More than just old bronze men

Not everything that drives our progress is necessarily measurable. Not everything can be quantified or assigned an immediate value. And that’s a good thing! How else could we, as a society, continue to innovate without art, which allows us to imagine what the next step might look like? But first, we must reconcile with the idea that public art is more than just bronze monuments to our past.

As society undergoes major transformations, culture and art need new spaces and ways to assert themselves. Art and culture are not merely aesthetic elements that embellish our daily lives from the sidelines. Instead, they are crucial components of societal development, with artistic expressions acting as both inspiration and catalysts for social transformation.

Art is something to gather around – a social glue. In a growing city like Skellefteå, we need natural meeting points for both new and long-standing residents. Common reference points that connect us. We need art to even begin imagining a better—or worse—world. We need utopias to strive for and dystopias to avoid.

Designed Living Environments with Human Needs at the Centre

Designed living environments refer to a holistic perspective where all aspects of our physical surroundings—buildings, public spaces, and communal areas such as parks—are considered. Here, design, art, heritage, and form interact to create environments centred on human needs. Environments that are inclusive, aesthetically appealing, and sustainable. In short, environments that enhance our quality of life.

Arctic Design Center (ADC) is a three-year project where architecture, design, art, cultural heritage, and form contribute to thoughtfully designed living environments. The aim is to explore new ways of using these disciplines as driving forces for a more sustainable society. The ambition is to influence national policy on designed living environments.

– “We want to see human quality of life take precedence over purely technical efficiency, which is why policies for designed living environments are so important. It’s also vital that these issues are given a long-term and sustainable foundation in society. Designed living environments are about how you and I want to live. It’s very much about equality and building society together,” says Carola Fallgren, Project Manager at ADC.

In times of rapid societal transformation, like the one we are experiencing now, architecture, design, art, and form play a crucial role. They are elements that help us shape, understand, and reflect on both the present and our shared future. They challenge conventions and offer new perspectives, acting as catalysts for innovation and social cohesion.

With Wallstreet Festival and Wasteland on the Horizon

In 2025, Skellefteå, along with several other cities across the country, will host the Wallstreet Festival. This concept of art exhibitions in public spaces brings together artists and local communities to create meaningful places. The festival highlights the importance of art and culture in building societies where people feel at home and thrive. It encourages people to pause and collectively reflect on the artworks.

The festival underscores the role of art in urban development and social interaction, aiming to strengthen a sense of identity and attractiveness. By involving residents in the creative process, the festival actively promotes participation and pride in the local environment.

At the same time, plans are underway to bring the exhibition Wasteland by the artist duo Bigert and Bergström to Skellefteå. The exhibition explores the relationship between humans and the environment. By visualising complex environmental issues in an immediate and engaging way, Wasteland inspires reflection and dialogue about sustainability and responsibility.

The exhibition would be located in Scharinsparken, which is planned to become a cultural park for recreation and inspiration. With the explicit goal of becoming Europe’s first “climate action park,” the park aims to be a meeting place where art, sustainability, cultivation, and industry converge to chart the course for the society of the future.

A cityscape that elevates, inspires, and unites

Culture and art serve as bridges between the past, present, and future. Deliberately integrating art, form, and design into the cityscape allows us to create environments that go beyond mere functionality. By giving art and culture space in the urban landscape, we foster vibrant and dynamic communities where innovation and creativity thrive.

– “When the voices of the people are included in societal transformation, we also foster engagement with the development and the places we live in. This builds a more resilient, inclusive, and cohesive society,” says Carola Fallgren.

Initiatives like the Wallstreet Festival and exhibitions such as Wasteland demonstrate that art is more than just an aesthetic or thought-provoking experience. Art and culture continuously create new meeting points. They strengthen our ability to imagine something better and work together to achieve it.