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About BKH - The Relief Fund for Visual Artists

The Relief Fund for Visual Artists (BKH) was created by the Norwegian Parliament in connection with the law on art purchases of 1948 (Statute of November 4. 1948, Fee on Sale of Visual Art a.o.). This law states that the buyer of art shall pay a fee of 5% in addition to the price, provided the price is higher than 2000 NOK. The art dealer shall collect the fee and send it to BKH, which then returns the funds to the artists of Norway in the form of grants and scholarships for the new production of art.

Since it's beginning, the fund has returned almost 300 million NOK to artists in Norway. In 2013, more than 22 million NOK was given in the form of scholarships and grants. BKH is thus a major economic partner contributing to the Norwegian art scene, and it makes an important contribution when it comes to ensuring diversity and further innovation in Norwegian art.

BKH provides grants to artists and surviving relatives of artists who have had their main activities in Norway, as well as contributing to other purposes in accordance with current arrangements. The grants from BKH are mainly given to individual artists, in forms such as scholarships and grants by application. BKH also administers Høstutstillingsprisen (The Autumn Exhibition Award) and three other major art awards, regionally-based grants administered by the Norwegian art centers, and a studio program called W 17 at Kunstnernes Hus (The Artist's House).

The artist Ulrik Hendriksen (1891-1960) was a highly profiled and energetic leader of Bildende Kunstneres Styre (The Board of Visual Artists) between 1940 and 1958. He was the initiator and driving force to establish a law on art purchases in Norway, and every year a stipend award is given in his name.
 
For questions and further information:
 
Managing director Hege Imerslund
The Relief Fund for Visual Artists (Bildende Kunstneres Hjelpefond)
Kongens gt.2, N-0153 Oslo, Norway
Ph.: +47 22477433  
Fax.: +47 22477430
E-mail: bkh@kunstfond.no