This study aims to investigate how two Swedish municipalities, Karlstad and Skellefteå, motivate culture for the elderly. The theory used in this study is Dorte Skot-Hansen’s dimensions of the humanistic, sociological, and instrumental rationalities that have been used to analyse the material, and Geir Vestheims theory that all cultural politics is instrumental. When analysing the motives for culture to the elderly and what rationalities they coincide with, I used qualitative content analysis as a tool to contrast differences. When specifically studying the motives behind the investments in culture for the elderly, many motives are linked to equal rights, health-promoting effects and several rationalities are expressed simultaneously and may overlap to some extent.