Culture

The Öresund region is the largest metropolitan region in the Nordic countries; at the same time it binds Denmark and Sweden together. The meeting of the two countries’ related but still different traditions and languages results in a particular cultural strength and diversity. This also involves a number of challenges and opportunities for culture to function across Öresund, creating a common identity for the entire region.

The identity of the Öresund region is marked by increased diversity, openness and accessibility. Knowledge about the region and a feeling of belonging is now greater on the Swedish side than on the Danish side of the sound. An entire 79 percent of the Swedes identify themselves completely or partly with the Öresund region, while the same figure for the Danes is only 44 percent. However, this common identity is strengthened by the many different cultural activities across the sound, such as the common network for the museums of the Öresund region. Concerning the significance of the area of culture, the inhabitants on the one side do not give culture as high priorities as other areas, but on the other hand, it is the area that they are most satisfied with. (1)

Culture means identity, traditions and expressions; it includes creativity and consumable activities in connection with business and the labour market. A stimulating cultural life is also an important factor when companies decide where to localise.

Culture can be difficult to define and assign figures to. Nevertheless, this chapter describes the cultural employment and the extent of cultural consumption. The tourism sector is also accounted for here, since it is included in consumption and cultural exchange.

(1) Network based urban innovation, Öresundsregionen version 3.0, Basis for IBU’s project on quality, identity and future, Oxford Research, 2009.