Luba Kuzovnikova Appointed New Director of North Norwegian Art Centre

With 25 years of experience in the field of contemporary art, Luba Kuzovnikova has worked across programming, curating, production, and strategic leadership. Based in Norway since 2006, the Russian-born Kuzovnikova is perhaps best known for her boundary-crossing work with art and culture in the Barents Region.

Since 2020, she has served as project manager for the Nordic Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, collaborating with leading Nordic art and architecture institutions. Kuzovnikova also brings experience as a council member of Arts Council Norway. Now, she is excited to return to Northern Norway.

- I am grateful for the trust placed in me and for the opportunity to return to Northern Norway. With 14 years of experience from the border town of Kirkenes, I bring with me a deep understanding of the Northern Norwegian context and recognize the challenges that exist in a vast and ever-changing region. I look forward to building on an already strong foundation with a skilled team at the art centre. Together, we will explore new formats to meet the needs of artists and the expectations of the public. At the same time, we will work to strengthen the centre as a leading institution for contemporary art in the North, says Kuzovnikova.

Chair of the Board at North Norwegian Art Centre, Trygve Luktvasslimo, is pleased with the process:

- We are gaining a leader who is highly motivated to develop the artist-run institution and to reinforce North Norwegian Art Centre’s role as a central player in the region,he says.

- North Norwegian Art Centre was looking for a director with solid knowledge of the art scene and a strong understanding of cultural policy and arts administration. After a thorough process involving 22 applicants and several rounds of interviews, we are pleased that Luba Kuzovnikova has accepted the position and will be relocating to Lofoten, Luktvasslimo concludes.

Photo: Frej Hedenberg