Norwegian Association of Art Societies
The Norwegian Association of Art Societies represents a network of art societies all over Norway. Our aim is to give everyone the opportunity to experience professional visual art, regardless of where in Norway you live.
For many Norwegians, the closest art museum is hours away. Norway’s art societies are scattered all over the country, and are therefore vital for introducing contemporary art to a wide audience. Since 1836 the art societies have played an important role in the Norwegian art scene.
Today the art societies, which are non-profit organisations, range from leading professional art venues in the major cities, to galleries based purely on voluntary work in more remote locations. In spite of their differences in size, budget and exhibition profile, the art societies share a goal of bringing art to the public. In total the art societies have approximately 16.000 members, organise approximately 1.000 exhibitions every year and organise public lectures on art, workshops and artist talks.
The Norwegian Association of Art Societies provide a wide range of initiatives to assist the art societies in their endeavor to develop and professionalise their activities. We organise regional and national workshops and seminars and offer touring exhibitions of contemporary art to our members. The art societies can also apply to us for funding of projects, improvement of gallery facilities and transportation of exhibitions. The projects we support contributes to strengthening the art societies’ position on the Norwegian art scene, and to promote interest and understanding of the visual arts, applied arts, design and architecture throughout the country.
The Norwegian Association of Art Societies publishes the magazine Kunst Pluss two times a year. Every year we give out the award Art Society of the Year.
The association’s activities are funded by Art Council Norway.
Debutant Award
Since 2010 we have awarded The Norwegian Association of Art Societies Debutant Prize at the annual National Art Exhibition in Oslo (Høstutstillingen). The winner receives a prize of 50.000 NOK. The aim of the prize is to draw attention to young, unestablished visual artists in Norway.
Winners of The Norwegian Association of Art Societies Debutant Prize:
Israa Mahameed for A Random 13 Minutes (2023)
2023: Damien Ajavon for PROTECTION OF RELICS (Black Craft Matter) (2023)
2022: Finn Adrian Jorkjen for Hvordan det går
2021: Noëlle de Raadt for Soundscape nr. 3
2020: Admir Batlak, for the sculptures A New Tomorrow 2, 3 & 5
2019: Tiago Bom, for the videoinstalltion República
2018: Arild Våge Berge, for The Gravity of a Lake Focused Into One Point (2) og Unstable Monuments 1
2017: Anna Christina Lorenzen, for the woodcut An Uncut Line (Eques)
2016: Karin Blomgren, for Gjennomgang, an installation in raw clay
2015: Sebastian Makonnen Kjølaas, for I’m So Oily / A Puzzle Building MuscleCyber-fun in the Algorithm Gravy / Powerhouse on the Rooftop og It’s Mega-personal / Training to Become a Train
2014: Heidi Kennedy Skjerve, for eight drawings, Plan
2013: Susanne Kathlen Mader, for the installation/wall painting Hendelser i stor høyde
2012: Marthe Elise Stramrud, for the photo series Livingroom Poetics
2011: Serhed Waledkhani, for the video animation Flukt
2010: Gunvor Nervold Antonsen, for the textile work Barovessjan
International projects
The Norwegian Association of Art Societies has since 2012 collaborated with the equivalent organisations in Denmark and Sweden, Sammenslutningen af Danske Kunstforeninger and Sveriges Konstföreningar. So far, the collaboration has resulted in two Nordic conferences. In 2013 Sveriges Konstföreningar was the main organiser for a conference on the future art societies, and in 2016 The Norwegian Association of Art Societies hosted a conference on the topic of financing the visual arts.
Since 2019 we have been working together with Arbeitgemeinschaft Deutscher Kunstvoreine, Sveriges Konstföreningar and Finnish Art Society, on a project to strengthen the art societies and to develop international exchange programs for the art societies. We have received funding for the initial meetings from Nordisk Kulturfond.
Contact us
Norwegian Association of Art Societies/Norske Kunstforeninger
Øvre Slottsgate 2b
N-0157 Oslo
Norway
Visitor address: Øvre Slottsgate 2b, 0157 Oslo, Norway
Telephone: (+47) 22 42 20 35
E-mail: post@kunstforeninger.no