Stockholm, Sweden – November 26, 2025 — Stockholm’s City Council has approved a landmark initiative to foster digital creativity in public spaces, establishing a 15 million SEK municipal fund dedicated to supporting art installations generated with artificial intelligence. The programme, announced on Tuesday, will see its first installations appear in Södermalm’s Vitabergsparken and Östermalm’s Humlegården by June 2026, marking a significant step in the city’s ongoing commitment to technological innovation and cultural enrichment.
The fund, designed to encourage collaboration between artists, technologists, and local communities, is the first of its kind in Europe to be administered at the municipal level. City officials emphasise that the initiative aims to make public art more accessible, interactive, and reflective of Stockholm’s evolving identity as a centre for digital innovation.
“Stockholm has long been recognised for its vibrant arts scene and pioneering spirit in technology,” said Deputy Mayor for Culture, Karin Lindholm, during the council’s announcement. “By supporting AI-generated art in our parks, we are inviting residents and visitors to experience creativity in new and unexpected ways. This fund will empower artists to experiment, collaborate, and engage with the public on a scale never before possible in our city.”
The council’s decision follows months of consultation with local artists, technology experts, and community groups. The fund will be administered by the Stockholm Arts Board, which will issue calls for proposals beginning in January 2026. Selected projects will receive grants ranging from 500,000 to 2 million SEK, with a focus on installations that encourage public interaction and environmental sustainability.
Among the anticipated installations are immersive light sculptures, soundscapes, and kinetic displays that respond to visitor movement and environmental data. One proposed project, “Echoes of Södermalm,” will use generative algorithms to create shifting patterns of light and sound based on real-time weather conditions and park activity. Another, “Humlegården Voices,” will invite park-goers to contribute spoken words and stories, which will be transformed by AI into a dynamic audio collage played throughout the garden.
Local artist and digital designer, Elin Forsberg, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative: “This fund opens up extraordinary possibilities for creative expression. AI allows us to work with data, movement, and participation in ways that traditional media simply cannot. I’m excited to see how these installations will transform our parks into living canvases.”
The council has also partnered with Stockholm University’s Department of Computer and Systems Sciences to provide technical support and ensure ethical standards are maintained in all funded projects. The university will host workshops and training sessions for artists interested in working with AI tools, as well as public forums to discuss the social and cultural implications of digital art in communal spaces.
Community engagement is central to the programme’s design. Residents of Södermalm and Östermalm will be invited to participate in the selection process, contribute ideas, and take part in hands-on workshops. The city plans to host a series of open days in spring 2026, where shortlisted artists will present their concepts and gather feedback from the public.
Stockholm’s investment in AI-generated public art reflects a broader trend in Sweden’s approach to technology and culture. The city has recently attracted international attention for its thriving AI sector, which includes startups, research institutes, and government-backed initiatives focused on ethical and sustainable innovation. By integrating digital art into its public spaces, Stockholm aims to foster dialogue about the role of technology in society and inspire future generations of creators.
“We see this as an opportunity to bridge the gap between art and technology, and to create experiences that are both beautiful and thought-provoking,” said Lindholm. “Our parks are places where people come together, and these installations will encourage new forms of connection and discovery.”
The first installations are scheduled to debut in June 2026, coinciding with Stockholm’s annual Summer Arts Festival. City officials anticipate that the programme will attract visitors from across Sweden and beyond, further cementing Stockholm’s reputation as a leader in cultural innovation.
As the city prepares for this new chapter in its public art story, artists and residents alike are looking forward to a summer where technology and creativity meet beneath the trees of Södermalm and Östermalm. The council’s initiative promises not only to enrich Stockholm’s parks, but to spark conversations about the future of art in a digital age.
