In 2005, the cultural industries, as defined in White Paper 22: “Culture and Industry”, employed a total of 80 600 people in Norway (public and private companies) – and the Oslo region accounts for 50, 8 percent of this total. Compared to the Norwegian average, the city of Oslo stands out with three times as many employees in the cultural industries with 8 percent (22,212) of all employees. National average is 2, 6 percent in 2005. The national growth from 1995 to 2005 was higher for cultural industries than the average and employment increased with more than 26 percent compared to an average of 17percent for all industries. (Source: Kulturnæringene i Osloregionen 2006)

Oslo has a strong cultural heritage. The city has been the home of internationally renowned artists such as Edvard Munch and Henrik Ibsen, and they both have museums dedicated to them in Oslo. Other places to see in Oslo are the Vigeland Park at Frogner and the famous Viking Museums and Norwegian explorer museums at Bygdøy. Downtown Oslo feature major theatres, the national Opera and Ballet, a major international concert hall, and many free theatre groups and musical ensembles, as well as several music clubs that draw the biggest names in the music world. Bjørvika, located in the city centre, will be the site of Norway's new National Opera House, with construction well underway and scheduled to be completed in april 2008. The opera house is designed by Snøhetta, an Oslo-based architectural firm that has received world-wide recognition.

Oslo is known for its social life and nightlife, with a high density and high quality of bars and cafés in the multicultural city centre. There are several movie theatres, museums and collections to be found and a growing number of excellent international and ethnic restaurants. Six Oslo restaurants have received a star in the Guide Rouge (former Guide Michelin): Bagatelle (*), Le Canard (*), Stadtholdergaarden (*), Feinschmecker (*), Haga Restaurant (*) and Restaurant Oscarsgate (*). In addition, Restaurant Eik is listed as Bib Gourmand; restaurants with outstanding food but moderate prices.

Activities around the cultural industries in Norway are still developing. It is also a priority to develop the cultural cluster in the Oslo region. Please contact Therese Holm Thorvaldsen for further information.