Norway

Last update: February, 2024

The most prominent programme to promote participation of school children in cultural life in Norway in recent years has been The Cultural Rucksack (Den kulturelle skolesekken (DKS) which was established as a national scheme in 2001. From 2007, the programme was extended to also include high schools.

DKS is a national initiative for professional art and culture in education in Norway, with the following objectives:

to help to ensure that pupils in primary, lower secondary schools and high schools are offered a professional arts and culture programme;

to make it easier for primary, lower secondary school and high school pupils to gain access to, make themselves familiar with and have a positive approach to art and cultural expression of all kinds; and

to contribute to an overall incorporation of artistic and cultural expression in the realisation of the school's learning objectives.

DKS is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education and Research and is mainly funded by profits from Norsk Tipping A/S (Norway's state-owned gaming company). One of the preconditions of DKS is that experiences of art and culture in schools should compensate for any inequalities due to a pupil's social background.

Last update: February, 2024

Table 3: People who participated in or attended a certain cultural activity during the last 12 months in Norway (in % of the population, over 3 available years)

Table 4: People who have carried out artistic activities in Norway in the last 12 months by type of activity, in % of total population, period 2012-2021

¹ Usually – Daily use.

Last update: February, 2024

Table 5: Household cultural expenditure by expenditure purpose, 2004 and 2012 (No recent numbers available).

Last update: February, 2024

The culture sector in Norway is characterised by a wide range of NGOs, both in the amateur and professional sectors. Approximately 76% of all Norwegians hold a membership in one or several NGOs. However, this number includes all voluntary organisations. As shown in table 10, 11% of Norwegians were members of a band, choir or an amateur theatre ensemble in 2014.

The municipalities represent an important source of support for amateur arts and culture. In addition to this, The Ministry of Culture administers a support scheme called the Frifond. Several youth organisations receive public support from the Frifond and the scheme also supports young people with creative ideas who are not members of an organisation. The application process is relatively easy, and all groups of three or more people may apply.

In 2010 a new scheme for VAT-compensation was established. NGO receives support based on their expenditures. In total, more than one billion NOK was distributed to NGO in 2014 through this scheme.

Table 10: Share of total population which holds a membership in one or several NGOs, 2011 and 2014

Source: Statistics Norway – Levekårsundersøkelsen.