The Swedish government has allocated $3.1m (Euros 2.1m) to secure the artistic legacy of Ingmar Bergman, equally sharing the grant between his work in cinema and on stage.

The Ingmar Bergman Foundation will receive $900,000 (Euros 600,000) to preserve and digitise the Bergman archives - starting with the 45 packing cases of memorabilia he originally donated to the Swedish Film Institute.

'It is really good news that the government has decided to contribute this way. However, the digitisation is still not fully financed,' said the foundation's president, Astrid Soderbergh Widding, adding it would turn to other financiers for the $500,000still needed.

The foundation which also operates the Ingmar Bergman Face to Face website (www.ingmarbergman.se), is otherwise backed by the film institute, Swedish major, Svensk Filmindustri (SF), Stockholm's Royal Dramaten Theatre, and Swedish public broadcaster SVT.

Also, on the film side, the film institute was supported to preserve old and make new prints of Bergman's films, and the Swedish Institute for providing new prints for international showcases.

Given half of the government grant, the Dramaten Theatre, where Bergman directed more than 30 plays - and served as CEO between 1963-1966 - will stage an international theatre festival in his name and purchase rights to show his work to Swedish audiences.

'It is important for the government to ensure that Bergman's artistic heritage is well managed, so his work will live to inspire new generations in Sweden and abroad,' wrote culture minister Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth in a statement.

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