Owners have applied to the Directorate for Cultural Heritage for record-high grants for their cultural monuments for 2026.
Among the ten grant schemes, applications for listed buildings in private ownership and technical-industrial cultural monuments show the largest increase.
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The application sum for listed buildings in private ownership has increased by as much as NOK 91 million – from NOK 362 million to NOK 453 million.
“We know there are many committed owners who want to keep their cultural monuments in good condition. The application figures show that many plan to start the work next year,” says Director of National Heritage Hanna Geiran.
“Although we are pleased that so many owners are motivated, we also know that the need is great.
In the area of technical and industrial cultural heritage, the owners have applied for NOK 177 million. In the autumn of 2025, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage presented a new conservation strategy for industry and business to the Ministry of Climate and Environment:
“We are concerned that Norway is an industrial nation. Everywhere in the country, we find traces of how industry and technology have characterized our society. We want to preserve these stories for the future,” says Geiran.
“At the same time, these cultural monuments are often large and complex facilities, which makes the renovation work demanding.
The new conservation strategies for agriculture and coastal culture have also been well received, with applications totalling almost NOK 50 million.
“Agriculture and the sea have always been fundamental for Norway. These grants will contribute to both knowledge building and the development of new forms of use and business activities related to our rich cultural heritage along the coast and in the villages,” says Geiran.
“The application sums show that many already have concrete plans to create activity in their local communities.
Value creation of more than NOK 1.75 billion
The restoration of cultural monuments is not only financed by government grants – the owners also invest their own funds. The total budget for all the projects therefore amounts to more than NOK 1.75 billion.
“This means that the assignments given to craftsmen and companies locally create jobs, value creation and activity,” Geiran emphasizes.
“The work with the cultural monuments thus generates income for society, in addition to creating pride and a sense of ownership among owners and the local environment.
Facts about applications and grants
- The Directorate for Cultural Heritage’s grant schemes are financed through the national budget. The proposal for 2026 is a total of NOK 528 million, divided into several schemes.
- The figures are taken from the national application portal for cultural heritage, Digisak. Most of the schemes are included, but some counties do not participate in all the schemes.
- Two new grant schemes have been added to the portal for 2026: Church art and Documentation and conservation of stave churches.
The county authorities and the Sami Parliament will now prioritise the applicants before the end of the year. The Directorate for Cultural Heritage then distributes the grants. The final picture of the application sums will be ready immediately after the New Year.
Overview of application sums by category
| Category | Application sum (NOK) |
|---|---|
| Protected cultural monuments in private ownership | 453 911 622 |
| Vessel protection | 346 890 765 |
| Technical and industrial cultural heritage | 177 980 013 |
| World Heritage | 147 435 819 |
| Fire protection of dense wooden house areas | 20 963 554 |
| Ruins and facilities from the Middle Ages | 24,652,207 |
| Medieval buildings from before 1537 | 11,071,815 |
| Stave churches: maintenance, conservation and documentation | 9,709,404 |
| Conservation of church art | 3,491,254 |
| Value creation | 49,156,495 |
| Total | 1,245,262,948 |
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