DKS-LAB for Visual Arts

DKS-LAB is a program where professional visual artists are invited to test educational projects for children and youth, based on their own artistic practice. Artists apply with an idea that, during the project period, is further developed into a full project, in collaboration with fellow artists and art professionals. The production is then carried out in the classroom with students and evaluated. After the project period, the artist should be confident that the project can be submitted to the regular DKS program.

The purpose of DKS-LAB for visual arts is to provide children and youth with more and better encounters with contemporary art, within a wide variety of expressions, and to give artists the opportunity to practice conveying their own art to the target audience.

Read more about The Cultural Schoolbag (DKS).

The project is a perennial and nationwide collaboration between selected art institutions, counties, municipalities, The Savings Bank Foundation DNB and Arts for Young Audiences Norway (Kulturtanken).

The affiliated art institutions form a national network with the purpose of gathering and coordinating expertise and strengthening interest in visual arts for children and young people in general.

In 2022, the programme was expanded to include specialized projects for professionals working in the design and architecture fields, as well as a project aimed at art criticism for children and young people which ran until 2024.

DKS-LAB 2026

The formats of the 11 workshops in 2026 will vary. Some have a national scope, whereas others focus on a specific region. Please see the individual Open Call links below for practical information and specifications.

The application deadline for all Open Calls is Monday 16 March 2026.

All attendees will be paid the same artists fee regardless of location and format. The learning experiences from DKS-LAB can be applied when creating a production proposal in the DKS portal before the registration deadline on 1 October 2026.

All Open Calls: Visual Arts

Open Call: Design and Architecture