Lecture tour in Vesterålen
Published 30 September 2026
Liv Helene Willumsen and Gøril Karlsen have been on a lecture tour in Vesterålen
25 November 2024
SKREI is community building
SKREI is the largest museum being established in Northern Norway in decades, and one of the region’s largest cultural industry projects. From the moment SKREI opens in 2026, the centre will contribute to significant value creation both in the municipality of Vågan and in the larger region.
– “SKREI aims to become one of the most important tourism facilities in Northern Norway,” says Geir Are Johansen, director of Museum Nord.
A ripple effect analysis conducted by Menon Economics estimates that tourism consumption in the region will increase by NOK 43.6 million a year as a direct result of the establishment of SKREI. This also benefits many local businesses. The centre creates new jobs and helps to make Vågan municipality more attractive.
– “SKREI has already had positive ripple effects. Contracts worth more than NOK 200 million have been awarded in connection with the construction project, and almost all of them have gone to local and regional contractors,” says Geir Are Johansen.
Controversial additional funding
Last year, Vågan municipality allocated NOK 56 million in additional funding to SKREI. In recent times, critical questions have been raised about this. Museum Nord sees that it is necessary to bring out some facts about this grant:
The funds from Vågan municipality are given within the scheme for national cultural buildings. This means that NOK 56 million from the municipality triggers the corresponding amount from the state and Nordland County Council. In other words, the grant of NOK 56 million gives a total investment of NOK 168 million in Vågan. The state and county council’s funds do not come without the municipality’s contribution.
– “When we come into operation, Museum Nord will have full financial responsibility for SKREI,” says Geir Are Johansen.
Improvement of local infrastructure
Another important element is that the municipality’s NOK 56 million for the project is earmarked for municipal infrastructure that are not only for the benefit of SKREI, but also for all residents. Among other things, two problematic intersections at Kabelvåg primary and secondary school and the road to Storvågan will be rebuilt, water and sewage systems will be improved and new pedestrian and cycle paths will be built.
– “At a time when many municipalities are experiencing a negative development with a decreasing and aging population, SKREI is an important social development. Simply a project for the future,” concludes Geir Are Johansen, director of Museum Nord.
Financing and organisation of SKREI
SKREI will be a centre for experiences and knowledge that highlights the importance of cod for social development, culture and economy in Norway – in the past, present and future.
The project is financed with funds from Vågan municipality, Nordland county and the Ministry of Culture and Equality through the scheme for National Cultural Buildings. The condition is that each party contributes one third.
- In 2023, Vågan municipality allocated additional funding of NOK 56 million for the development of necessary infrastructure.
- Vågan has already contributed properties worth NOK 145 million to the SKREI project, which constitutes the municipality’s own funding. These properties are not possible to sell on the open market due to strict conservation regulations.
- The allocations from the municipality trigger corresponding funding from the county municipality and the state (invested funds). The total investment in the SKREI project is approximately NOK 600 million.
- The operation of SKREI is organized in a municipally owned limited company, Skrei Eiendom AS. Museum Nord pays an annual rent to the real estate company that covers the costs of financing the facility and maintaining the buildings.
- Museum Nord has complete financial responsibility for the operation of SKREI. Vågan municipality has no running costs related to operations.