the Convention. Policies such as the National Cultural Policy create a foundation upon which further cultural policies are built in the spirit of the Convention. While a significant portion of the framework within Iceland’s cultural sphere are already in line with the spirit of the Convention, further work within the sector is able to take the articles of the Convention into account to ensure continued progress. This is evident for example in the formulation of Iceland’s updated National Cultural Policy. Iceland acknowledges the importance of culture in all facets of society and its potential for positive impact, for example on economic, social and environmental levels.
Iceland has several cultural funds listed in this report. These provide support to the cultural industry and cultural professionals in several different ways, for example directly supporting exhibitions or events, funding a variety of projects at various different stages of their life cycles, supporting collaboration and cooperation both nationally and internationally, and promotional or marketing purposes. In most cases, these funds have regulatory framework within which to operate to ensure appropriate distribution of grants. Usually allocations are decided by a board made up of individuals appointed to represent relevant groups of stakeholders. Legislation, such as the Act on the Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men (10/2008), also provide an important foundation for the operations of Iceland’s cultural funds, ensuring the equal treatment of both genders in allocations.
The Icelandic school system acknowledges the importance of creative arts and cultural heritage in the school curricula. The fundamental elements of education in Iceland emphasize that students have an understanding of society, culture, the environment and nature. The curricula takes into account national legislation on education, as well as international treaties and other covenants, such as UNESCO guidelines on sustainable development.
The USD exchange rate used in this report is 1 USD = 136.56 ISK, as per the UN Treasury’s UN Operational Rates of Exchange effective as of June 1st, 2020.
Organization type | Organization | Website | |
---|---|---|---|
Civil Society Organization (CSO)
| The Federation of Icelandic Artists
| bil@bil.is
| http://www.bil.is
|
Public Sector
| Ministry of Education, Science and Culture
| mrn@mrn.is
| http://www.stjr.is
|
Public Sector
| Statistics Iceland
| indormation@statice.is
| http://statice.is
|
Public Sector
| The Icelandic Centre for Research
| rannis@rannis.is
| http://rannis.is
|
Goal 1 - Support Sustainable Systems of Governance for Culture
Cultural and Creative Sectors
As a ratio of the total quantity of those employed in the cultural and creative sectors | Male | Female | Total |
Printing and reproduction of recorded media | 8.0% | 2.8% | 10.8% |
Manufacture of musical instruments and jewellery and related articles | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.8% |
Retail sale of cultural and recreation goods in specialised stores | 1.1% | 1.6% | 2.8% |
Publishing activities | 7.0% | 5.4% | 12.4% |
Motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities | 5.6% | 5.5% | 11.1% |
Programming and broadcasting activities | 4.7% | 3.0% | 7.7% |
Architectural activities | 5.6% | 3.7% | 9.2% |
Other professional, scientific and technical activities | 2.9% | 3.8% | 6.8% |
Cultural education | 4.0% | 5.0% | 9.0% |
Creative, arts and entertainment activities | 7.7% | 7.9% | 15.6% |
Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities | 4.3% | 9.3% | 13.7% |
Total | 51.3% | 48.5% | 100% |
From Statistics Iceland (Statice)
Expenditure in the following categories as a ratio of total public cultural and creative sector expenditure | |
Museum affairs | 29.1% |
Cultural institutions | 36.3% |
Cultural funds | 34.6% |
From Government Accounts
Icelandic Film Fund
Submitted by on 07 Jul 2020Artists’ Salary Fund
Submitted by on 07 Jul 2020Antiquity Fund of Iceland
Submitted by on 07 Jul 2020The Children’s Culture Fund of Iceland
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Icelandic Literature Center
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Music Recording Fund
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Architectural Heritage Fund
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020The Design Fund
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Design Policy
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020National Cultural Policy
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Museum Fund
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020The Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies
Submitted by on 06 Aug 2020Iceland Symphony Orchestra
Submitted by on 06 Aug 2020The National Theatre of Iceland
Submitted by on 06 Aug 2020Media Diversity
Media Committee
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Digital Environment
Media for the Future
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Partnering with Civil Society
Grants for the Activities of Amateur Theater Groups
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Youth Fund
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Goal 2 - Achieve a Balanced Flow of Cultural Goods and Services and Increase the Mobility of Artists and Cultural Professionals
Mobility of Artists and Cultural Professionals
Greenland Fund
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020The Icelandic-Finnish Culture Fund
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020The Snorri Sturluson Icelandic Fellowships
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Iceland Design and Architecture
Submitted by on 06 Aug 2020The Icelandic Film Centre
Submitted by on 06 Aug 2020Art for All
Submitted by on 06 Aug 2020Center for Performing Arts
Submitted by on 06 Aug 2020Regional Offensive Strategies
Submitted by on 06 Aug 2020The Swedish-Icelandic Collaboration Fund
Submitted by on 06 Aug 2020Iceland Music (ÚTÓN)
Submitted by on 06 Aug 2020Iceland Music Information Centre
Submitted by on 06 Aug 2020Flow of Cultural Goods and Services
Girls Rock Camp
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Lettie Stuart Pottery in Sierra Leone
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Treaties and agreements
Capacity Development for Education Programme (CapED) Afghanistan
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020The Icelandic Visual Art Copyright Association
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Icelandic Art Center
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Goal 3 - Integrate Culture in Sustainable Development Frameworks
National Sustainable Development Policies & Plans
Professional Theatre Groups Fund
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Sports Fund
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Music Fund
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020International Cooperation for Sustainable Development
The Nordic Council of Ministers
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020EEA Grants
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Goal 4 - Promote Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Gender Equality
Act on the Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men, No. 10/2008
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Gender Equality Studies & Training Programme (GEST under the auspices of UNESCO)
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Artistic Freedom
Freedom of Expression
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Measures and Initiatives reported by Civil Society Organizations
Collaboration of BÍL – Federation of Icelandic Artists with the Icelandic Government on the issues of the arts and culture
Submitted by on 30 Jul 2020Emerging Transversal Issues
Challenges and Achievements
Annexes
Submission
![](https://webarchive.unesco.org/web/20201208004846im_/https://en.unesco.org/creativity/system/files/styles/small_250px/private/signature_iceland.jpg?itok=zUZ175pO)