The artist city of Skien

The initiative consists of awarding annual artist grants, renting out studios to professional artists, facilitating workshops for graphics and running the production and exhibition venue Spriten Kunsthall and the artist-run Gallery Hi10.

Within the framework of Kunstnerbyen Skien, the term "art" is understood as all forms of creative art. A creative artist can be a visual artist, author, playwright, composer, filmmaker, choreographer, etc. as opposed to a performing artist such as an actor, dancer, musician, etc. There are smooth transitions in this field where, for example, a dancer also works as a choreographer, and where musicians also work as composers.

Spriten Kunsthall

Spriten Kunsthall is the hub of Skien municipality's initiative. The old liquor factory on Klosterøya was built in 1917 and housed the production of technical spirits until the start of World War II. The premises were then used for laboratories and various workshops associated with paper production at Union. When Norske Skog closed down its operations at Klosterøya in 2006, Skien Municipality leased the premises and established a studio community. In 2012, Spriten Kunsthall opened its doors in the old mechanical workshop in Spritfabrikken after a long period of renovation. 

For program and ongoing activities: Spriten Kunsthall - Skien kommune

The country's only producing art gallery

Spriten Kunsthall is currently the country's only producing art gallery where artists within a broad field of art can produce AND present their projects. The combination of production and dissemination makes Spriten Kunsthall unique, and fills a national space for artists to develop new art projects over time within a professional framework. The production aspect of Spriten Kunsthall is well suited to the area's history of process industry and processing of raw materials.     

In 2016, the 10th anniversary of Kunstnerbyen Skien was marked with speeches and festivities, but also by expanding the studio capacity. The studio community at Henrik Ibsensgate 10 was established - Hi10 for short - and the associated artist-run exhibition space Galleri Hi10. 

In 2024, the most recent new grant to Kunstnerbyen Skien came into place when a group of artists wanted to establish a printmaking workshop to produce and communicate graphic art. With support from the Norwegian Arts Council and Sparebankstiftelsen DNB, equipment and machines were put in place and the first graphic works have been produced and the first groups of students have tried their hand at screen printing. 

These artists are based at Spriten Kunsthall today: These artists are at Spriten today - Skien kommune

Skien municipality's artist scholarship

In the summer of 2024, the most recent recipient of Skien Municipality's artist grant to live in Skien moved into Ibsengården in Snipetorp. Textile artist Damien Ajavon is the 18th recipient of the scholarship and maintains Skien municipality's goal that Skien as an Ibsen City should challenge and excite. Through Skien's commitment to the City of Artists Skien, both objectives are guaranteed.    

Tom-Erik Lønnerød is employed by Skien Municipality and is responsible for Kunstnerbyen Skien, Spriten Kunsthall and the municipality's art collection.