ADMINISTRATIVE DEFINITIONS OF ARTISTS IN THE NORDIC MODEL OF STATE SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS |
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Authors: | Merja Heikkinen |
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Affiliation: | Head of Research Unit , Arts Council of Finland , PO Box 293, 00171 Helsinki, Finland Phone: +358 9 1607 7061 Fax: +358 9 1607 7061 E-mail: merja.heikkinen@minedu.fi |
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Abstract: | This article considers the role of public arts policy in producing societal definitions for “art” and “artists”. It examines administrative definitions generated and used by the Nordic system of state support for artists and reflected in its administrative categories and structures of decision‐making. Using the concepts of “artistic field” and “artistic classification system” as starting points, the article focuses on the regulated and institutionalized interaction of the state and artistic fields in decision making, and on the administrative categories emerging from this interaction. Through this interaction, professional and administrative definitions of “art” and “artist” are closely intertwined in the four countries discussed. The administrative categories examined show considerable variation between the countries related to differences in the nature of this interaction. The definition power involved in state support for artists is related to the nature of this interaction, as well as to such factors as the legitimating arguments, objectives and criteria for the support. |
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Keywords: | arts policy arts administration artists artistic fields definitions of art state support Nordic countries |
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