Professor Åsil Bøthun, a professor of sculpture and installation, and currently Vice Dean of Education at KMD, has been appointed the new Dean of the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design (KMD). 

– The reason I applied for the position is that I genuinely care about and want to protect our academic fields. I’m therefore very grateful to have been entrusted with the role of Dean at KMD, says Bøthun.

Bøthun has been a professional visual artist for over 20 years. She holds a degree from the Oslo National Academy of the Arts and a teaching qualification in design subjects from Oslo University College. She has extensive experience as a supervisor and lecturer at various institutions.

Her artistic research focuses on materiality and processes of material transformation. Bøthun has exhibited widely both nationally and internationally, and has received several public grants and awards, including the Autumn Exhibition Prize.

Committed to the Grieg Academy

During her time as Vice Dean, Bøthun has developed strong expertise and ideas on how KMD can evolve both academically and institutionally.

– One of the major tasks ahead is securing funding for the new Grieg Academy. In addition, we lack a national platform for applying for external funding for artistic research. Establishing this is crucial for further developing the field and remaining competitive both nationally and internationally, Bøthun explains.

She also aims to strengthen KMD’s reputation locally, across the Nordic region, and internationally.

– While the Art Academy and the Grieg Academy have their own histories, KMD has only existed for eight years and is not as well established externally. We have many fantastic staff members who are highly active in the cultural field, and we need to highlight that, she says.

A Strong Dean for KMD

Bøthun will take over from current Dean Frode Thorsen, who congratulates her on the appointment and looks forward to a constructive transition period.

– I believe Bøthun will be a very strong Dean for KMD. She has deep insight into the faculty’s entire academic portfolio, spanning both artistic and scientific disciplines. She has long been active in national and international forums on behalf of KMD and is well informed about current developments. It’s also very practical that, as Vice Dean, she has been involved in all major processes and issues that the new faculty leadership will inherit from my eight years as Dean – such as the new building for the Grieg Academy, says Thorsen.