Preus Museum aims to be a leading center of expertise and a natural meeting place for photography, both nationally and internationally.
The museum was established in 1995 when the state purchased the collections of the private Preus Photo Museum. The Norwegian state is the owner of the museum. The collections consist of photographs, other forms of imagery, cameras, and other technical equipment that highlight the development of photography. The image collection has a broad representation of international photo history. Preus Museum also has a professional library of international standards.
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From the exhibition "Over the Rainbow". Three images from Linda Bournane Engelberth's series "Outside the Binary" are displayed in the background. (photo: Ingrid Aas/Preus Museum)
A museum for everyone
The goal of Preus Museum is to create engagement with photo history and the role of images in a democracy and freedom of expression perspective.
We aim to inspire wonder and reflection related to the history of photography and the various ways in which the vast flow of images affects us as individuals and societies. Images are fundamentally important in identity building, politics, and as documentation in various contexts. Therefore, it is also crucial to understand equipment, technique, and processes behind how images have been and continue to be created in both the past and present.
Understanding the history of photography is also understanding how images have been used historically and in contemporary times. Being familiar with how images are made, manipulated, and more broadly used in media makes it easier to "read" news imagery and political debates. This is fundamental for increased participation in democracy.
