Norway’s International Museum of Children’s Art Faces Funding Crisis

For the past four decades, the International Museum of Children’s Art in Oslo, Norway, has been a home for art created by children from across the globe. Its collection includes works by toddlers to teenagers, offering a reflection of recent world events through young eyes.

The museum, established in 1986, houses a diverse array of artistic expressions. Among its exhibits are drawings by Afghan girls who attended clandestine schools, artworks from Ukrainian children at a war-torn art center, and creations from kids worldwide during the Covid pandemic. The institution serves as a cultural and historical archive through its collection of over 100,000 artistic pieces.

Ashild Breie Nyhus, a classical musician who performed at a benefit concert for the museum, described it as “a place of exploration and discovery for all children.” The artworks, she notes, provide some of the most candid artistic expressions found in Oslo and beyond.

Despite the museum’s rich cultural contributions, it faces an uncertain future. The Norwegian government has withdrawn the financial support that sustained the museum for years. Angela Goldin, the museum’s director, is now seeking alternative solutions to maintain the institution and its extensive collection.

Goldin expressed her frustration during a pause from clearing out a rented storage space for some artworks. “It’s so surreal that it has no value,” she remarked, highlighting the museum’s struggle without state funding.

The museum began as a family project led by Rafael Goldin, an émigré from the Soviet Union. He created a film interviewing children about their perceptions of the world, which laid the groundwork for the museum’s mission.

As the museum continues its fight for survival, its future remains uncertain. The loss of government support threatens the visibility of children’s expressions of world history.