Press release issued April 24, 2023

Finance Act puts democratic education on the agenda

The parties behind the new Finance Act have set aside DKK 4 million for our common democratic education at a time when we can no longer take democracy for granted. The money is given to museums that focus on two significant figures from West Jutland: Kaj Munk and I.C. Christensen. Christensen, who both - in their own way - fought for democracy in Denmark.

Kaj Munk gave his life in the fight for democracy

Kaj Munk became a symbol during 2. World War II a symbol of the fight against the Nazi occupying forces. Kaj Munk's resistance, expressed in the famous poem The Blue Anemone, reminds us to this day that we must never take our Danish democracy for granted. The Danish Finance Act has provided DKK 2 million to create a new exhibition in the vicarage in Vedersø, where the museum can use new tools to create a sense of the life Kaj Munk, with his wife Lise, lived at the vicarage up to the fateful day when he was taken and liquidated by Nazi henchmen.

I.C. Christensen fought for democracy for all

In a few years, we will mark the 125th anniversary of the change of system in 1901, when popular government as we know it today was introduced. One of the leading figures behind the system change was I.C. Christensen. He was a schoolteacher from West Jutland, born in modest circumstances, who helped secure democratic rights for everyone in Denmark with the change of system. The DKK 2 million is earmarked for a commemoration of the anniversary of the change of system, a new exhibition and renovation of I.C. Christensen's House in Hee.

The money is donated to Ringkøbing Fjord Museums

A total of DKK 4 million has been donated to Ringkøbing Fjord Museums, and Museum Director Mette Bjerrum Jensen is delighted with today's news and says:

We are pleased that the Finance Act focuses on our common democratic formation and the values behind it. It's easy to take democracy for granted, but the war in Ukraine shows us that we must constantly fight for our values, as Kaj Munk and I.C. Christensen did in their own way. With the new grant, Ringkøbing Fjord Museums will now have better opportunities to create highly topical exhibitions. We look forward to working with the volunteers behind I.C. Christensen's House on the task. A big thank you to the local parliamentary politicians who have secured the funds.