
All Images: LPO arkitekter
A new national museum of cod
No industry has left such a deep mark in our culture over as many centuries as the Lofoten Fisheries. Arctic Cod departs from the Barents Sea and spawns from the Møre coast to Finnmark and the Vestfjord between Lofoten and the mainland. Fishing has traditionally taken place in all these areas, but the Lofoten Fisheries has taken a unique position with the highest number of participants and the largest catches. That is why we consider it a phenomenon of national importance, culturally and economically. Stockfish has represented the bulk of Norwegian export value for a period of over 500 years. Some say, cod fish has built Norway.
The dissemination of what fishing for Arctic cod (Norwegian skrei) has meant, means and will mean for Norway is a task of national importance.
In order to realize this task, Museum Nord and Vågan municipality have taken the initiative to establish a national centre for the Lofoten Fisheries to raise the importance of cod for Norway in the past, present and future.
SKREI is coming
We have been working on our plans for SKREI for the last 15 years. We have the support from local, regional and national authorities. In 2021 we received the final go-ahead from the government to start building SKREI.
Total budget: NOK 371.4 million
Financed: NOK 162 million (National Budget) + NOK 58.5 million (Vågan, NFK, private sponsorship) + loan NOK 110 million
Recent MILESTONES
- Fall 2021: SKREI granted NOK 162 million in the National Budget for 2022.
- Funding: Nordland County Council approved funding with NOK 48.5 million.
- The merger between Lofotakvariet AS and Galleri Espolin is completed, and the company SKREI Eiendom AS was formally established on 1 July 2020. A cooperation agreement was signed in the autumn of 2021. Lofotmuseet is also in the process of becoming part of SKREI Eiendom AS.
- As part of a funded development project by the Ministry of Culture we have detailed our plans for magazines, the role of art in SKREI and environmental considerations for the capital development.
SKREI should be …
- A visually beautiful place at the top of the wish list for travellers in Norway.
- Outstanding exhibitions and activities and a varied and interesting cultural offer.
- A centre with high academic attraction, where research and knowledge development takes place that has both national and international relevance.
- A place with an excellent reputation – a place so exciting that time flies and visitors stay longer than planned.
- An international attraction. A center that wins architecture awards, as well as awards such as the most visited tourist attraction of the year.
- An international, national and regional network, which engages in extensive cooperation, and has knowledge sharing and transparency on the agenda.
- An economically well-run cultural enterprise that makes money and secures local jobs.
- A company with enough financial profits to constantly renew and improve exhibitions, activities and facilities. There should always be something new to experience for returning guests.
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Contact

Jens-Henrik Andersen
Project manager