At a panel discussion at Folk och Kultur at the invitation of the Musicians' Association, our employee Terese Lien Evenstad participated in a panel discussion where she was invited to give a visionary speech for a thriving music industry and a vibrant music life - what will it look like in 2036 if she is our visionary.

Read Terese's speech in its entirety below:

“My vision is that freelance musicians in Sweden in 2036 can make a living from their artistry and nurture their creative voice without burning out before 30. The need for bread jobs and heavy entrepreneurship has decreased significantly, and time and focus can instead be put on artistic creation and development.

This is made possible by long-term structures and reasonable working conditions. Internationally, we see examples such as Ireland, where a basic income for cultural workers was introduced permanently in 2025.

In Sweden, there is already a system that shows that security in freelance work is entirely possible. Through Musikalliansen, 171 musicians have employment with a monthly salary, the possibility of leave for concerts and access to society's security system.

By 2036, these types of conditions will no longer be limited to a few established musicians, but will be a fundamental part of the entire professional music life. This means that musicians no longer have to endure years of precarious working conditions, but can find security early in their careers – a prerequisite for a diverse, vibrant and sustainable music life.

We don't want a musical life that is only available to those who can afford to be musicians – where financial sustainability determines who gets to be heard and work. Because the creative voice is not only crucial for the musician, but a resource for the entire society.

Through experiences, community and meeting places – where people meet across generational, class and cultural boundaries – music contributes to both mental and physical health. In concerts, choirs, festivals and local music scenes, belonging is strengthened for both young and old, and the social fabric of society is kept alive.

But the creative voice is also something bigger than that. It is a force that drives social development forward – that challenges, reflects, unites,
and that creates meaning in times of change.

I have a daughter who is now four months old. I want her creative voice to be awakened early – in preschool, through music and rhythm with trained music educators.

When she grows up, I want a cultural school and public education that is accessible to everyone, regardless of zip code or parents' finances. Where she can meet musicians and role models and feel: This could also be me.

As a young adult, I wish that if she wants to pursue music, she would encounter a musical life where she can make a living from her profession – without having to choose to abandon her creative voice or burn out along the way.

And when she is old one day, I hope she encounters music even then, through touring music groups at nursing homes. Music that evokes memories, creates meaning and provides a dignified end to life.

When we invest in music life, we are also investing in children's development, the future of young people, the health of adults and the quality of life of the elderly. Therefore, my vision for 2036 is a Sweden where culture and music life do not need to defend their existence, but are seen as a natural part of a prosperous society.”


Terese Lien Evenstad, Folk and Culture, 5 February 2026