Sweden's cultural heritage can be described as largely based on a skillful reshaping of impulses borrowed from other, larger cultures. But deep down there is a uniquely Swedish poetic tone, characterized by simplicity, but also wit and sensitivity to new impressions, as well as an ever-present love — and respect — for our Nordic natural scenery, which is evident in great Swedish artists like August Strindberg, Ingmar Bergman and Astrid Lindgren.
Astrid Lindgren. Photo: Roine Karlsson
International observers are often amazed at the richness and diversity of the Swedish cultural heritage. Many foreign visitors can hardly believe that Swedish culture is too young to have experienced such epochs as classical antiquity and the Renaissance. Swedish culture is characterized by a constant longing for greatness and a refusal to be content with the role of a small backwater far from the main highway. This applies to literature, design, art, cinema, dance, opera and theater, classic and modern music, architecture, art handicrafts and many other cultural expressions.
During the past decade, Swedish creative culture has undergone a rebirth and opened its doors wide to other countries. The phenomenon of contemporary Swedish creativity has attracted attention internationally, in traditional cultural genres such as literature and art, and especially in more recently recognized art forms such as design, fashion, pop music and gastronomy.