About the Foundation
The foundation operates six museums and visitor sites located in Oslo and Eidsvoll:
The Bygdø Royal Manor
To make the best use of our expertise, we are organized with shared departments for research, administration and operations, collections management, as well as sales, marketing, and communications. Responsibility for exhibitions and visitor engagement rests with each individual site.
The foundation’s work is built on three pillars: knowledge, diversity, and sustainability. Our museums are intended to be a source of knowledge and enjoyment for everyone, and we collaborate to ensure that our expertise contributes to a better society. The foundation works systematically with diversity and inclusion, both in developing the organization and in our public-facing activities. We follow the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and all museums in the foundation are certified as Eco-Lighthouse (Miljøfyrtårn) institutions.
The Norsk Folkemuseum Foundation has an annual turnover of approximately NOK 300 million and around 230 full-time positions. Each year, roughly 400,000 people visit our museums and sites.
The foundation receives annual funding from the Norwegian Ministry of Culture.
Organization
Organization of the Norsk Folkemuseum Foundation
Director: Nina Refseth
Museums and Visitor Sites
Norsk Folkemuseum – Director: Tove Wefald Pedersen
Ibsen Museum & Theatre – Director: Bergljot Ø. Geist
Bogstad Manor – Director: Martin Biehl
Eidsvoll 1814 – Director: Bård Frydenlund
Norwegian Maritime Museum – Director: Elisabeth Koren
Bygdøy Royal Estate – Director: Jan Tore Sørsdal
Shared Departments
Research and Knowledge Management – Head: Sven Ahrens
Collections Management – Head: Frederikke Bang Lysgård
Administration and Operations – Head: Bjørn Tore Heyerdahl
Marketing, Communications, and Venue Rental – Head: Wenche Nielsen
Board of the Norsk Folkemuseum Foundation
The Board of the Norsk Folkemuseum Foundation consists of eight members, four of whom are appointed by the Norwegian Ministry of Culture. The current board term is effective from 1 July 2025.
Board Members:
Thor Gjermund Eriksen (Chair)
Helge Jordheim
Rigmor Aasrud
Amela Koluder
Nini Høegh Nergaard
Arne Lossius
Anja Hysvær Langgåt
Jan Høvo
Deputy Members:
Lisa Dunfjeld-Aagård
Henrik Treimo
Bernhard A. Hoffmann
Siri Elisabeth Mohr
Nina Haraldsen Sørsdal
Harald Hilsen
Research Committee
The Research Committee of the Norsk Folkemuseum Foundation includes the following members:
Sven Ahrens – Head of Research and Knowledge Management
Tone Wang – Section Manager, Cultural History Section
Bård Frydenlund – Head of Eidsvoll 1814
Elisabeth Koren – Head of the Norwegian Maritime Museum
Audun Kjus – Senior Curator, Cultural History
Tori Falck – Senior Curator, Archaeology
Sustainability
The Norsk Folkemuseum Foundation aims to contribute to a greener everyday life and works continuously to be a leading museum for sustainability in the Nordic region. All of our departments comply with government regulations and contribute to selected UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Together, we reduce our climate and environmental footprint in line with the Eco-Lighthouse (Miljøfyrtårn) certification, with a particular focus on improving procurement strategies, promoting efficient resource use and circular economy practices, and creating healthy working conditions. In addition, Bygdøy Royal Estate follows the Quality System in Agriculture (KSL) and is certified as an organic operation, with its café, Gartneriet, certified by DEBIO.
The foundation preserves, communicates, and researches knowledge of cultural and natural heritage that encourages decent work, responsible consumption, and an inclusive society. Through engagement with our partners and more than half a million visitors each year, we promote sustainable choices adapted to the challenges and opportunities of our time.