On 1 August 2007, a new general Culture Act entered into force in Norway. The Culture Act is simple and contains no detailed regulations of financing, priorities or organisation of the field of culture for the state, counties and municipalities. The Act leaves room for local autonomy. At the same time, the Act aims to ensure that the counties and municipalities provide economic and organisational measures that promote a broad spectrum of cultural activities at the local and regional level. The Culture Act also aims at facilitating a national culture policy in a more globalised world.
Currently (2023), the law is being revised. The draft for the update does not signalise a considerably more detailed governing of culture policy. However, the new revision aims to legislate the arm’s length principle on all levels of government.
Table 2: International legal instruments implemented by Norway in the cultural field
Title of the Act |
Year of adoption |
UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights |
1972 |
UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage |
1977 |
Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms Against Unauthorized Duplication of Their Phonograms |
1978 |
Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations |
1978 |
Council of Europe European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage |
1992 |
European Convention on Transfrontier Television Ratification |
1993 |
Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe (Faro convention) |
1996 |
European Landscape Convention |
2004 |
Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage |
2007 |
Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property |
2007 |
Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions |
2007 |
Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society |
2008 |
UNESCO Second Protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict |
2016 |
Second Protocol to The Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict |
2016 |
Council of Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-production |
2017 |
Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage |
Not ratified |
European Convention for the Protection of the Audiovisual Heritage |
Not ratified |
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