Visual art and cultural history are dealt with through several organizational forms in the Norwegian museum and gallery landscape. There are common characteristics between this industry and theatre, dance and music as regards the economic framework of conditions and traditions.

In Norway the museum landscape largely consists of museums of visual art, applied art and cultural history. Other museum institutions such as the specialist museums and the university museums also play noteworthy roles. These institutions have a number of common interfaces and it is primarily the institutions that deal with contemporary art, art history and cultural history that will be dealt with in he course. The gallery landscape, the biennials and the major exhibitions are in regular contact with the museums, which results in both a renewal of and a challenge to the industry by both private and public players.

An important common characteristic of the enterprises in this industry is their focus on the cultural-historical and/or artistic expression. The financial challenges of the institutions, their need for visitors, and administrative and organizational conditions constitute central aspects of their ability to play an active role in society and the institutional landscape. These aspects, thus, as well as the political framework conditions that form the basis for the growth of the institutions, will constitute fundamental elements of the course.