 | The Multicultural Centre, Botkyrka, National Focal Point The Swedish government decided to join European Urban Knowledge Network in
January 2008. The Multicultural centre was entrusted with the EUKN National
Focal Point by the Swedish Ministry of Integration and Gender Equality. The
Swedish NFP is responsible for collecting relevant knowledge at national level
and making it available to other national and international actors. In order to
capitalise on demand-driven knowledge and know-how the national network is built
on a strong collaboration with cities and municipalities.
Other network members are Swedish authorities, academics and researchers,
urban planners, policy makers and local community developers.
The Multicultural Centre was founded in 1987 by the municipality of Botkyrka.
The Centre is a knowledge organisation which uses both academic tools and
cultural activities to achieve its purpose. The need to tackle new situations,
as well as interest in following the cultural processes of interaction and
change gave birth to the idea of a foundation of which the mission statement
today reads:
“The multicultural Centre is a forum for research and for exchanging
knowledge and experiences on migration as well as exchanging knowledge and
experiences on migration as well as social and cultural diversity. We are
writing contemporary history not only for future reference but also to better
understand the present. The Multicultural Centre strives to incorporate
phenomena related to migration into the national heritage. Our guiding
principles are that no one should feel forced to deny, suppress or deprecate her
own culture or identity to participate in society.”
The Multicultural Centre is situated in the greater Stockholm region.
Botkyrka, formerly a prosperous semi-industrial, semi-agricultural community
that experienced a major demographic change in the early 1970s as a result of
the quick and efficient building of housing units for 35,000 inhabitants within
only a few years. As well as experiencing an increase in population figures,
Botkyrka has also become the municipality in Sweden with the highest percentage
of immigrants. Housed in the early 19th century mansion of Fittja gård, and with
the old highway, that once constituted the link between the Swedish capital and
the outer world cutting across the courtyard, the centre is indeed symbolically
situated. In April 2003 a new building was inaugurated, including exhibition
hall, art gallery, bookshop, library, conference hall and restaurant. Through
this the Centre can fulfil its contemporary mission of becoming a public arena,
an open institution for exchange and interaction.
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