No plans are in sight for Oslo’s old Munch Museum building

All eyes are currently on Oslo’s new-and-shiny MUNCH museum in Bjørvika. But what will happen to the old museum building at Tøyen?

On October 22, the new MUNCH museum opened in Bjørvika, making the Munch collection’s 58 years at Tøyen history.

It has been 13 years since the Oslo City Council first decided to move the Munch Museum from Tøyen to Bjørvika. On October 1, the old museum officially closed its doors to make way for the new.

But now that the move is finally complete, the Tøyen building’s fate is still a mystery. Oslo Municipality doesn’t know what they want to do with the building, Aftenposten wrote.

City councilor for industry and ownership Victoria Marie Evensen (Labor Party) said that the Munch Museum still needs the building for a few more months. All art will be moved over to the new building before Christmas, and the old museum plans to fully vacate the premises in the first quarter of 2022, according to Evensen. Renting out the building will then be considered.

“Any rentals will be done in collaboration with the Agency for Real Estate and Urban Renewal (EBY), the Agency for Cultural Affairs, and the Agency for Urban Environment,” Evensen said.

Another potential option is selling.

“If it turns out that the Municipality does not need the property, the City Council will consider whether selling it should be the alternative,” the City Council said.

Evenson did not directly answer why 13 years have passed without the Municipality clarifying what they want to do with the building.

Source: ©️ NTB Scanpix / #NorwayTodayTravel

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