Rock for local development

Situated at the centre of a forested area, every year the small town of Hultsfred (pop. 5 500) plays host to Sweden's biggest rock festival. First held in 1986, on the 12th, 13th and 14th June this year 40 000 fans, over 100 artists, 1 200 journalists, and millions of TV viewers and internauts (there is a live webcast of the event) swayed to the rhythms of "Rock City Hultsfred 2003". Surprisingly however, this small town does not suddenly go quiet again once the stages are taken down, the sleeping bags rolled up and the revellers departed. Hultsfred has become a permanent feature on Sweden's rock and pop music map. Throughout the year, everybody from obscure rock bands to highly renowned musicians comes to Hultsfred to make the most of the comprehensive infrastructures they need to rehearse, record and play live. They also have all access to the services and atmosphere they need to fuel and sustain their inspiration. Sweden's success on the music scene generates considerable revenue for the country. Music is currently Sweden's number three export. This is why the Swedish Government decided to make Hultsfred the country's music/events capital by supporting the creation of an enterprise centre specialising in music and events. The local high school runs courses on various aspects of music and entertainment and, since the autumn of 2000, Kalmar High School has been running a special course on management in the entertainment industry. More than just a festival, “Rock City Hultsfred” offers the music and entertainment sector a whole range of opportunities which music, telematics and cinematographic companies have been quick to seize. The development project as a whole has rceived EUR 3.7 million under Objective 2, including EUR 1 million from the FEDER, EUR 1.6 million form Swedish public funds and EUR 1.1 million from private sources.