Norway’s Children’s Art Museum Faces Closure After Funding Loss

The International Museum of Children’s Art, located in Oslo, has been a beacon of creativity for nearly four decades, displaying artwork from young artists around the globe, including toddlers. Founded in 1986, the museum features art pieces such as those created by Soviet children in response to the Chernobyl disaster.

Among the artwork on display are drawings by Afghan girls from clandestine schools and pieces by Ukrainian children whose art centers were devastated by conflict. These artistic expressions extend to those created by children during the Covid pandemic. The museum serves as a historical archive from the perspective of youth across the world.

Ashild Breie Nyhus, a classical musician who participated in a recent benefit concert at the museum, noted, “It is a place of exploration and discovery for all children. Perhaps the most honest works of art to be found in Oslo and in the country more broadly.”

However, this cultural institution now faces an uncertain future following the withdrawal of crucial state funding. Angela Goldin, the museum’s director, is actively seeking solutions to sustain the museum’s operations and safeguard its extensive collection of over 100,000 pieces of children’s artwork.

Goldin expressed frustration, saying, “It’s so surreal that it has no value. That’s what we’re being told,” referring to the museum’s predicament as she sorted through a rented space used for storing part of the collection.

The museum is a result of a family initiative, originating from a film created by Goldin’s stepfather, Rafael Goldin, a Soviet Union emigrant. The film captured children discussing their views of the world, setting the foundation for this longstanding gallery of youthful expression and insight.