Arts and culture

Norway has a vibrant arts and culture sector that has deep historical roots. Today, as in the past, many Norwegian artists and other cultural professionals find inspiration beyond Norway’s national borders.
Photo: www.salted.no

Norwegian architecture, design, music, literature and films are finding their way to other countries, and are raising Norway’s profile abroad.

The Government aims to provide a good framework for ensuring quality, breadth and diversity in the cultural sector. Internationalisation of Norwegian arts and culture has increased awareness of, and interest in, Norway as a nation of cultural innovation and knowledge.

International reviews

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“I find him an utterly hypnotic and utterly humane writer. For me, 2015 was The Year of Solstad.”

James Wood, New Yorker on Dag Solstads Shyness and Dignity

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“The Norwegian Bjarne Melgaard is a character. For more than fifteen years, he has been navigating the Anglo-Saxon axis of art.”

Valérie Duponchelle / Le Figaro

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“One Of Us is perhaps one of the most important books of our time.»

Deutschlandradio Kultur on Åsne Seierstads book about terrorist Anders Behring Breivik

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“Acclaimed Norwegian conceptual artist Jenny Hval…(is) behind one of the year’s most exceptional albums.”

April Walsh, Fact Magazine on Jenny Hval’s Blood Bitch (Album of the Year 2016)

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“… one of the leading figures in European jazz, helping to forge an identity distinct from the music’s American roots.”

David Honigmann, Financial Times on saxophonist Jan Garbarek

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“…Snøhetta don’t go looking for dragons to slay; they just do their thing, and the dragons fall.”

Ian Volner, Wall Street Journal on Snøhetta, WSJ Magazine’s Architect Innovator of the Year (2016)