DKS-LAB is a nationwide network of experimental platforms for visual art within Den Kulturelle Skolesekken (The Cultural Schoolbag), DKS. This initiative creates space for artists to develop and test new proposals for the DKS program through experimentation and dialogue with children and youth. By exploring different approaches to visual art mediation, DKS-LAB aims to foster relevant encounters between contemporary art and young audiences while supporting the development of proposals before submission to the DKS portal.

Apply to the DKS-LAB Visual Art Oslo 2026 Open Call.

DKS-LAB Oslo was first implemented as a three-year program (2021–2023), developed through a collaboration between Fotogalleriet and Oslo Kunstforening, with funding from Kulturtanken and the Municipality of Oslo. The collaboration between Fotogalleriet and Oslo Kunstforening was extended for a further three-year period (2024–2026), with UKS (Unge Kunstneres Samfund) joining as a collaborating partner in 2026. Each year, new participants are selected through an Open Call process, bringing new perspectives and creative voices to the program. 

Artists: Ase Brunborg Lie, Magdalena Manderlova, and Elise Nohr Nystad.

Artists: Carolina Vásquez, Hjørdis Kurås, Charlotte Rostad, Trygve Ohren, Sara Guldmyr, and Ollie Hermansson.

Participating institutions: Pikene på Broen, Nordnorsk Kunstnersenter, Kunsthall Trondheim, Kunstbanken Hedmark Kunstsenter and Oppland Kunstsenter, Fotogalleriet and Oslo Kunstforening, Telemark Kunstsenter and Vestfold Kunstsenter, Rogaland Kunstsenter, Møre og Romsdal Kunstsenter, Bærum Kunsthall, Agder Kunstsenter and Kristiansand Kunsthall, Rom for kunst og arkitektur.

Artists: Lexie Owen, Mor Efrony, and Icaro Zorbar. 

Participating institutions: Pikene på Broen, Nordnorsk Kunstnersenter, Kunsthall Trondheim, Kunstbanken Hedmark Kunstsenter and Oppland Kunstsenter, Fotogalleriet and Oslo Kunstforening, Telemark Kunstsenter and Vestfold Kunstsenter, Rogaland Kunstsenter, Møre og Romsdal Kunstsenter, Bærum Kunsthall, Agder Kunstsenter, Bomuldsfabriken Kunsthall and Kristiansand Kunsthall, Rom for kunst og arkitektur. 

Artists: Eline McGeorge, Kifah Fanni, Mari Martens Kristoffersen, Yamile Calderón, and Kirsty Kross. 

Participating institutions: Pikene på Broen, Nordnorsk Kunstnersenter, Kunsthall Trondheim, Kunstbanken Hedmark Kunstsenter, Fotogalleriet and Oslo Kunstforening, Telemark Kunstsenter and Vestfold Kunstsenter, Rogaland Kunstsenter, Møre og Romsdal Kunstsenter, Bærum Kunsthall, Agder Kunstsenter, Bomuldsfabriken Kunsthall and Kristiansand Kunsthall. 

The project is a multi-year collaboration between host institutions, county municipalities, Sparebankstiftelsen DNB, and Kulturtanken. We would like to extend our special thanks to DKS Osloskolen, represented by professional consultant and producer Inger-Johanne Molven; Kyrre Bjørkås, Head of Visual Arts at Kulturtanken; and Birthe Mørreaunet Selvaag, Senior Advisor at Sparebankstiftelsen DNB.