Perspektivet Museum is a foundation. It was established in 1996 with the purpose of developing and sharing knowledge as the basis for understanding connections in life, for creating tolerance of cultural diversity, and for offering alternative socio-cultural perspectives.

The Museum has come to be known as an active environment for documenting contemporary life and for communication with the wider public. The museum belongs to Norway’s national museum network and also participates in networks for minorities and cultural diversity.

At the time of the museum’s founding, Troms Folkemuseum and the collections of Tromsø bymuseum were included in the new foundation. In addition to the main premises in the centre of Tromsø, Perspektivet Museum administers two outdoor areas which include a total of 24 buildings of antiquarian value. These properties are made accessible to the public through the museum’s seasonal educational programmes. The scope and contents of the museum’s collections therefore reflect Tromsø and the surrounding community’s museal history from the 1950s to today.

In 2004 the museum opened in its current premises on Storgata 95, in a listed upper-class house built in 1838. Starting in 1911 and for 90 years, this building served as Folkets Hus, offering a multitude of activities and serving many functions. In 2005 Perspektivet Museum became the owner of this beautiful wooden building that lies at the northerly end of the pedestrian street ‘Gågata’.

Inspired by current critical issues and Tromsø’s more recent history, Perspektivet Museum runs project-based activities. The museum’s ongoing documentational work provides material for exhibitions and other types of educational initiatives. The focus on the museum as a medium makes exhibitions the centre of theoretical and practical research. The intention of being visibly present in public discourse steers our practices of collecting, preserving, researching and communicating.

The showing of photographs with a documentary character is one of the museum’s core activities. Current social problems and events are themes for discussion and debate. Over the years, the museum has developed wide international collaboration with photographic bureaus and photographers.

Perspektivet Museum weaves itself into Tromsø’s wider cultural life through participating in events and through collaborating with a range of social actors and environments in the city and outer-lying district.

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