Minister of Culture (Norway)

Minister of Culture of Norway Kulturministeren
Incumbent Linda Cathrine Hofstad Helleland since 16 December 2015
Ministry of Culture
Member of	Council of State
Seat	Oslo
Nominator	Prime Minister
Appointer	Monarch with approval of Parliament
Term length	No fixed length
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Norway
Precursor	Minister of Church Affairs and Education
Formation	14 October 1981
First holder	Bjartmar Alv Gjerde
Deputy	State secretaries at the Ministry of Culture
Website	Official website

The Minister of Culture and Church Affairs (Norwegian: Kultur- og kirkeminister ) is a councilor of state and chief of the Norway's Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs. Since 16 October 2013 the position has been held by Thorhild Widvey of the Conservative Party.^[1] The ministry is responsible for the government's policy related to culture, church affairs, religion, media, sports and gambling. Subordinate agencies include the Gaming and Foundation Authority, the National Archival Services, the National Library, the Arts Council and the Media Authority. The portfolio includes issues related the Church of Norway.

The position was created as the Minister of Culture and Sciences in 1981, resulting in a split of the responsibilities of the former Minister of Church Affairs and Education, where issues related to culture and research were moved to the new post. Science issues remained part of the portfolio until 1989, when they were swapped with religious issues with the Minister of Education and Research, creating the Minister of Culture and Church Affairs. This lasted for a year, when church and religious affairs were again resumed by the Minister of Education, Research and Church Affairs. This situation was retained until 2001, when the portfolio again became the Minister of Culture and Church Affairs. From 2009 the "Church Affairs" was transferred to the Ministry of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs as minister Anniken Huitfeldt was not a member of Church of Norway. Issues related to religion remained within the portfolio.

When Solberg's Cabinet took office in 2013 church affairs was again included in the title and portefolio but with less significance than previously due to the increased autonomy given to Church of Norway in 2012.

Key

The following lists the minister, their party, date of assuming and leaving office, their tenure in years and days, and the cabinet they served in.

  Centre Party
  Christian Democratic Party
  Conservative Party
  Labour Party

Ministers

Photo	Name	Party	Took office	Left office	Tenure	Cabinet	Ref
—	Langslet, Lars RoarLars Roar Langslet	Conservative	14 October 1981	9 May 1986	4 year, 219 days	Willoch I	[2]
—	Bakke, HallvardHallvard Bakke	Labour	9 May 1986	16 October 1989	3 years, 161 days	Brundtland II	[3]
—	Bjartveit, EleonoreEleonore Bjartveit	Christian Democratic	16 October 1989	3 November 1990	1 year, 19 days	Syse	[4]
	Kleveland, ÅseÅse Kleveland	Labour	3 November 1990	25 October 1996	5 years, 357 days	Brundtland III	[5]
—	Birkeland, TuridTurid Birkeland	Labour	25 October 1996	17 October 1997	0 years, 358 days	Jagland	[6]
	Lahnstein, Anne EngerAnne Enger Lahnstein	Centre	17 October 1997	8 October 1999	1 year, 355 days	Bondevik I	[7]
	Haga, ÅslaugÅslaug Haga	Centre	8 October 1999	21 March 2000	0 years, 156 days	Bondevik I	[7]
—	Horn, EllenEllen Horn	Labour	21 March 2000	19 October 2001	1 year, 213 days	Stoltenberg I	[8]
	Haugland , Valgerd SvarstadValgerd Svarstad Haugland	Christian Democratic	19 October 2001	17 October 2005	3 years, 364 days	Bondevik II	[9]
	Giske, TrondTrond Giske	Labour	17 October 2005	20 October 2009	4 years, 4 days	Stoltenberg II	[10]
	Huitfeldt, AnnikenAnniken Huitfeldt	Labour	20 October 2009	21 September 2012	2 years, 335 days	Stoltenberg II	[10]
	Tajik, HadiaHadia Tajik	Labour	21 September 2012	16 October 2013	1 year, 26 days	Stoltenberg II	[10]
—	Widvey, ThorhildThorhild Widvey	Conservative	16 October 2013	16 December 2015	3 years, 61 days	Solberg	[1]
	Helleland, Linda Cathrine HofstadLinda Cathrine Hofstad Helleland	Conservative	16 December 2015	present	1 year, 0 days	Solberg	[1]

References

1. "Erna Solberg's Government". Government.no. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
2. "Odvar Nordli's Government". Government.no. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
3. "Gro Harlem Brundtland's Second Government". Government.no. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
4. "Jan Syse's Government". Government.no. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
5. "Gro Harlem Brundtland's Third Government". Government.no. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
6. "Thorbjørn Jagland's Government". Government.no. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
7. "Kjell Magne Bondevik's First Government". Government.no. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
8. "Jens Stoltenberg's First Government". Government.no. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
9. "Kjell Magne Bondevik's Second Government". Government.no. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
10. "Jens Stoltenberg's Second Government". Government.no. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.