40 million kroner for #HusetVårt

In 2030, Kunstnernes Hus will be 100 years old. Close to the birthday celebrations, the building is in very poor condition: it's 5 degrees celcius in the skylight halls in the winter, it's raining into the studios at the back and our lovely terrace is sinking. Operating grants from the state and municipality do not cover the annual running costs, which has meant that necessary maintenance projects to look after the roof and windows have not been possible. The cost of the entire rehabilitation is 115 million NOK. The building is on the city's yellow list, which means that the original materials and expression must be preserved - which is costly.

"We've just received 40 million NOK from Sparebankstiftelsen DNB to kick-start the project.

With #HusetVårt, we are now launching a campaign for everyone who loves Kunstnernes Hus. Together with contributions from established public and private supporters, Kunstnernes Hus will be secured for the future!

You can already support us now by transferring any amount to #563558 or ‘Kunstnernes Hus’ - choose ‘Support rehabilitation of KH’.

Many thanks to Sparebankstiftelsen DNB for their support!

"The proposed project for Kunstnernes Hus consists only of strictly necessary upgrades to a building that is almost 100 years old. The rehabilitation price per square metre is estimated in the budget at approximately 25,000 NOK excluding VAT. In comparison, the cost of rehabilitating similar areas like the former US embassy building was significantly higher. "The construction sector has been characterised by dramatic price increases in recent times. I consider the costs and budget to be relatively conservative in order to carry out the rehabilitation of Kunstnernes Hus, an iconic building in Norwegian and international architectural history."

— Svein Lund, partner in Lund Hagen arkitekter AS and a board member at Kunstnernes Hus

Sustainability

The rehabilitation will consist of maintaining the building, not changing it, with an update to meet today's requirements for sustainability, accessibility and working environment. Sustainability is a key principle behind the upgrade of Kunstnernes Hus. We want to be a pioneering example of how the preservation of older buildings can be sustainable in practice and create a framework for the future. The main focus is to repair the insulation and air leaks that occur due to the porosity of the building and which result in large heat losses and greatly increase the energy requirement for heating up the building. Through the rehabilitation, we expect to be able to halve the energy consumption (approx. 1.3 million in 2022) and dramatically reduce the institution's climate footprint.

Accessibility

Kunstnernes Hus should be accessible to everyone. However, the historic building is not designed for visitors in wheelchairs. The rehabilitation will preserve the building's original expression and at the same time focus on being able to accommodate all visitors.

Increase opportunities for self-generated income

Kunstnernes Hus is a large building of 3,590 square metres with many rooms that could be rented out. However, the rooms are currently in very poor condition, both aesthetically and in terms of indoor climate, with no comfortable temperature for much of the year. Being able to offer up-to-date rooms for rent and better indoor climate conditions will not only reduce operating costs - it will also increase revenue.

Phase 1: Preparation and mapping (2019-2023, completed)

Phase 2: Pre-project by Fokus Rådgivning, minimum 6 months, start-up spring 2024 + Fundraising

Phase 3: Detailed phase with Fokus Rådgivning + Fundraising

Phase 4: Implementation, autumn 2026-mid 2028

Phase 5: Final phase, conclude 2028

Phase 6: Anniversary year, 2029-2030!

Kunstnernes Hus is presented in all its splendour, ready for another 100 years.

We open to the public with a 100-year anniversary, with the release of books, exhibitions, talks and celebration.

Kunstnernes Hus is in a difficult financial situation: Operation is very expensive due to the old building, which has major energy leaks and a maintenance backlog. The building is the size of a museum in terms of square metres, number of visitors and public offerings. In relation to this scale, the public operating subsidy is low. The public operating subsidy in 2023 was 13,823,000 NOK, while the operating costs (i.e. the cost of opening the building annually, without a programme) were 18,185,858 NOK.

Delayed rehabilitation will result in deterioration of the condition of the buildings, loss of valuable cultural heritage material, poorer conditions for art and the public and an even more expensive rehabilitation project. From 2021 to 2023, a cost increase of 17.3% has already been estimated for the rehabilitation.

Kunstnernes Hus manages an iconic building on behalf of the nation that creates the art history of the future. We have been a constant and vibrant meeting place for art and culture since our opening in 1930. Our owners are Norway's artists organised in the various trade unions. Kunstnernes Hus is still the platform where many of the country's most important artists make their debut and where Norwegian art is put into an international perspective. Kunstnernes Hus presents art through exhibitions, film screenings, talks, concerts, lectures and seminars, and art is created in eight studios for newly graduated artists. Furthermore in children's workshops and communication rooms. Kunstnernes Hus will remain Norway's most artist-centred institution - where the general public meets art, artists and artistic processes