Selvaag is involved with Norwegian cultural treasures - old and new.
It has become a tradition for the company to, after the building of each larger housing area, purchase and present a sculpture to the residents. From the first sculpture was handed over in 1956, over 400 Selvaag sculptures adorn Norwegian residential areas today.
Farmhouses are restored
In the 1960 Olav Selvaag, founder of Selvaagbygg, personally intervened to save and preserve 25 "Setesdalshus" - a traditional regional type of log house from the 17th-18th century . These antique cultural treasures were deteriorating and Selvaag them restored and moved from Bykle to Dal Farm in Nittedal. They are still there today, a delight for each new generation of visitors.
A more important stimulus for artists is Selvaag's commitment to figurative sculpture. Today this cultural interest endures through a range of regular programs.
Sculpture scholarship
The best known is perhaps the sculpture scholarship where each year Selvaag awards selected Norwegian sculptors a development scholarship of NOK 50,000, and every other year contributes a travel grant and a study grant of NOK 100,000 each.
The Association of Norwegian Sculptors (NBF) greatly appreciates this involvement. "For sculptors awards like this provide an important opportunity to be evaluated, and for the winners it is a great inspiration and a significant career advancement," says NBF administrator Arve Bringaker.
Peer Gynt and “cannons”
The latest branch on the sculpture tree is the international Peer Gynt competition. The objective is to promote the best sketches for figurative sculptures based on scenes from Henrik Ibsen's perhaps best known play. One of the criteria is that the final works can be placed in residential areas. The new Oslo city district of Løren have the pleasure of these sculptures. Canada, Spain, Poland and Norway are represented among the winning entries.
In the venerable Kanonhallen - Cannon Hall - at Løren, there is also an annual art themed pre-Christmas weekend. Over 30 of the nation's leading designer craftsmen display their work, plus there is a Christmas workshop for children and live stage entertainment in the former armoury.
Musical pleasures
Selvaag has sponsored Det Norske Kammerorkester (The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra) since 2002. The orchestra is innovative in their approach to music, albeit traditional chamber music makes up a significant part of their repertoire. Founded 30 years ago, the orchestra enjoyes international recognition and fame.