Things to do in Vest-Agder, Southern Norway: The Best Art Museums

Kristiansand Kunsthall is one of the largest and most spectacular locations for contemporary art i Southern Norway. Founded in 1881 it is located in the center of downtown Kristiansand on the top of The Public Library. The galley presents changing exhibitions of Norwegian and international contemporary art. Guided tours for groups by appointment, adapted teaching program for children and youths in separate workshops. Free admission. Open during exhibitions Tuesday-Sunday 12-16. Mondays closed.

Støa Toy Factory's history dates back to 1928. With local materials from the forests around the factory we started the production of first class wooden toys.Come in to the workshop and experience the atmosphere, and see how toys are made. We can tell stories from the olden days, and you can buy coffee and cake in the cafe, and have a swim in the lake.

The town museum is located in a magnificent merchant’s house built in 1805. The museum is home to southern Norway’s largest exhibition on fish, which shows how techniques and equipment have developed over time in the area. The museum also has its own art collection, including Norway’s largest public collection of works by Amaldus Nielsen, probably the most famous artist from southern Norway. There are also works by other local artists such as Adolph Tidemand, Olaf Isaachsen and Gustav Vigeland. You may also vistit the childhood home of the artists Gustav and Emanuel Vigeland at Vigeland Hus in Mandal, only some minutes walk from Mandal museum. The museum houses a worksohop and a small sculpture garden.

Regional Art Museum with an interesting collection of art from the Southernmost region of Norway. The museum is also showing high quality exhibitions of Norwegian and international contemporary art. It also has its own Children's Art Museum, a charming museum shop and the cafe Kunstcafeen. Free Wifi, During summer in 2019 our guests can experience exhibitions of William Kentridge, Cindy Sherman, drawings from the museum´s collection and an exhibition from the Tangen collecion showing 11 nordic artists.

Marcelius Forlands’ Art Museum Utsikten, Kvinesdal One of Southern Norway’s’ greatest artists, Kristian Marcelius Forland (1891-1978), lived and painted in Kvinesdal with his artist wife. The museum has panoramic views over Kvinesdal and the Feda fjord and is situated close to road E39 near Utsikten Golf and Conference Hotel. His home, now a museum, was built around 1923 and functioned as both his family home and studio until 1975. Visit his former home and study the large selection of beautiful paintings. Artist Forland was a gifted and skilful portrait painter and is well known for his portraits of the Mayors of Kristiansand. He was also a prominent landscape painter and is particularly known for his motifs from Kvinesdal and the Feda fjord. Amongst the largest commission he undertook is the decorating of altar peaces in several of southern Norway’s churches. The museum houses an extensive and varied collection of his paintings. The house and furniture have been kept exactly like when he lived there, and you get a strong sense of what life was like for him. By visiting the museum and walking in the garden you will gain a greater insight into what inspired the artist to create such wonderful paintings.