The Norwegian Folk Art and Craft Association was founded in 1910. Being one of the oldest organizations in Norway, the association is an important bearer of traditions within the field of folk handicrafts. Our main objective is to maintain, strengthen and continue the development of this very much alive culture in Norway. The Norwegian Folk Art and Craft Association sustains these traditions

• culturally
• socially
• and financially

We achieve our objective through organizing activities and measures that generate the public and professional engagement needed in order to strengthen the know-how, production and turnover within our field of traditional folk handicrafts.

The Norwegian Folk Art and Craft Association is a non-governmental organization. Our member count is approx. 24 000; distributed throughout

• our local member divisions
• our traditional folk handicraft stores
• our professional handicraftsmen organization

The non-profit work

The solid foundation underlying the work of our association is based on the voluntary work contributions within the local and regional membership divisions. These communities contribute to the strengthening of social networks, enabling the exchange and development of handicraft skills within a large spectre of areas.

Educational activities

The Norwegian Folk Art and Craft Association is Norways’ largest organizer of adult training within the field of folk handicraft skills. Our organization offers approx. 2000 courses a year, and about 15.000 people yearly attend our local and regional courses. These classes cover a variety of handicraft traditions within the following main categories:

• textile
• woodcraft
• colour and design

The Body of Consultants

The organization is regionally represented through the Body of Consultants counting 19 skilled professional folk art and craft practitioners. Each and one of them is the link between their respective county and the sentral administration in Oslo.

The Body of Consultants assists the organization during national and regional ventures. On a national level, the consultants are organized in sectors that respectivly deal with

• enhancement of trade
• organizational development
• handicraft skills

The Advisory Committees

Our four Advisory Committees promote measures and activities ment to secure the conveyance and continued development of handicraft traditions - each within their respective fields:

• the Advisory Committee on Woven Handicrafts
• the Advisory Committee on National Costumes
• the Advisory Committee on Wooden Handicrafts
• the Advisory Committee on Knitted Handicrafts

Children and youngsters

The area of children and youngsters is an important field of engagement in our organization. Our work towards this target group covers many levels and different approaches; some examples being the whittle campaign “Gjør et spikk” (“Whittle away”), projects and special efforts through “The Cultural schoolbag” (a government project). In addition, we host activities and arrangements inspiring children and youngsters through our local and regional member divisions, arrange teacher training courses and produce books and booklets – both targeted towards children and adults working with children.

Norsk Husflid

Our organization publishes the professional magazine Norsk Husflid (Norwegian Folk Art and Craft); circulation approx. 27.000, five issues per year. The magazine is edited according to our national standard editor rules.

Enhancement of trade

Folk handicraft trade is an ever growing focus of engagement within the work of our central administration. Through different levels and avenues, we seek to stimulate and generate the best possible conditions for our folk handicraft stores and professional craftsmen. Included in this work are workshops, enhancement of handicraft skills, handicraft markets and work scholarship awards.