Museums and cultural heritage

Article | Last updated: 19/01/2023 | Ministry of Culture and Equality

Our museums interpret the development of our society, the self-esteem of our nation and our shared standards of democracy and freedom of expression. Museums are the foundations on which our democracy rests, in that they are part of the essential infrastructure that allows us to exercise our democratic rights and our freedom of speech. Museum policy is therefore at the heart of our shared culture. In the past, our museums had an important role to play as the young Norwegian nation sought to build its own identity. Their role is just as important today as we grapple with shaping our current understanding of ourselves – who we have been, who we are, and who we aspire to be.

It is a fundamental principle of Norwegian cultural policy that our cultural institutions must be independent of government. Museums are professionally autonomous institutions. Museum policies should facilitate positive development within the sector rather than laying down rules that interfere with their curatorial independence and priorities.

Report no. 23 to the Storting (2020–2021) about museums in society ‘Musea i samfunnet: Tillit, ting og tid’ [Museums in Society: Trust, Artefacts and Time] - regjeringen.no (only in Norwegian), was debated by the Norwegian parliament on 7 June 2021, cf. Recommendation to the Storting 573 S (2020-2021) - stortinget.no (only in Norwegian). This recommendation to the Storting demonstrates broad parliamentary consensus about the general thrust of museum policies for the time ahead. Their objective is to facilitate a professionally based museum sector that is proficient, explorative and actively targeted at the community. It is also essential that museums actively seek partnerships that will support a robust economy by involving a variety of funding sources. Five policy objectives have been formulated to ensure delivery of this development:

Robust knowledge production
Relevant dissemination
Holistic collection development
Preventive conservation
Active engagement

The Museum Network

The operational subsidy paid to museums in the national network is currently the most important government contribution to a substantial museum sector. These museums can be said to be at the heart of the museum policies adopted by the Ministry of Culture and Equality. In part, this is because museums that are part of the Museum Network have been covered by the museum reform and have been systematically strengthened through increased funding and professional development. In part, it is because we have collected more systematic knowledge about these museums, through the monitoring of the sector undertaken by Arts and Culture Norway (formerly Arts Council Norway), and previously the Norwegian Archive, Library and Museum Authority.

These museums are found across the length and breadth of the country. Together they make up a network that works to conserve, research and interpret all aspects of Norwegian cultural heritage. Large collections of objects are at the heart of this interpretive work, as well as approximately 5000 historic buildings. Today, there are 61 consolidated museum units in the national Museum Network.

In a normal year, the total number of visitors to museums supported by the Ministry of Culture and Equality is in the region of 6–7 million. This means that they are important meeting places for a large number of people. In 2020–2021, the footfall dropped to half its normal level, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Every year, Statistics Norway and Arts and Culture Norway publish figures for the full museum sector:

The Museum Reform

Over the last twenty years, a major reform of the museums sector has been implemented. In the wake of this reform, 300 museums have gone through mergers to form approximately 60 consolidated museums. The reform sought to strengthen the hubs of museum expertise around the country. The consolidation processes have impacted ownership structures, ownership status and organisational systems. Despite major challenges, it looks as if reorganisation has helped the museums become more robust, both operationally and professionally, not least in respect of governance and research.

Further information about the museum sector on the Arts and Culture Norway website (only in Norwegian)

Funding for museums and cultural heritage

Every year, the ministry’s budget earmarks approximately two billion Norwegian kroner for museums and cultural heritage. The main objective for these budget allocations is to enable museums to build a foundation for our knowledge, understanding and experience of our culture and society in a way that demonstrates continuity as well as change, cohesion as well as divergence. The bulk of these funds are spent on the operational subsidies paid to museums in the national network. The rest is spent on funding for a few other museums and heritage organisations.

Counties and municipalities that benefit from the expertise, dissemination and other services provided by the museum sector, have a share in the responsibility to fund these museums.