NOK 50 million for cultural heritage

The government has proposed the investment of NOK 25 million in museum facility upgrades and NOK 25 million in the restoration of church buildings. The grants form part of a package of measures to combat increased unemployment in southern and western Norway.

“This budget promotes work, activity and restructuring. There is a substantal need for investment in the restoration of museum facilities, and the projects we are proposing to support will serve this purpose,” says Minister of Culture Linda Hofstad Helleland.

The museum grant will be used for the construction of a new boat to carry passengers to Ole Bull’s home – Lysøen – in Os, and to upgrade facilities at Dalane Folk Museum, Jærmuseet and Hardanger and Voss Museum.

“The government is prioritising measures to preserve and disseminate cultural heritage. Our museums are important knowledge and interaction arenas,” she says.

The church project grant will be split between Mandal church (Mandal), Avaldsnes church (Karmøy), Sørbø church (Rennesøy), Vang church (Voss), Os church (Os in Hordaland County), Bremsnes church (Averøy), Hov church (Sunndal), Åsskard church (Surnadal) and Saint Jetmund church (Vanylven).

“The church maintenance backlog is considerable. I am pleased that central government is now able to make a grant to secure good progress on projects for the benefit of important church buildings, and thereby to promote the preservation of protected and listed churches,” says Minister of Culture Linda Hofstad Helleland.