TRENDS IN MUSEUM POLICY OF THE XXI CENTURY IN NORWAY

Abstract

Norwegian museum policy in the 21^st century has clear trends that outline requirements from society and adequately reflect on them. Over the last twenty years, there has been a noticeable trend in the organization of new museums, the active construction of museum areas, the functioning of old premises, and the creation of museum associations. Museums are becoming more inscribed and included in the cultural landscape of the country. A good example is presented in four museums: the “MUST” Museum Association in Stavanger, the National Museum of Photography in Horten, the Western Telemark Museum, and the Faience Museum in Egersund. In those museums, the attempt was to describe the main trends in museum policy in 21^st century Norway. The vector of museums development was defined to promote a national culture in a broad world context. This followed the specific changes in the museum’s collections, preservations, research, and presentations that are not losing relevance.  Furthermore, in this case, the emphasis of the 21^st century has changed relation towards the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Research and educational work, their popularization in the media space, organization of research exhibitions, and openness of museums to cultural and social dialogues came to the fore. Formulating the idea at the state level – “museum for everyone” – requires the museum to search for new tools to attract a diverse audience. Museums, as an active form of leisure, end up offering high aesthetic quality. Much attention is getting paid to the presentation of materials, with its interactive form of communication with a viewer, and it becomes a new norm of art appreciation. The museum, with its collection of objects, is gradually transformed in the presentation of ideas. The design of the exhibition space creates fascinating stories of entering and communicating with cultural objects. Technical and technological development achievements are implemented in the museum surrounding mainly to preserve exhibits and ensure that museum collections are open to all in a digital format. The level of equipment of local and regional museums increases their role as objects of concentration of history about the cultural landscape of each specific territory.