Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design

The Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design (KMD) offers BA, MA and PhD programmes based on an internationally recognised level of artistic research.

We educate future artists, designers, performing musicians, composers, music therapists, musicologists, curators, and music and art teachers. The faculty consists of about 700 students and 190 staff members. Academic activities are organised across three departments with a joint administration: The Art Academy, the Grieg Academy – Department of Music, and Department of Design. The departments have research fellows who are affiliated with one of UiB's PhD programmes - either the new artistic programme or the scientific. The academic staff at the departments of contemporary art and design share the same facilities in a purpose-built building designed by the acclaimed Norwegian architecture firm Snøhetta. Currently, the university is in the planning phase to establish a separate building for the Grieg Academy on a neighbouring site at Møllendal. KMD cooperates with many leading institutions on the local, national and international level.

History

The origins of the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design go back to three privately run institutions that were later taken over by the state. The faculty’s history can be summarised as follows:
 

  •  1905: The Bergen Music Academy (Bergens Musikkakademi) is founded and later becomes the Bergen Conservatory of Music (Bergen musikkonservatorium). State-funded since 1981.
  • 1909: The Bergen School of Arts and Crafts (Bergen Kunsthåndverkskole) is founded. From 1988, National College of Art and Design, Bergen (Statens høgskole for kunsthåndverk og design).
  • 1948: Studieatelieret (private education in fine art) is founded. From 1972 The West Norway Academy of Art (Vestlandets kunstakademi). State-funded since 1981.
  • 1995: The Bergen Conservatory of Music becomes part of the University of Bergen and changes name to The Grieg Academy – Department of Music (Griegakademiet – Institutt for musikk)
  • 1996: The West Norway Academy of Art and the National College of Art and Design, Bergen, merge to become the Bergen Academy of Art and Design (Kunsthøgskolen i Bergen, KHiB, from 2012 Kunst- og designhøgskolen i Bergen, KHiB).
  • 2017: On 1 January, the Bergen Academy of Art and Design becomes part of the University of Bergen and, together with The Grieg Academy, establishes the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design (Fakultet for kunst, musikk og design, KMD)
     

The faculty’s alumni include notable artists, musicians and designers such as Petter Opsvik, Lise Davidsen, Vibeke Tandberg, Andreas Engesvik and Matias Faldbakken. 

Board and Administration

The head of the Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design is the Dean, who is also chairman of the Faculty Board.

The Dean oversees the faculty within the framework established by the University Board, directives from the Rector and Director of the University, and resolutions passed by the Faculty Board. 

The Faculty Director is in charge of the day-to-day management of the faculty’s administration. 

Organization Chart

Contact and Map

Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design have their main visiting addresses at Møllendalsveien 61 and Lars Hillesgate 3 in Bergen, Norway.

Opening hours
09:00 - 14:00 Monday to Friday.

Contact
Telephone: (+47) 55 58 73 00 (Møllendalsveien 61) or (+47) 55 58 69 50 (Lars Hillesgate 3).
Email: post@kmd.uib.no
Visiting adresses:
Møllendalsveien 61  (fine art, design, administration)
Lars Hillesgate 3 (music)


For enquieries to the reception:
resepsjonen@kmd.uib.no
For all other enquieries:
post@kmd.uib.no

Postal adress:
University of Bergen (UiB)
Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design
Postboks 7800
N-5020 Bergen