Norwegian Association of Art Societies

The Norwegian Association of Art Societies represents the network of art societies in Norway that are mainly based on voluntary work. At present it comprises 180 member societies.

These 180 art societies have 32.400 members in total. The art societies display approximately 1.000 exhibitions every year and are visited by 602.000 people. In comparison, The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo has 575.00 visitors a year. In sum the annual turnover for the art societies is 44.4 million NOK.

To the right: Visitors at the Art Festival GLASS 2011. Photo: Sten Nilsen

The Norwegian Association of Art Societies aims at strengthening the art societies’ position in the context of the Norwegian art scene and to promote interest and understanding of the visual arts, applied arts, design and architecture throughout the country.

We build strategies directed at sponsors and other collaborators and work to maintain a good relationship with local and central authorities.

One of our main tasks is to professionalise our member societies. We organise regional and national seminars and courses and offer a programme of pre-produced exhibitions of contemporary art to our members. Our member societies can also apply to us for funding of projects, improvement of gallery facilities and transportation of exhibitions.

Every second year we organise an art festival in collaboration with one of the art societies in Norway. The art festival in 2013 will take place in Hammerfest, one of the northernmost cities in the world.

The Norwegian Association of Art Societies publishes the membership magazine KUNST PLUSS three times a year.

Debutant Prize

Since 2010 we have awarded a Debutant Prize at the annual National Art Exhibition in Oslo (Høstutstillingen). The winner receives a prize of 50.000 NOK and is also invited to do a solo exhibition in a number of art societies. The Debutant Prize is awarded in collaboration with the prize sponsor NorgesGruppen ASA, Norway’s largest trading enterprise.

Debutant Prize Winner 2010: Gunvor Nervold Antonsen, for the textile work Barovessjan
Debutant Prize Winner 2011: Serhed Waledkhani, for the video animation Flukt (Flight)

Above: Prize winner Serhed Waledkhani, in a scene from in his video animation Flukt.

International projects

The Norwegian Association of Art Societies are also involved in international projects like ArtEduNorway in China-ArtEduChina in Norway 2007-2012. This collaborative project aims at contributing to cultural exchange and understanding between Norway and China by introducing the system of voluntarily run art societies in China. There is a lack of professional galleries for contemporary art in China and establishing voluntary art societies can be a good alternative.

To the right: The Chinese delegation visiting Norway in 2007.

Project partners/sponsors: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, The Freedom of Expression Foundation, Chinese Artists Association, Beijing Biennale Office, Bergen municipality, Stavanger municipality and Oslo municipality.

For more information, please contact:
Norwegian Association of Art Societies/
Norske Kunstforeninger
P.O. Box 477 Sentrum
N-0105 Oslo
Norway