10 Culture and leisure time

Lots of opportunities

Denmark has a wide range of cultural and recreational activities. These comprises everything from music, theatre, cinema, art, museums and exhibitions to lectures, voluntary education, sport and many different kinds of associations.

The municipal authorities collaborate with associations regarding activities in the local community. You can find out more by logging onto your municipal authority's website.

Some activities and events are free, while others cost a lot of money. Pensioners and students are eligible for discounts in many places.

You can find information on current cultural events around the country by logging onto http://www.kultunaut.dk

Start at the library

The library is a good place to start if you want to know more about Danish society or find out what is happening in the municipal authority in which you live.

Help is at hand

In Denmark, libraries are free. You can borrow books, music, DVDs and computer games from the library. You can also gain access to the Internet, read the day's newspapers and get help to find specific information or materials. Among other things, you can find lots of useful pamphlets from organisations and public authorities.

Many libraries have clubs for young people, arrange exhibitions, screen films and organise children's theatre performances and invite guest speakers. Many also offer homework assistance, language stimulation activities and various integration events.

Books in several languages

At the library you can also get help to find books and journals in different languages. If the library does not have the books and journals you are looking for, they can order them for you.

The media and public debate

The right to think and speak freely

The right to think and speak freely is an important part of Danish democracy. This manifests itself in the free press and the public debate.

Media for citizens of immigrant origin

Danish daily life is characterised by numerous TV and radio stations, newspapers and periodicals and extensive communication via the Internet. Numerous media are specially aimed at citizens of immigrant origin. Find out more by logging onto http://www.finfo.dk

The broad media picture

A large part of the media concerns itself with pure entertainment. But the cultural, political and remaining public debate takes up a lot of space in the news, and this helps to centre focus on problems and solutions that are important to society.

Media licence*

Danmarks Radio and TV2 are public service* stations. It is their job to provide a wide range of radio and TV programmes of interest to all sections of the population.

Among other things, the basis for public service media programming is a charge known as a media licence*. This is a charge you have to pay if you want to receive radio and TV programmes, regardless of whether you listen to them on the radio, TV, mobile phone or your computer. A media licence is paid twice a year. It is the Danish Parliament that regulates the media licence fee.

You can register for a media licence* by logging onto http://www.dr.dk

You can also subscribe to and pay for various private cable TV schemes.

Active in your leisure time

Together with others

In Denmark, many people use their leisure time to improve their skills within a given field or subject, develop their creativity or attend lectures. They do so by attending night school, folk high schools and as association members. Meeting and being together with other people is an important part of these activities.

Folk high schools

General education

In the middle of the 19th century, a tradition for general education was established that to this day characterises Danish society. In essence, it encompasses the ideal that everyone should have access to social knowledge and learning. As a result of this cultural movement, the Danish folk high school came into being*.

Today, there are folk high schools, usually just called "high schools" spread across the country. High schools offer courses in everything from creative subjects to academic subjects and more general social studies.

Academic and personal development

At a high school, people can improve and develop both academically and on a personal level, and at the same time get to meet different people. You can also use a high school stay to discover whether you have the necessary motivation to complete vocational training, a youth education programme or higher education.

Cultural activities

You live and eat at the school for the duration of the course. Courses may range from one week to one year. In addition to tuition, the stay forms a framework for a number of cultural activities: excursions, parties and lecture evenings. If you do not want to stay or do not have the possibility of staying at a high school, you can live at home and simply attend as a day student.

Find out more about high schools at http://www.hojskoler.dk

For young immigrants

The association of folk high schools in Denmark organises special courses and stays at high schools for immigrants. One example is the "Sommercamp" (summer camp), a three-week high school course for young people. "Sommercamp" will be held from 2007 to 2009. Participants receive tuition in school and general subjects and are thus able to improve their academic skills during the summer holidays. Find out more about "Sommercamp" here.

You may be eligible for financial aid in connection with your high scool stay. Find out more by logging onto www.emph.dk

Night schools

Tuition in many subjects

Many people attend night school where they receive tuition in many different subjects. This may take the form of language tuition or other academic subjects. But subjects may also include philosophy, history, bringing up children and talks about cultural topics. There are also classes in body and motion, cookery, sewing, mailing, singing and a great deal more. Many night schools offer special courses to new citizens. As a general rule, night schools are run by an educational association* such as AOF (the Workers Education Association), LOF (the Liberal Adult Education Association) or FOF (the Adult Education Association).

The courses are not free but given the fact the schools receive subsidies from the municipal authorities, participants do not have to pay the whole amount.

Log onto your municipal authority's website to find out more about night school activities in your local area.

Association activities

People who share a common interest

Denmark is one of the few countries in the world where the majority of its citizens are members of an association. Here, people who share a common interest meet. This may be an interest of an academic, political or cultural nature.

Many different kinds of interests

Denmark has innumerable associations, organisations and clubs. Sport, political party, housing, art, music, immigrant, religious associations and associations for those with a special hobby - to name but a few. Check under "associations" in your local telephone directory. And your municipal authority website.

Some work for a cause

Some associations work towards safeguarding the interests of different groups such as the disabled, various patient groups, the eldery or homosexuals. And some also work towards a specific political goal, such as the environment or animal welfare.

Meeting places

Finally, there are also meeting places, clubs and club houses which are usually associated with a residential area where people play cards, hold debates, pursue a leisure interest or listen to talks and lectures.

Anyone can start an association

Everyone has the right to start an association. All that is required is that you hold a meeting - a statutory general meeting - where you decide on and note down the aims of the association and the articles of association that are to apply. Articles are rules relating to who can be a member of the association, how many members the board should have, when the annual general meeting should be held, etc. A standard version of association articles can be found at http://www.familieadvokaten.dk

You can play a part

An association can be a good way of meeting other people and actively participating in your local community. Associations are managed by a board elected by association members. As a member, you can put forward suggestions for association work and stand for election to the association board.

Associations for new citizens

There are a number of associations that may be of special interest to new citizens. Such associations are for specific nationalities, friendship associations and associations that focus on integration and cultural contact. We refer to www.finfo.dk for further details.

Sport and exercise

If you want to do sports or exercise together with others, you can become a member of a sport club. Here, for example, you can play football, handball, tennis, badminton, swim and gymnastics.

Limited fee

Nearly all forms of formalised exercise and sport are run by associations or organisations that people can join. You have to pay to become a member, but in some cases the municipal authority will contribute towards the cost so that the fee remains low.

Parents help out

Many children and young people do different kinds of sport in their spare time. It is common for parents to support their children, for example, by paying their membership fees, ferrying the children to and from their activities and by participating at events.

Religion

Everyone is free to practise their religion

In Denmark, everyone is free to practise their religion or pursue their outlook on life as long as they respect the law. Everyone is free to change their beliefs or religious affiliations - for example, by leaving one religious community to become a member of another. Denmark embraces many religions, beliefs and outlooks on life. Some people believe in a divine being; others do not but base their outlook on life on secular, humanitarian or other values.

The Danish National Church*

Performing services for society

In accordance with the Danish constitution, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark* is the Danish National Church and is officially supported by the government. The Danish National Church performs a number of tasks and services for society as a whole. This includes the registration of births, christenings and the registration of deaths.

Most people are members of the Danish National Church

The majority of Danes belong to the Danish National Church. Most became members when they were christened as children.

If you have moved to Denmark from abroad and would like to join the Danish National Church, there are several options open to you:

• If you are a member of another Evangelical Lutheran community other than the Danish National Church and make this clear, you will be registered as a member of the Danish National Church at the same time as you are registered in the Danish national register.
• If you have been christened but not by an Evangelical Lutheran religious community, you can become a member of the Danish National Church by contacting the priest in your local community.
• If you have not been christened, you can become a member of the Danish National Church by allowing yourself to be christened.

If you do not want to become a member of the Danish National Church, you can cancel your membership by contacting the priest in your local community.

Church tax

Members of the Danish National Church have to pay church tax. This money is used run the churches and maintain the cemeteries. Churches hold services and perform church ceremonies such as christenings, weddings and funerals.

You can find out more about becoming a member of the Danish National Church by logging onto the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs' website at http://www.km.dk

Other religious communities

150 different religious communities

There are about 150 different religious communities, large and small, in Denmark.

The right to erect buildings

Religious communities have the right to employ priests, imams, rabbis or appoint religious community leaders. Religious communities also have the right to erect buildings that can be used for religious worship. All that is required is that they follow the normal planning rules and regulations. Religious communities can also run their own voluntary education for children and young people.

Approved and recognised religious communities

More than 100 religious communities, including the Islamic, Buddhist and Hindu communities, are approved in the sense that their priests have the right to or can obtain the right to perform marriages.

Eleven religious communities have been approved trossamfund in accordance with former regulations. This means that they can perform christenings and marriages. They can also issue certificates with the same validity as those of the Danish National Church.

Both approved and recognised religious communities can obtain permission to build a cemetery.

Membership fees are tax deductible.

Members of approved and recognised religious communities have the right to deduct their fees and religious community gifts from tax once the tax authorities have approved the religious community's right to do so. No property tax is due on religious community churches or cemeteries. Nor do approved and recognised religious communities pay any form of land tax for any land on which there are buildings of religious worship.

You can find out more about religious communities by logging onto the Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs' website at http://www.km.dk

Parties and social togetherness

In recreational life, you will come across those traditions and customs that relate to city life, neighbourliness, friendship, social gatherings and birthday parties. Many schools, day care centres and sports clubs hold parties and social events. Many towns, cities and residential areas have their own traditions for holding parties and social gatherings.

Children's birthday parties

Many parents with children at nursery and school invite their child's friends or classmates to the child's birthday party. Some only invite the boys or the girls. Layer cake, buns, chocolate milk and soft drinks. Singing birthday songs and playing games is an integral part of a a traditional Danish children's birthday party. Children who are invited to a birthday party are expected to being a birthday present along. If you are unsure how expensive a gift to buy, ask the other parents.