Ulrik Hendriksen (1891-1960) & Bildende Kunstneres Hjelpefond

Ulrik Hendriksen (1891–1960)

For many years, the painter and printmaker Ulrik Hendriksen (1891–1960) was the undisputed spokesperson for visual artists in Norway, serving, among other roles, as chairman of the Board of Visual Artists (BKS). His name is inextricably linked to the legislation regarding the levy on the sale of visual art (1948)—a scheme that has provided visual artists in Norway with substantial funds to be distributed as grants and scholarships.

Exhibition in 1919, where he subsequently participated regularly. During the 1920s and 1930s, he took part in numerous exhibitions, including the Young Artists’ Society (UKS) showcases at Blomqvist (1922–24), the Spring Exhibition at the Kristiania Art Society (1924), the “Younger Norwegian Painters” exhibition at “Den Frie” in Copenhagen (1928), the World’s Fair in Paris (1937), and a presentation of Norwegian graphic artists in Rome that same year.

From 1945 onwards, Hendriksen focused primarily on arts policy and organizational work, most notably on securing the enactment of the so-called “3 Percent Act” (the Act of 4 November 1948 regarding a levy on the sale of visual art). As the administrator of the Visual Artists’ Relief Fund (Bildende Kunstneres Hjelpefond), he was also the driving force behind the practical implementation of the legislation. In addition, he was deeply involved—and served for many years as chairman—in the Norwegian Artists’ Council (Norges Kunstnerråd) and played a very active role in the Nordic Artists’ Association (Nordisk Kunstforbund), which organized a number of major Nordic exhibitions during the early post-war years.

Ulrik Hendriksen received the King’s Medal of Merit in gold in 1954 and was appointed a Knight First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 1959. He was also a recipient of the City of Oslo’s St. Hallvard Medal and several Nordic orders.

The Relief Fund for Visual Artists (BKH)

The Relief Fund for Visual Artists (BKH) was established by the Storting (Norwegian Parliament) in connection with the 1948 Act on the Art Fee. Under the Act, BKH is mandated to collect a 5% fee on all public sales of original artworks in Norway with a selling price exceeding NOK 2,000 per work, and to manage the funds collected. The proceeds from the fee go entirely to the fund, which reinvests the money into the production of new art through grants, scholarships, and awards for artists in Norway. For more information about the art fee and sales reporting, please visit kunstavgiften.no.

In 2025, BKH distributed a total of just over NOK 40.6 million through scholarships, grants, and art awards. The fund is thus a significant player and funding partner within the art sector, making a vital contribution to a diverse art scene and the production of new art in Norway.

BKH provides scholarships and other individual grants to visual artists who primarily conduct—or have conducted—their professional practice in Norway, as well as to their surviving dependents and for other purposes in accordance with the fund’s statutes and current schemes. Grants are awarded regardless of gender, nationality, place of residence, or organizational membership. The term “artist” refers to practitioners in the visual arts field who professionally produce—or have produced—works subject to the Art Fee Act. BKH’s allocations primarily go to individual artists in the form of scholarships and grants awarded upon application. BKH also administers the Autumn Exhibition Award (Høstutstillingsprisen), the Arts and Crafts Award (Kunsthåndverkprisen), and the Photography Art Award (Fotokunstprisen), as well as regional allocations distributed through Norway’s regional art centres. In addition to these, BKH presents the Ulrik Hendriksen Honorary Award and the John Savio Award