Oslo National Academy of the Arts

Name

Oslo National Academy of the Arts

Legal name

Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo

Website

https://khio.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Norwegian state funding (Kunnskapsdepartementet): Primary funding as a Norwegian state higher education institution (statlig utdanningsinstitusjon) under the Ministry of Education and Research. Recurring annual appropriations.
2. Competitive research grants: Project-based research funding from bodies such as Diku/Direktoratet for høyere utdanning og kompetanse, DIKU/NARP, Kulturrådet, and Program for kunstnerisk utviklingsarbeid (PKU). Recent awards include 6 million NOK to graphic design/illustration Formskifter project, 4.9 million NOK for Læringsavatar, 2.1 million NOK for Ane Hjort Guttu's Voice project, 6 million NOK across two research projects at Kunst og håndverk.
3. EU / international project funding: Creative Europe Culture programme funding. Received €1 million for the IRON NOTES – At the Borders of Iron project (2026) and earlier €1 million for Opera Out of Opera 2.
4. Foundations and sponsor partnerships: Project/operating support from foundations: Sparebankstiftelsen DNB (200,000 NOK for sommeropera for barn, 894,000 NOK for OperaUng talent programme, 200,000 NOK kunststipend), BKH (Bildende Kunstneres Hjelpefond), FKDS (Fondet for kunst- og designstudenter), Edle Mustad stiftelse, Lilly Stiftelsen, and others.
5. Tuition fees (non-EU/EEA students): Tuition fees (studieavgift) introduced from 2024 for students from countries outside the EU/EEA. This is a new revenue stream supplementing state appropriations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO) is Norway's largest state-owned higher education institution for artists and designers, delivering 21 unique study programmes at bachelor's, master's and PhD levels across six academic departments: Kunstakademiet (Fine Art), Teaterhøgskolen (Theatre), Dans (Dance), Operahøgskolen (Opera), Kunst og håndverk (Art and Craft), and Design. It also runs a doctoral programme in artistic research (kunstnerisk utviklingsarbeid) and produces recurring public output events such as the annual Avgang graduation exhibitions and Artistic Research Week.

Product overview

Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo (Oslo National Academy of the Arts, KHiO) is Norway's largest state-owned educational and research institution for artists and designers, structured as a federated academy of seven departments — Teaterhøgskolen (Theater), Dans (Dance), Kunst og håndverk (Art and Craft), Design, Kunstakademiet (Fine Art), and Operahøgskolen (Opera) — plus a central Doctoral programme. Its core offering is a portfolio of 21 unique study programmes spanning year-, bachelor-, master- and PhD-level degrees, including flagship programmes such as the Bachelor in Graphic Design and Illustration (BAGI), Bachelor in Classical Ballet (BAKB), Master in Opera (MAOP), Master in Design (MADE), Master in Visual Art (MABK), Master in Art and Public Spaces (MAKR/MAPS), and the international Double-Degree Master in Comparative Dramaturgy and Performance Research (CDPR). Alongside instruction, KHiO operates recurring public output programmes — most notably the annual Avgang graduation exhibitions and the Artistic Research Week — together with EU-funded collaborative research initiatives such as IRON NOTES and the CRAFT/Decoding Ceramics platform that extend the institution's role from education into international artistic research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kunstakademiet (Academy of Fine Art): Department of fine art at KHiO.
• Operahøgskolen
• Teaterhøgskolen

Products and services

• Bachelor in Medium- and Material-Based Art (BAKF) Bachelor programme in medium- and material-based art at KHiO's Kunstakademiet / Art and Craft area.
• Bachelor in Directing (BARE) Bachelor programme in directing at KHiO's Teaterhøgskolen (Theatre Academy).
• Master in Opera (MAOP) Master's programme in opera at KHiO's Operahøgskolen (Academy of Opera).
• Bachelor in Interior Architecture and Furniture Design (BAIM) Bachelor programme in interior architecture and furniture design at KHiO's Design department.
• Practical-Pedagogical Education in Performing Arts (PPUS / PPU scenekunst) Unified practical-pedagogical education in performing arts (PPU scenekunst) with specializations in dance, theater and musical theater.
• Master in Art and Public Spaces (MAKR / MAPS) Exclusive international master's programme bringing together students from diverse artistic and geographical backgrounds to work in public space with communities.
• Master in Design (MADE) Master's programme in design at KHiO's Design department.
• Double-Degree Master in Comparative Dramaturgy and Performance Research (CDPR) International double-degree master's in Comparative Dramaturgy and Performance Research at KHiO's Teaterhøgskolen.
• One-Year Programme in Opera (AROP) One-year (årsstudium) programme in opera at KHiO's Operahøgskolen.
• Bachelor in Graphic Design and Illustration (BAGI) Bachelor programme in graphic design and illustration at KHiO's Design department.
• Bachelor in Fashion Design and Costume Design (BAKK) Bachelor programme in fashion/clothing design and costume design at KHiO's Design department.
• Bachelor in Classical Ballet (BAKB) Bachelor programme in classical ballet at KHiO's Dance department.
• Master in Visual Art / Fine Art (MABK) Master's programme in visual art / fine art (billedkunst) at KHiO's Kunstakademiet.
• Bachelor in Jazz Dance (BAJA) Bachelor programme in jazz dance at KHiO's Dance department.
• Master in Medium- and Material-Based Art (MAKF) Master's programme in medium- and material-based art at KHiO's Kunstakademiet / Art and Craft area.
• Master in Choreography (MAKO) Master's programme in choreography at KHiO's Dance department.
• Bachelor in Contemporary Dance (BAMS) Bachelor programme in contemporary dance (samtidsdans) at KHiO's Dance department.
• Master in Theater (MATE) Master's programme in theater at KHiO's Teaterhøgskolen.
• Bachelor in Visual Art / Fine Art (BABK) Bachelor programme in visual art / fine art (billedkunst) at KHiO's Kunstakademiet.
• Master in Dance (MADA) Master's programme in dance at KHiO's Dance department.
• Bachelor in Acting (BASF / skuespillerfag) Bachelor programme in acting (skuespillerfag) at KHiO's Teaterhøgskolen.
• KHiO PhD Programme in Artistic Research Doctoral programme in artistic research established in 2018; supports artistic development work (kunstnerisk utviklingsarbeid) and research across all KHiO departments.
• Avgang (Graduation Exhibitions & Productions) Annual Avgang series documenting final degree works of more than 200 graduating students from year-, bachelor-, and master-level programmes across KHiO's departments; runs each spring with exhibitions, performances and screenings.
• Artistic Research Week Annual research-week event hosted by KHiO featuring public lectures, seminars and presentations of artistic research.
• Atelierhuset i Arcueil (Paris Atelier Residence) Artist studio residence operated by KHiO in Arcueil, France, used as a residency for KHiO students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 71.1% of bachelor students complete on normert tid (2018 Tilstandsrapporten) — top-ranked in Norway
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship international partnership, strategic flagship partnership, minor strategic partner, core cultural partner, core strategic partner, minor artistic partner, core societal partner, core sector partner, core research partner, core exhibition partner, minor exhibition partner, core acquisition partner, core media partner and core ownership partner.

• European partner institutions (5 collaborators in IRON NOTES)flagship international partnershipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026Collaboration of six European institutions including KHiO's metal and jewellery subject area for IRON NOTES – At the Borders of Iron, with €1 million in Creative Europe Culture funding. Aims to open up new ways of seeing and understanding metal for wider audiences, strengthen awareness of blacksmithing tradition and build stronger connections between countries.
• Weißensee Academy of Art Berlinstrategic flagship partnershipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 2025Student-led project connecting artists across countries — collaborative cultural exchange and exhibition between KHiO's Fine Art Academy, Art and Craft, and Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin. Designed to lay the groundwork for a lasting cross-institutional partnership for future students.
• Norsk konsortium for palestinsk høyere utdanning (NorPal)minor strategic partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2025KHiO (rector Marianne Skjulhaug) participated in the constitutive meeting of NorPal (Norsk konsortium for palestinsk høyere utdanning) on 27 May 2025. Preparing long-term collaboration with Palestinian higher education institutions and students.
• Conservatorio Santa Cecilia (Roma)flagship international partnershipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2025Co-initiator of the Opera Out of Opera 2 – La Bohème project, an international ensemble of singing, scenography, dance and costume design students, supported by Creative Europe Culture funding (€1 million).
• Italian Embassy / Italian Cultural Institute in Oslo / Milano Triennalencore cultural partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2025Italian Ambassador Stefano Nicoletti, Raffaella Giampaola (Director Italian Cultural Institute Oslo) and Damiano Gulli (curator Milano Triennalen) visited KHiO to discuss cultural collaboration with rector Marianne Skjulhaug, prorektor Martin Egge Lundell, Kunstakademiet dean Antonio Cataldo, and førsteamanuensis Liv Bugge.
• Den Norske Opera & Ballett (Oslo National Opera)core strategic partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2023Recruits KHiO opera graduates for trainee soloist positions and stages KHiO student productions (Falstaff, Elisabeth Regina). Co-hosts WOYZ talent programme (5 of 800 admitted globally). Queen Sonja Singing Competition 2023 final concert held at the Opera.
• Deichman Bjørvika (Oslo public library)minor artistic partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Four-week residency by KHiO choreographers, dancers and costume design students with NMH composers developing site-specific works at Deichman Bjørvika library.
• Forbrukerrådet (Norwegian Consumer Council)core societal partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2022Project collaboration: Forbrukerrådet asked design students to help visualise methods used by advertisers, resulting in the Grønvasking project and Årets grønvaskarer award. Cross-disciplinary collaboration between artistic research, organisational partnerships and environmental humanities.
• Nationaltheatretcore strategic partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2021Collaboration with Talent Norge and Sparebankstiftelsen DNB to give young acting talent the opportunity to develop in a 100% paid position at one of Norway's largest theatres. KHiO Teaterhøgskolen graduates are placed at Nationaltheatret through this programme.
• Universitetet i Oslo (UiO) + 5 other Oslo høgskolarcore sector partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 October 2019Joint establishment of a student ombud (studentombud) service shared among UiO, KHiO and five other Oslo higher education institutions, with offices at Blindern (Pål Gustavsen).
• Talent Norgecore strategic partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder (with Nationaltheatret and Sparebankstiftelsen DNB) of talent programme placing young actors in 100% paid roles at Nationaltheatret. KHiO graduates benefit.
• Norges Idrettshøgskole (NIH)core research partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner on the Læringsavatar 3D visualization project for student-active learning in dance and movement.
• Høyskolen Kristianiacore research partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner on the Læringsavatar 3D visualization project for student-active learning in dance and movement.
• HLM Produksjonercore research partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner on the Læringsavatar 3D visualization project, providing production/technical collaboration on motion capture and movement visualisation.
• Tama Art University (TAU, Japan)minor strategic partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnecting Wool project — UTFORSK-funded collaboration on sustainable production of wool from northern sheep breeds.
• Universitetet i Bergen (UiB)core sector partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint op-ed by rector Marianne Skjulhaug and Åsil Bøthun (dean at UiB) on knowledge-based policy; institutional collaboration on arts research and education.
• NTNU (Institutt for musikk)core sector partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPanel participant (Nora Bilalovic Kulset, head of Institutt for musikk NTNU) at KHiO's paneldebatt on eksistensiell beredskap at Kulturytring 2025. Joint sector collaboration on arts education policy.
• NTO (Norsk teater- og orkesterforening)core sector partnerOthersIndustry partner; NTO director Morten Gjelten joined KHiO panel on eksistensiell beredskap at Kulturytring 2025. KHiO rector Marianne Skjulhaug contributes to NTO-led sector debates.
• KORO (Kunst i offentlege rom)core strategic partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian national agency for art in public spaces. Jointly relocated Vanessa Beecroft's vb.48 721; created first-ever KORO student prize (won by Lill Yildiz Yalcin, 2022). Co-commissions with KHiO Kunstakademiet.
• Statsbyggcore sector partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Summer Internship programme for KHiO interior architecture students (first interior architect participant was Christian Sandbye, 2023). Also awards Statsbyggs studentpris (20,000 NOK) to a KHiO master design graduate annually.
• Pådriv AScore strategic partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration agreement with FKDS to activate Stavebygget at Bryn as a cultural knutepunkt with 10 atelierplasser for newly graduated KHiO students (move-in 15 October 2025).
• Haugar kunstmuseum (Tønsberg)core exhibition partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDisplays new work by KHiO master's students in Kunst og håndverk; pipeline for emerging artists and audience reach.
• Oscarshall (Royal estate)core exhibition partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts annual summer exhibitions of contemporary ceramic art by KHiO Kunst og håndverk master's students since 2023, including musically opened ceremonies.
• Galleri F15 (Moss)minor exhibition partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration on the Habitat exhibition with master students in Kunst og offentlege rom, displayed at Alby garden in Moss.
• KODE Art Museum (Bergen)core acquisition partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAcquired BA work by Berenice Janice Hernández Hernández from Årsutstillingen (2018). Established exhibition pipeline with KHiO students.
• Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum (Trondheim)core acquisition partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAcquired works by Andrea Brendbakken (BA2) and Linn Svensson (MA2) from Årsutstillingen 2024. Pipeline for emerging KHiO Kunst og håndverk talent.
• NRK (Norsk rikskringkasting)core media partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerVisit of NRK's Abels Tårn podcast to KHiO during Artistic Research Week to engage KHiO faculty in expert panel discussions. Earlier collaboration on Operamagasinet (NRK programme leader Wolfgang Plagge) covering Operahøgskolen productions.
• Kunstnernes Huscore exhibition partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts KHiO Kunstakademiet graduation exhibitions and provides FKDS-funded atelierplass (e.g., Blixprisen winner Elina Waage Mikalsen, 2021).
• Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research (Kunnskapsdepartementet)core ownership partnerOthersGovernment owner and primary funder. Appoints KHiO board chair (e.g., Idar Kreutzer from 2023); oversees policy framework including 2024 tuition fee introduction for non-EU/EEA students; Minister Sigrun Aasland visited KHiO on 13 June 2025.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Høyskolen Kristiania: Norwegian private higher education institution with growing arts and design programmes. Co-development partner with KHiO on the Læringsavatar project and a potential competitor in applied arts/design, though narrower than KHiO's fine-art and performing-arts scope.

Direct peers

• Rhode Island School of Design: Leading private US college of art and design offering bachelor and master programmes across fine art, design, architecture and crafts. Comparable to KHiO in selective admissions, workshop-based pedagogy, and brand positioning among the most applied-to arts schools.
• Royal College of Art: World-leading wholly state-funded postgraduate university of art and design in London, with research and doctoral programmes. Comparable to KHiO in being a publicly funded specialist arts institution with research, PhD programmes, and industry placement.
• University of the Arts Helsinki: Finland's state-owned arts university formed in 2013 by merging the Academy of Fine Arts, Sibelius Academy, and Theatre Academy. Comparable to KHiO in covering fine art, design, music, theatre, dance and doctoral research within a single state-funded institution.
• Universität der Künste Berlin: One of the largest state-funded universities of the arts worldwide, covering fine art, design, music, performing arts and architecture. Comparable to KHiO as a state-owned multi-disciplinary arts university with doctoral programmes and EU-funded research.
• Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design: Sweden's largest university of arts, crafts and design, offering bachelor, master and doctoral programmes across design, fine art, crafts, and art education. Directly comparable to KHiO in scope and Nordic public-sector structure.
• Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp: Belgian state-funded arts institution covering fine art, design, and conservation. Comparable to KHiO as a publicly funded European arts school with bachelor and master programmes in fine art and design.
• École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (ENSAD Paris): French state-funded grande école focused on art, design and applied arts. Comparable to KHiO in being a state institution offering specialised programmes in fine art, design, and crafts within a public higher-education structure.
• Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts: State-funded Danish university offering degree programmes across fine art, design, architecture, conservation and visual culture. It is KHiO's closest Nordic structural analogue as a national state institution combining fine art, design, craft, and conservation at university level.
• Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture: Finnish university school offering bachelor, master and doctoral programmes in art, design, architecture, film, and media. Comparable to KHiO in combining fine art, design and architecture under one accredited research university structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kunsthogskolenioslo
• Instagraminstagram.com/khio
• Xx.com/khiotweet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oslo-national-academy-of-the-arts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oslo National Academy of the Arts