Norway is a small nation, but rich on culture. Oslo is the capital where cultural industries bloom. They cover a range of sectors from art, design and architecture to fashion, literature, music and museums.
In 2007, the cultural industries employed a total of 95 500 people in Norway (public and private companies) – and the Oslo region accounted for 50,8 percent of this total.
Oslo has a strong cultural heritage. The city has been the home of internationally renowned artists such as Edvard Munch and Henrik Ibsen, and they both have museums dedicated to them in Oslo. Bjørvika, located in the city centre, is the site of Norway's new National Opera House designed by Snøhetta, an Oslo-based architectural company that has received world-wide recognition.
For the first time, Oslo appears on Monocle’s renowned list of the world’s top 25 most livable cities, checking in at no. 17. “This is Oslo's moment - the cultural scene is booming”, writes Monocle. In their review of Oslo’s liveability, Monocle cites the capital city’s investment in design, architecture and public services that are recognized as benchmarks for the world.
The cultural industries in Oslo are still developing, especially within architecture, design and music. In 2010 Oslo will host the Eurovision Song Contest and show Europe its impressive music scene and the fact that there are as many live concerts per capita in Oslo as in New York.
OSLO PHOTO GALLERY