The Nobel Peace Center Gets a New Heart
The exhibition on the peace prize laureates is the heart of the Nobel Peace Center, and now it’s being renewed! Join us on an exciting journey developed in close dialogue with visitors and the community around us.
Here, you can gain a unique insight into how we create an exhibition that reflects diverse perspectives on peace and hope. Join us and contribute to shaping the future exhibition, opening in the fall of 2026.
On this page, you can explore the purpose behind the exhibition, follow the process through the timeline, and find out how you can be part of this project. Welcome!
Timeline
JANUARY 2025
Fieldwork
In early January 2025, a two-day workshop called Fieldwork was held. This workshop brought together 20 Oslo residents and employees of the Nobel Peace Center to explore the theme of peace prize winners through various senses. Participants were divided into groups that explored and created stories based on portraits, colors, materials, and sounds. The goal was to create a conceptual foundation for the exhibition through reflection and dialogue.
JANUARY 2025
Open Pop-Up Studio
In January, visitors and passersby were invited to the Pop-Up Studio at the Nobel Peace Center to take part in the beginning of the work on the new exhibition. During these days, the Norwegian Nobel Institute also visited to open the archives from 1974 and talk about them and how the process of selecting a winner looked in the 70s. A “Tiny Talks Room” was set up inside the studio, with a window facing the street, where visitors, peace center employees, and invited guests could share their thoughts on peace, the peace prize winners, and what they would like to see in the new exhibition.
FEBRUARY 2025
The Kitchen
In February 2025, a group of professionals from the cultural field, including individuals working in theatre, design, curation, public art, community work, and the newly appointed Bishop of Oslo, were brought together for a workshop called The Kitchen. Building on insights from Fieldwork conducted in January, the findings were refined, condensed, and distilled into a few key “ingredients” intended for testing in the next phase of the process: The Laboratory.
MARCH 2025
Open Pop-Up Studio
From 4 to 14 March, 2025, an open Pop-Up Studio was held at the Nobel Peace Center. This was a temporary installation where the public could participate in shaping the new exhibition on peace prize winners. Through open dialogue and creative collaboration, visitors were invited to contribute their perspectives and ideas.
APRIL 2025
Laboratory
At the end of April 2025, the largest exhibition space at the Nobel Peace Center will be transformed into an exploratory laboratory. The main aim of the laboratory is to test spatial elements, bodily/haptic approaches, and ideas for digital solutions with visitors to the center, drop-in guests, and invited participants. The purpose is to find out what resonates and challenges assumptions, as well as what needs further exploration.
AUGUST 2025
Presentation for collegues
In August 2025, the exhibition team presented the concept for the upcoming exhibition to their colleagues at the Nobel Peace Center. They shared the exhibition model, floor plan, and the overall vision for how visitors will experience the work of all Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
The presentation was met with great enthusiasm, thoughtful questions, and feedback on how the laureates will be portrayed - not as distant icons, but as ordinary people who have achieved the extraordinary. Many felt that this approach will inspire a sense of active hope.
SEPTEMBER
Bauprobe
At the end of September 2025, a Bauprobe was held. This is a phase of concretization where content and form is discussed and further developed. Participants include both internals from the Nobel Peace Center and external professionals who contributed their perspectives and expertise.
JANUARY - MARCH 2026
Continued Work and Installation
In the period from January to March 2026, work will continue to concretize content and form, as well as install the exhibition. This includes collaboration with contractors and implementation of the final exhibition elements.
December 2026
Opening of the New Permanent Exhibition
The new exhibition at the Nobel Peace Center opens on 11 December 2026.
MEET THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE EXHIBITION
Henrik Treimo
Exhibition Director at the Nobel Peace Center. Ph.D. in Social Anthropology and former Chief Curator at the Technical Museum.
Serge von Arx
Artistic Director of the Scenography Department at the Norwegian Theater Academy and Professor of Scenography.
Eirin Mailund Svendsen
Curator at the Nobel Peace Center. Master's degree in Critical Museology from the University of Oslo and former curator at Akershus Museums and Sogn and Fjordane Art Museum (SFKM).
Claire McAree
Project Manager at the Nobel Peace Center. Former cultural producer and festival director.
Tara Bamberg
Project Coordinator at the Nobel Peace Center. Master's degree in International Relations from NMBU.
Do you have input?
Feel free to contact Project Coordinator Tara Bamberg at tb@nobelpeacecenter.org