Norwegian Crafts

What Norwegian Crafts does

Norwegian Crafts is a non-profit cultural organization established in Oslo in 2012 and funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with an exclusive mandate to strengthen the international position of contemporary crafts from Norway. It serves Norwegian and Norway-based craft artists, including Sámi duojárat, by operating as a grant-giving, curatorial, and publishing intermediary between Norwegian practitioners and international museums, galleries, and craft fairs. The organization operates as a member of the Norwegian Arts Abroad network alongside six other MFA-appointed arts bodies, and holds memberships in the Nordic Network of Crafts Associations (NNCA) and the European Crafts Alliance.

The organization's portfolio combines five core service lines: application-based funding schemes (the MFA Support Scheme for International Craft Projects and the ISGIES gallery support scheme), international residency programmes (Cerámica Suro in Mexico, Haystack Mountain School in the USA, and Pilchuck Glass School in the USA), curatorial visitor programmes that connect international institutions with Norwegian artists, exhibition production at venues such as R\u00e9v\u00e9lations/Grand Palais, Die Neue Sammlung, and Suzhou Jinji Lake Art Museum, and a publishing program consisting of The Vessel online magazine (launched 2021), the Documents on Contemporary Crafts book series (co-published with Arnoldsche Art Publishers), and the Duodji Reader (produced with Sámi allaskuvla). The underlying technology is a standard web presence, newsletter, and Vimeo channel with no proprietary software or AI components.

The business model is a hybrid grant-funded and membership-network model. Core operational funding flows from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; additional revenue comes from publication sales through distribution partners, residency host fees, and member-institution contributions. Pricing where present is unit-based: NOK 50,000 grants for Cerámica Suro residency travel and accommodation, NOK 12,000 for Haystack travel support. Deadlines for the main support scheme fall three times per year (15 February, 15 May, 15 October). The organization has 13 employees and operates globally with concentrated execution capability in Oslo.

Name

Norwegian Crafts

Legal name

Norwegian Crafts

Website

https://norwegiancrafts.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Norwegian Crafts is a non-profit organization funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that promotes contemporary Norwegian crafts internationally through grants, residencies, exhibitions, publications, and visitor programmes for Norwegian craft artists and Sámi duojárat.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts and Cultural Promotion

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media) (EDAMAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Traditional & Indigenous Crafts Lessons (Heritage Skills, Folk Arts) (THAJAKAH)

Keywords

• Contemporary crafts promotion
• Artist residency programs
• Craft publications
• International exhibition support
• Craft artist funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Norwegian Crafts receives core operational and project funding from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and operates support schemes funded by the Norwegian MFA for international craft projects, gallery support (ISGIES), and residency programs.
2. Publications Sales: Sale of publications including the Documents on Contemporary Crafts book series (published with Arnoldsche Art Publishers), The Vessel magazine, exhibition catalogues, and the Duodji Reader. These are sold or distributed to institutions, libraries, and individuals.
3. Membership and Network Services: As a membership-based organization within Norwegian Arts Abroad network, Norwegian Crafts provides international opportunities, residency placements, and professional development programs for members of the craft community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Norwegian Crafts is a non-profit cultural organization that strengthens the international position of contemporary Norwegian and Sámi crafts through publications (The Vessel magazine, Documents on Contemporary Crafts book series), international exhibition programmes, artist residency placements, visitor programmes for international curators, and government-funded grant schemes. Its services target Norwegian and Sámi craft artists, galleries, and museums, facilitating international exposure, professional development, and funding access.

Product overview

Norwegian Crafts operates as a non-profit organization strengthening the position of contemporary crafts from Norway internationally. The portfolio consists of several interconnected products and services: The Vessel (online magazine) and Documents on Contemporary Crafts (book series) provide critical discourse and publications on crafts; Duodji Reader and Earth, Wind, Fire, Water offer specialized anthologies on Sámi crafts and Nordic craft perspectives. Financial support is delivered through the Support Scheme for International Craft Projects and ISGIES (International Support for Galleries). International residency programmes at Cerámica Suro, Haystack Mountain School, and Pilchuck Glass School provide professional development opportunities. Visitor Programmes facilitate connections between Norwegian artists and international professionals. These products work together to fulfill the organization's mission of international promotion of Norwegian crafts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Vessel: An online magazine about crafts and material culture published by Norwegian Crafts, launched in November 2021.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 international artists have participated in Cerámica Suro residency program by 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Die Neue SammlungmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 March 2017Die Neue Sammlung in Munich hosted the first solo exhibition of Norwegian jewelry artist Tone Vigeland on the European continent outside Scandinavia. Exhibition in cooperation with Norwegian Crafts and Royal Norwegian Embassy in Berlin.
• Norwegian Arts Abroad (NAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2016Norwegian Crafts is a member of Norwegian Arts Abroad, a network of seven arts organizations with international mandates appointed by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry. Members include OCA, NORLA, DOGA, PAHN, Music Norway, and NFI. The network collaborates on international promotion of Norwegian arts.
• KODE Art MuseumsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 May 2014KODE in Bergen hosted the Norwegian leg of Beyond G(l)aze exhibition (January-April 2015), attracting 6,000 visitors. Norwegian Crafts produces Sino-Norwegian ceramics exhibitions in collaboration with Chinese and Norwegian museums.
• NNCA (Nordic Network of Crafts Associations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian Crafts is a member of NNCA, which includes Danske Kunsthåndværkere og Designere (Denmark), HANDVERK og HÔNNUN (Iceland), Konsthantverkscentrum/KIF (Sweden), Norske Kunsthåndverkere (Norway), and ORNAMO (Finland). Collaborated on Nordic Exchange Programme with cultural sustainability focus.
• European Crafts AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian Crafts is a member of European Crafts Alliance, an organization promoting knowledge sharing, growth, preservation and valorisation of crafts. Hosted 2025 ECA annual conference on crafts sector innovation and sustainable growth.
• American-Scandinavian FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for summer workshop programs at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. The American-Scandinavian Foundation provides funding and selection support for Norwegian artists attending Haystack workshops.
• Cerámica SurocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCerámica Suro is a family-run ceramics factory in Guadalajara, Mexico, founded in 1951. Norwegian Crafts offers Norwegian/Norway-based artists a two-month residency as Artist in Residence, with 50,000 NOK support for travel and stay. By 2025, over 500 international artists have participated in the residency.
• Sámi allaskuvla (Sámi University of Applied Sciences)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Duodji Reader publication - a selection of twelve essays on duodji by Sámi duojárat and writers from the past 60 years. Published by Davvi Girji. Launch events hosted jointly.
• Pilchuck Glass SchoolmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian Crafts supports Norwegian artists attending summer programmes at Pilchuck Glass School in Washington, USA. Selection committee reviews applications and provides support for participation.
• Arnoldsche Art PublishersmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman art publisher that co-publishes Norwegian Crafts' Documents on Contemporary Crafts book series. Partnership for producing and distributing critical publications on contemporary craft to international institutions and markets.
• Sámi CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on duodji and international opportunities seminar. The Sámi Council, Sámi allaskuvla, Sámi Duodji - Sameslöjdstiftelsen and Norwegian Crafts co-hosted seminar on duodji and international opportunities.
• Suzhou Jinji Lake Art MuseummajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSuzhou Jinji Lake Art Museum in China hosted Beyond G(l)aze exhibition (May-August 2014), reaching 40,000 visitors. First bilateral ceramics exhibition of that size in China, produced by Norwegian Crafts.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DOGA (Norwegian Centre for Design and Architecture): Sister organization in the Norwegian Arts Abroad network promoting Norwegian design and architecture internationally. Operates under the same MFA mandate and funding structure as Norwegian Crafts, with overlapping audiences in craft and design exhibitions.
• Office for Contemporary Arts Norway (OCA): OCA is a sister organization within the Norwegian Arts Abroad network, promoting Norwegian contemporary art internationally. It shares the same government mandate structure, MFA funding model, and operational focus on international cultural promotion that Norwegian Crafts has for crafts.
• Konsthantverkscentrum / KIF (Sweden): NNCA member promoting Swedish contemporary crafts internationally, with comparable programmes in residencies, exhibitions, and publications. Operates as Norway's direct regional counterpart with similar funding structure.
• Norske Kunsthåndverkere (Norwegian Association for Craft Artists): The Norwegian national membership association for craft artists, focused on advocacy, professional development, and networking. It represents the domestic constituency of artists that Norwegian Crafts serves internationally, often co-producing events like the 50th anniversary visitor programme.
• Danske Kunsthåndværkere & Designere (Denmark): NNCA member and Danish national craft association, partnering with Norwegian Crafts on the Nordic Exchange Programme and other cultural sustainability initiatives. Has a comparable international mandate within a different national context.
• NORLA (Norwegian Literature Abroad): Another Norwegian Arts Abroad member organization promoting Norwegian literature internationally. Shares the same government-appointed international cultural promotion mandate, though operating in a different artistic discipline.
• HANDVERK og HÔNNUN (Iceland): Icelandic craft and design association and NNCA member with a comparable international promotion focus. Represents the smallest national counterpart in the Nordic craft network.
• ORNAMO (Finland): Finnish NNCA member and craft association, comparable to Norwegian Crafts in scope and network position. Co-produces pan-Nordic craft initiatives and shares the international promotion mandate.
• European Crafts Alliance: Alliance of European craft organizations in which Norwegian Crafts holds membership, focused on knowledge sharing and advocacy for the craft sector. Norwegian Crafts hosted the 2025 ECA annual conference, demonstrating its leadership position within the alliance.

Broad incumbents

• Crafts Council (UK): UK national charity promoting contemporary craft internationally and domestically. Operates at a larger scale than Norwegian Crafts with broader public programming, museum partnerships, and educational initiatives, but shares the national craft promotion mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOEbIADoNX2RHkVo2B-zEuA
• Facebookfacebook.com/norwegiancrafts
• Instagraminstagram.com/norwegiancrafts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/norwegiancrafts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Norwegian Crafts