The Arts Council Norway (Norwegian: Norsk kulturråd, often shortened to Kulturrådet) is the official arts council for Norway.
Based in Oslo, it is a Norwegian state institution created in 1965 as a result of a parliamentary decision in 1964. The council is charged with managing the Norwegian culture fund, reviewing applications and allocating funds to achieve cultural objectives at the members' academic and artistic discretion, but consistent with the sitting Parliament's priorities. The council also serves as an advisory body for the public in cultural matters.
The Council may, on their own initiative, hold conferences, perform cultural experiments and initiate studies.[1] The council annually awards the Arts Council Norway Honorary Prize (Norwegian: Norsk kulturråds ærespris).
Halvdan Skard was the director from 1983 to 1992, but was then granted an absence of leave to become chairman of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities.[2] On 18 December 1992 it was announced that Lidvin Osland would serve as acting director until 1 July 1996.[3] Osland stepped down as planned, but his successor was not appointed immediately, as the council rejected all applicants and asked for other candidates.[4] On 20 September 1996 it was announced that Halvard Kausland had been appointed as acting director from 1 November 1996 to 31 March 2000. However, Kausland withdrew three days before actually assuming the post.[5][6] The deputy director briefly advanced to become acting director during this vacancy.[7] On 20 December Ole Jacob Bull was appointed.[8] In early 2004 Skard finally quit as director.[9] Bull applied to become the new director, and got the position on a permanent basis in July 2004.[10]
Since October 2010, director of Arts Council Norway is Anne Aasheim, previously editor-in-chief of Dagbladet [11], the current Chairman of the Arts Council is Bentein Baardson.[12]