Trastad Samlinger

Trastad Collections is an art and cultural museum that collects, communicates, exhibits and research in a highly appropriate social perspective. The Outsider Art gallery show national and international Outsider Art / Art Brut and the social historical exhibition in the museum is an authentic residential and care facility for disabled people in Norway since 1945. This is a unique museum that sets the story in a future-oriented perspective and the museum sites is a living institution in our society.

The story:

Trastad Collections has its origins in the history of Trastad Farm/Trastad Gård in Kvæfjord, which was the central institution for mentally and physically handicapped children and adults in Northern Norway between 1954 and 1991.

The museum displays an authentic residential and care facility for disabled people in Norway after 1945. The history of the institution tells a unique story about how "not teachable" people could evolve with artistic expression. The institution was one of the first in Norway to offer these people a chance to attend school.

Trastad Gallery currently has a national and international collection of Raw Art / Outsider Art. Some artworks were created by former residents at the central institution Trastad Farm. The artworks can be seen in the art gallery. One of the main intentions of Trastad collections is to increase knowledge about so-called outsider groups participation and recognition in an artistic context.