In 1961, the arts in Denmark were given a ministry of their own for the first time. The range and types of state arts subsidies available were determined over time by a number of laws in the various artistic fields.

The Music Act, the world's first legislation of its type, was adopted in 1976. Since then it has been revised several times, the last time in 2000. This legislation ensures that the distribution of state support to artists and artistic activities occurs in accord with the so-called ”arms-length principle”, i.e. funds are allocated by the Danish Parliament, but politicians and the State have no say in how they are distributed. All decision-making power in this area has been placed in the hands of expert bodies, The Danish Arts Foundation and The Danish Arts Council, whose members are regularly replaced.

State support for rhythmic music venues
In 2000, the Danish Parliament passed an amendment to the Music Act which empowers the Arts Council’s Committee for Music to provide subsidies to rhythmic music venues, provided that these meet a number of conditions with regard to local popular support, choice of repertoire, wages and working conditions. The main purpose of the Act is to secure better artistic and working conditions for musicians, and to provide audiences with more concerts by both large, well-known orchestras and smaller, relatively unknown names.

The Arts Council’s Committee for Music has designated a number of music venues that display high musical quality and a particular interest in artistic and musical innovation as regional music venues. The status of 'regional music venue' obliges the venues concerned to hold 80–200 annual concerts with professional musicians, and to create the best possible framework for local and regional amateur musicians.

Besides subsidising the regional music venues, the Arts Council also supports rhythmic music venues by providing a fee subsidy per concert for each of the performing band's musicians plus one sound technician.

New initiatives
The Danish Ministry of Culture has initiated special plans of action for the period 2004-08. The initiatives include music export and presentation, strengthening of rhythmic musical life and a greater focus on talent cultivation within classical music. A new action plan is expected at the end of 2007.

August 2007