Kunstsilo – The art silo
Southern Norway's new, groundbreaking art museum in Kristiansand
A grain silo from 1935, located on the small island of Odderøya in Kristiansand, has now been transformed into one of Northern Europe's most innovative centres for art and culture.
On a small island in the city of Kristiansand, in Southern Norway, you can spot a 38-meter tall, white building. It used to be a silo, serving as emergency storage for 15,000 tonnes of grain. It opened in May 2024, and has become the city's new art destination and hub for cultural experiences.
An icon in the city
When it was first built in 1935, it was the first building representing functionalism in Kristiansand and only the second functionalist silo in the country, built just two months after Vippetangen in Oslo.
Over the years, the building has been the subject of many discussions but has also become an icon in the area.
"This large and unique building has really meant something to the city. Historically, it has been one of the most interesting buildings in Kristiansand. An architectural icon in the city", historian and former director of the Vest-Agder County Museum, Jan Henrik Munksgaard is quoted as saying on Kunstsilo's website.
A new lease on life
The silo was a great success and was for many years used to store grain produced by the nearby mill in town. Two years after the mill closed for good in 2008, the city council decided the silo should be preserved.
In 2015, financier Nicolai Tangen donated a generous part of his own private art collection, consisting of Nordic art from the 1930s until today, to Sørlandet Art Museum in his home town. At the same time, he proposes that the grain silo could be used as a new art museum in Kristiansand. Four years later, work began to transform the building into what it is today.
Kunstsilo will be one of Northern Europe's most innovative powerhouses for art and cultural experiences. It holds three permanent collections, including the collection donated by Tangen, which is the world's largest collection of Nordic modernist art. The art museum also exhibits regional art in multiple formats.
In addition to being an art museum, it also serves as an arena for innovative digital art interaction and hosts events, concerts, workshops, and debates.
Relax on the cool rooftop bar, open from Thursday to Saturday (11 am - 02 am). You can enjoy a fantastic view of the city and the beautiful Southern Norway archipelago. The museum also has a café and brasserie on the main floor, open every day from 11 am - 10 pm.
A vibrant cultural region
The new art museum joins the ranks of several cultural centres, museums and galleries in Southern Norway. Just a short distance away, you'll find the Kilden Theatre and Concert House – a performing arts centre with magnificent architecture that opened in 2012. Make sure to visit the many small and unique art galleries in the region, too.
Odderøya island, where the museum is located, is a very popular recreational area in Kristiansand. The small island was once home to a naval base, and you can still see the old cannon positions while strolling along the idyllic sign-posted paths with excellent views of the eastern harbour and the Christiansholm Fortress (1672).
If you travel a bit further south, the prizewinning and previously Michelin-starred restaurant, Under, has reopened with a new concept. The restaurant is located under the ocean with a huge underwater window. The prices are now more affordable, while the experience is just as amazing as before.
Explore Southern Norway
Find more fun activities for the whole family in this coastal region