Väven is hiring a new culture coordinator in 2026 with the mission to strengthen dialogue and participation for young people who spend time at the cultural center. The initiative is done in collaboration with social services and is based on the new social services law being tested in practice.
The initiative is part of the culture committee's operational plan for 2026 and is part of the work to develop Väven as a meeting place and arena for democracy. The culture coordinator will work across operations and focus particularly on groups of young people who need extra support.
Väven as social arena
Since its inauguration, Väven has established itself as more than a cultural center – it is an accessible meeting place where many young people spend time after school. The new position as culture coordinator acknowledges this role and strengthens Väven's possibilities to function as both a cultural and social resource.
The collaboration with social services is new and interesting. It points toward a broader view of culture's role in society – not only as entertainment or education, but as a tool for inclusion and social welfare.
Part of larger cultural policy vision
The initiative should be seen in light of Umeå Municipality's cultural policy program for the period 2020–2030, adopted by the municipal council in 2020. The program emphasizes that culture should be open and accessible to all, and that Väven should play a central role in this work.
The culture committee's budget for 2026 is based on the municipal council's decision on planning directives from June 2025. The operational plan emphasizes that Väven's program department should actively work to provide good conditions and high service both for visitors and for the various actors in cultural life.
Practical application of new legislation
That the new social services law is being tested practically at Väven shows a willingness to experiment and develop new working methods. The cultural center becomes a pilot operation for how culture and social work can collaborate.
For Umeå, with its history as European Capital of Culture 2014 and with cultural policy ambitions, this is a natural development. Culture is not only used to enrich the lives of those already interested in culture – it becomes a tool to reach young people in vulnerable situations.
The new culture coordinator's role will be to build bridges between the world of culture and the mission of social services, and to make Väven a place where all young people feel welcome.