The foundation

The centre is owned by a foundation. The foundation and the project is inspired by the vision of Oddleif Fagerheim and his wife Thora Nitter Fagerheim, who donated their house and land to the Nordic Council of Ministers in 1976.

Oddleif Fagerheim was a teacher and a politician for the Labour party. He was very active on the cultural field throughout his lifetime. During his 12 years in the Norwegian Parliament he focused on communicational, environmental and cultural issues. Fagerheim was passionate about the common history and culture of the Nordic countries. Oddleif Fagerheim's first idea was to establish a school for nordic youth on the property he donated to the Nordic Council of Ministers, but new ideas pushed the project in the direction of contemporary art centre that the nkd is today.

The Nordic Artists' Centre in Dale was officially opened in May 1998. The Municipality of Fjaler, the County of Sogn & Fjordane and the Norwegian Government funded the project of establishing the nkd. The nkd is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Culture.