October 23, 2025
The Norrbotten Region has appointed Lennart Pettersson, senior lecturer at the Department of Cultural and Media Studies at Umeå University and educational developer at Luleå University of Technology, as the new county museum director at Norrbotten Museum. Lennart Pettersson is a recognized researcher with a background as an associate professor in art history.
Lennart Pettersson has extensive experience in the cultural sector. As a researcher, he has worked with cultural heritage, public affairs and the role of culture in societal development. He also has a background in project management, collaboration with civil society and the development of cultural institutions.
Lennart Pettersson has extensive experience in the cultural sector. As a researcher, he has worked with cultural heritage, public affairs and the role of culture in social development. He also has a background in project management and collaboration with civil society.
– Norrbotten has a unique cultural heritage shaped by indigenous peoples and minorities, the labor movement, industrial history and cross-border relations. I look forward to further developing the museum as an open meeting place where both history and contemporary stories find a place, says Lennart Pettersson.
He has devoted a lot of time and energy to art in the northern region. Examples of this are studies of artistic associations and how northern Scandinavia is depicted in travelogues. The research underlines his deep interest in cultural heritage, identity and inclusion in northern Sweden.
– We are very pleased that Lennart Pettersson has accepted the assignment. His diverse background, both research-related and practical, makes him an excellent choice to lead the museum forward, says Johannes Sundelin (S), chairman of the regional development committee in Region Norrbotten.
Norrbotten Museum is the county museum for the entire county of Norrbotten with an official mission to preserve, develop and make the county's cultural heritage accessible. The museum is not only located in Luleå, but is a regional cultural institution that operates throughout the county - an actor that works closely with people, places and stories. The museum is the memory bank of the entire county of Norrbotten and highlights both history and contemporary voices. It is an open cultural resource and meeting place for everyone who lives in, works in or is curious about Norrbotten. Norrbotten Museum is part of Region Norrbotten.
Lennart Pettersson will take up the position on January 19, 2026.