Norwegian Crafts is proud to present the eighth issue of The Vessel, titled 'Craft in Public Space'. Editors Ida Højgaard Thjømøe and Marianne Zamecznik’s work in this issue highlights the way craft in public space carries a deeper meaning beyond ornamentation, serving as a tool for public mourning after traumatic events, a platform for activism, a medium for ecological or regenerative practices, and a component of a reconciliation process.

In this article, art critic Christer Dynna traces the evolution of craft in public space in Norway, exploring how artists gradually secured a place in state-funded building projects. Dynna outlines the steps leading up to the establishment of the Norwegian Public Building Ornamentations Fund in 1976, and delves into the debates between artists, architects, and stakeholders over artistic integration, quality, and fairness, highlighting key moments of conflict and collaboration.

This article, written by Drew Snyder, senior curator at KORO Public Art Norway, the Norwegian governmental agency for art in public spaces, explores the relationship between craft practices and public art, focusing on three case studies: the ceramic vessels by Lisbet Dæhlin and Elisabeth von Krogh in the Norwegian government quarter, the textile artworks by Elisabeth Haarr at the Norwegian Embassy in Washington DC, and the monumental integrated sculpture by Aage Gaup at the Bodø airport in Northern Norway.