Oslo Kunstforening

Norway’s first cultural society and exhibition space

Oslo Kunstforening is a non-commercial membership organization. Oslo Kunstforening's main goal is to support emerging Norwegian artists and present international artists that have not previously been shown in Norway. We have done that since 1836. Oslo Kunstforening is the first art institution and member-based organization in Norway.

Oslo Kunstforening was founded by the poet J. S. Welhaven, book-seller Johan Dahl and future Prime Minister Fredrik Stang following the model of the Copenhagen Art Society (1820s), and the Kunstvereins in Dresden (1828) and Düsseldorf (1829).

Oslo Kunstforening was formed to ensure a permanent exhibition space for visual art in Norway - a few years before the National Gallery was established.

Since 1986, OK has awarded an artist grant through the kind support of Sparebanken Oslo and Akershus. Since 2008, the Savings Bank Foundation DNB has awarded an annual grant in collaboration with OK to emerging artists.

Oslo Kunstforening is supported by the City of Oslo and the Arts Council Norway.