According to Statistics Sweden (SCB), the number of admissions and graduates from art and culture education programs saw an increase in 2022 compared to the previous year. The number of students who successfully completed their education reached its highest level since the programs began in 2015.
Art and culture education programs are a distinct form of education with their own structure and regulations. These post-secondary programs are divided into three types, each with different objectives. Preparatory programs aim to prepare students for higher education leading to artistic degrees. Vocational programs focus on developing professional skills within the artistic and cultural field. Heritage programs aim to preserve and enhance cultural heritage. The first art and culture education programs started in the second half of 2015 but were previously conducted as supplementary education.
Three-quarters of the students in art and culture education programs are women. The number of admissions increased for the second consecutive year, with 3,000 individuals starting their studies in 2022. While this represents a slight increase compared to the previous year, the level remains consistent with most previous years. In 2020, there was a significant decrease in admissions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly affecting shorter-duration programs. Since 2015, approximately three-quarters of admitted students have been women.
Women are overrepresented in all types of education programs. The gender distribution is most uneven in heritage programs, where 82% of the students are women.
The completion rate for students in art and culture education programs slightly decreased in 2022 compared to 2021 but remained higher than the years between 2017 and 2020. In 2015, the completion rate was high, mainly due to a smaller number of short-duration programs where all students completed their studies.
Women have a higher completion rate than men, but the gender gap has been decreasing for the second consecutive year. Women had a completion rate of 84%, compared to 81% for men. The higher completion rate among women can partly be explained by their higher enrollment in heritage programs, which are generally shorter in duration and have higher completion rates compared to other program types.
In addition to art and culture education programs, there are also education programs under the same regulations that are solely under state supervision. These post-secondary programs do not receive financial support through government grants, and the students are not eligible for study grants. These programs cover various subject areas beyond the artistic and cultural fields, such as fashion design, music, and aviation training. Unlike vocational programs, these programs are not required to meet the labor market’s need for qualified workforce.
The number of admissions to programs under state supervision slightly decreased to 320 students in 2022. Within this educational category as well, the majority of students starting their studies are women. Most program specializations have more women than men, except for aviation training, where men outnumber women.