The University Museum of Bergen - Cultural History:        Closed for rehabilitation

The University board has decided that the Cultural History Museum will stay closed until it has been completely rehabilitated to meet safety requirements and modern standards. 

Here we have gathered matters related to the closure, links to cultural history dissemination, management and research, and some impressions from the exhibitions as they where before the closure: "Historisk museum" closed | University Museum of Bergen | UiB

"The building that houses the cultural-historical collections was completed in 1927 and is a listed building. When the museum was built, the requirements for fire protection, climate control and accessibility were completely different. We have carried out several measures to improve the conditions, but it is unfortunately not sufficient to keep the building open", says Rector of the University of Bergen, Margareth Hagen.

Total rehabilitation required

Condition assessments in recent years have shown that the building has several structural deviations.

In 2020-2021, several measures were carried out, such as the replacement of fire alarm systems and renewal and reinforcement of fire extinguishing equipment, in addition to staffing on all floors.

For the safety of visitors, the building has been temporarily closed since May 2022. Now the board at the University of Bergen has decided that the museum will stay closed until it is completely rehabilitated. The rehabilitation will require government funding.

"The climatic conditions in the nearly 100-year-old building can be harmful to our objects. Conservation and safeguarding of these valuable objects will take time. For security reasons, this work cannot be carried out while the museum is open to the public. We will begin the work of safeguarding our cultural heritage for the future as soon as possible", says museum director Kari Loe Hjelle.