Press release -
Kunstsilo Awarded Prix Versailles World Title
Kunstsilo in Kristiansand, Norway has been awarded the prestigious Prix Versailles World Title. The announcement was made on 4 December 2025 at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris during the Prix Versailles award ceremony. Kunstsilo had been shortlisted as the only Nordic museum among seven candidates in the category World’s Most Beautiful Museums.
Prix Versailles is an international architecture award that annually honours newly built or restored structures from around the world. The prize spotlights long-term work characterised by artistic quality, strong respect for cultural heritage and landscape – and, not least, principles of sustainability where culture and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.
Kunstsilo was one of seven museums nominated in the category World’s Most Beautiful Museums. It competed with buildings in Paris (Grand Palais), Bali, Indonesia (Saka Museum), Seoul, South Korea (Audeum), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Diriyah Art Futures), and in the United States: Cleveland (Cleveland Museum of Natural History) and Omaha (Joslyn Art Museum).
“It is an honour to receive this recognition on behalf of Kunstsilo,” says Maria Mediaas Jørstad, Director of Kunstsilo.
“We are proud to be highlighted among so many strong international projects. Being awarded the Prix Versailles World Title is a tremendous achievement! This recognition belongs to everyone who has made this journey possible,” Jørstad continues.
“Kunstsilo is the custodian of the Tangen Collection—the world’s largest collection of Nordic Modernism—and has become a powerhouse for art and cultural experiences. I would like to thank all our forward-thinking and courageous public and private contributors. Without their efforts, Kunstsilo would never have come to life.
My gratitude goes to the Ministry of Culture, Agder County, the City of Kristiansand and Cultiva for their commitment and long-term support. I would also like to extend special thanks to the AKO Foundation for their decisive and lasting support for Kunstsilo.
And finally, my thanks to the architects at Mestres Wåge Arquitectes, BAX and Mendoza Partida, as well as Scenario Interior Architects, who have transformed this historic building into a modern art museum for the 21st century.
This recognition inspires us to continue thinking boldly! We are proud to represent the values of Prix Versailles: social participation and interaction—quite literally by breaking down silos,” says Jørstad.
About Prix Versailles
Since 2015, Prix Versailles has been announced annually at UNESCO and comprises a series of architecture competitions highlighting the best contemporary projects in the world. With a multidisciplinary panel, the world jury awards 24 World Titles among the selected projects—in categories such as airports, university campuses, railway and transit stations, sports facilities, museums, shopping centres, hotels, and restaurants. The 2025 edition marks the 11th Prix Versailles.
The official list—celebrating innovation, creativity, local heritage, ecological performance and values such as social interaction and participation, highly regarded by the United Nations—is grounded in the principles of intelligent sustainability, assessing the ecological, social and cultural impact of each project as a whole.
Simose Art Museum in Hiroshima, Japan, was awarded the Prix Versailles World Title for the world’s most beautiful museum in 2024. Smritivan Earthquake Museum in Bhuj, India, received the World Title for Interior. The Oman Across Ages Museum in Manah, Oman, received the World Title for Exterior.
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Kunstsilo is one of Northern Europe’s most innovative art museums located on Norway’s stunning southern coast. Housed in a reimagined 1930s grain silo it is home to the world’s largest collection of Nordic modernist art—the renowned Tangen Collection—and a dynamic programme of rotating international exhibitions.
More than a museum, Kunstsilo is a vibrant cultural hub offering immersive exhibitions, concerts, lectures, creative workshops, culinary experiences, and unique event spaces. Kunstsilo is expanding the role of the modern museum through its innovative programming and inclusive approach.
The museum is led by Director Maria Mediaas Jørstad, an experienced arts and culture professional known for her work in cultural strategy, and leadership across the Nordic region. Under her direction, Kunstsilo is forging strong international partnerships and championing accessibility, diversity, and community engagement in the arts.
Recognised globally for its bold concept and architectural transformation, Kunstsilo was named one of the “World’s Greatest Places” by TIME and one of the “52 Places to Go in 2025” by The New York Times.
