The Iceland University of the Arts and the Association of Icelandic Artists called for a panel discussion on arts and culture last November 17, where the attendees had the opportunity to talk to the candidates about their policy issues in the issue.
The moderator was Vigdís Jakobsdóttir, cultural consultant and director.
Candidates were asked questions they were asked to answer with yes or no.
Here you can find the answers of the categories to questions.
In the upcoming elections, it is necessary that arts and culture be the focus, but the direct contribution of culture and creative industries in Iceland is about 3.5% of GDP. At the same time that arts and culture create jobs and improve society, the total reduction of capital between the years 2024 and 2025 in the field of culture is 365.4 million ISK in next year's budget proposal. If this development becomes a reality, it will have negative consequences on the working environment of artists permanently.
Culture and the arts are social multipliers and contribute to improved social welfare, increasing cohesion, quality of life and happiness the Iceland University of the Arts educates artists of the future, and therefore it is very important that the government enforces the decisions that have already been made regarding the school coming under one roof as soon as possible. A dynamic art college in a professional facility under one roof will translate many times over into the cultural life of the people for the foreseeable future.
The following candidates participated in the debate on behalf of their respective parties:
Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir (B - Progressive party)
Jón Gnarr (C - Restoration)
Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir (D - Independence Party)
María Pétursdóttir (J - Socialist Party)
Sigríður Andersen (M - Central category)
Halldóra Mogensen (P- Pirates)
Dabjört Hákonardóttir (S - Samfylking)
Rósa Björk Brynjólfsdóttir (VG - Left green)
Below you can see the recording of the meeting in its entirety: