Two museums – one history

Did you know that Moderna Museet was originally a “department of modern art” at Nationalmuseum – and that the two museums did not become two separate government entities until 1999?

Join us to meet curators at Moderna Museet and Nationalmuseum, who will discuss the two museums and their shared history. Look behind the scenes, learn more about why our collections are the way they are, and hear one or two anecdotes.

How come the Nationalmuseum collection includes crafts and design stretching from the middle ages to today? And why does Moderna Museet have a photographic collection going all the way back to the 1840s?

When one museum becomes two, the question of how the collection should be divided inevitably arises, and Moderna Museet and Nationalmuseum agreed to draw the line at the year 1900. But separations can be complicated, sparking new discussions over time, and many issues are yet to be resolved.

Welcome to a discussion about the intriguing history of two sister museums.