We open the door to Norrbotten's history, both the known and the undiscovered.
Norrbotten's museum cherishes and protects the multicultural way of life and traditions that shaped us and our place in the world.
With knowledge and creativity, we bring to life the stories that enrich and touch – for curious explorers, history buffs, those who want to get to know the region and those who have lived here for generations.
We invite you to explore Norrbotten with us, now and for the future.
The museum's areas of activity include archaeology, archives, buildings, libraries, image archives, ethnology, photography and object collections. We work, among other things, with documentation, care and registration of collections, imparting knowledge and advice, research, digitalisation, museum pedagogy as well as exhibition and program activities.
In 1878, collection of objects started in Norrbotten. In the beginning, they were stored at the home of company manager JA Wikström in Luleå.
On September 20, 1886, the Norrbotten Museum Association was formed with members from the residence city's upper bourgeoisie. The association's predominant issues were the finances, the premises and the object collections. The local issue was complicated by the Luleå city fire in 1887, when large parts of the center were destroyed.
In 1901, rooms were furnished in the county board's building for the museum association's collections, which had previously been exhibited in the educational institution.
On the initiative of the writer David Törnqvist and the county councilwoman Anna Gustafsson, the association began in the 1910s to discuss the formation of an open-air museum at Gültzauudden. The idea was realized in the early 1920s. In 1922, the association was reorganized into the Norrbotten county homestead association.
In the 1920s, the home village association employed Einar Möller as a caretaker. He remained in service until the 1960s. Bertil Waldén became the first professionally trained museum curator in 1926.
Plans for a separate museum building emerged. The financing was resolved, and the then Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf was able to inaugurate the current museum building at Storgatan 21 in Luleå on 1936 July 2. The building was designed by architect Eberhard Lovén.
During the Second World War the business declined. Parts of the museum building were used by the county board's crisis agency and national antiquarian Reinhold Odencrants was periodically mobilized. It was not until 1950 that the county museum was able to reclaim the entire museum building again.
The staff until 1956 consisted of a country antiquarian, a caretaker and temporary amenuenses and a cleaning lady.
In 1961-1972, Harald Hvarfner was national antiquarian and under his leadership the museum developed rapidly. Fieldwork and book publishing complemented the exhibitions that toured the entire county. The museum was organized in 1964 into three departments. In 1966, the museum had 15 employees.
The Open Air Museum at Gültzauudden was moved around 1970 to Gammelstad and became the Open Air Museum Hägnan.
In 1967, the home village association changed its name to Föreningen Norrbotten museum. In 1977, the museum was transformed into a foundation with two principals; Luleå Municipality and Norrbotten County Council. The old association was split into two parts. The county museum itself was transferred to the new foundation, while the association for homeland stakeholders gathered in Norrbotten's homeland association and in the early 1980s the association changed its name to Norrbotten's homeland association.
On July 1, 1976, cultural heritage preservation in Sweden was reorganized. At the county administrations, county antiquaries were established, which took over the executive part of the county antiquaries.
The foundation was reorganized in April 1992. The county council completely took over the operations of Norrbotten's museum, while Luleå municipality took over responsibility for the Open Air Museum Hägnan in Gammelstad.
On October 1, 1999, the Norrbotten Museum Foundation became a base unit within Norrbotten County Council and today the workforce consists of around fifty employees. Activities are conducted not only in Luleå but in the entire county, with, for example, investigations and documentation, cultural projects and exhibition production, as well as a children's and youth activity.
On 1 January 2017, the county council changed its name to Region Norrbotten. The Norrbotten Museum is part of Region Norrbotten, the regional development department as a base unit within culture.
Gunnar Ullenius, March 1929 – December 1936
Reinhold Odencrantz, 1937 – 1945
Hans Beskow, 1946 – 1961
Harald Hvarfner, 1961 – 1971
Björn Hallerdt, 1972 – 1975
Kjell Lundholm, 1975 – 1987 (ordinary from 1981)
Pär Hallinder, 1988 – 1990
Disa Åberg, 1990 – 1992
Majvor Östergren, 1992 – 1994
Majlis Granström, 1995 – 2001
Johan Lilliehöök, 2001 – 2004
Curt Persson, 2004 – 2012
Jan-Erik Lundström, 2012 – 2016
Margaretha Lindh, 2017 –
Region Norrbotten is the principal for the Norrbotten Museum. The museum is part of the Department for Regional Development, Culture.
Adjunct: Catrine Backman, communicator
Archive, image archive, library, book publisher, photo, object collections
Archaeology, settlement, ethnology
Shop, café, museum education, programs, exhibitions
Here we have gathered information for you who work as a journalist or in the media.
The Norrbotten Museum's logo is available in landscape and portrait format. Choose the option that provides the best visibility where it will be used. The logo may not be cropped or otherwise altered.
Norrbottens Museum's logo may only be used in contexts where the museum is a sender or partner.
Right click on the link you want and select "save link as" to download the logo you want.
We are currently looking for a program producer. We are also looking for archaeologists for the 2025 field season.
Are you a committed archaeologist who wants to explore Norrbotten's rich cultural heritage? Now is your chance to become part of the Norrbotten Museum team for the 2025 field season. Take the chance to contribute to cultural environment conservation and deepen your knowledge of the region's history with us.
We are looking for someone with relevant education and experience in archaeology. Below you will find the qualifications and credentials that we value:
Norrbotten Museum is now looking for archaeologists for the 2025 field season. Your tasks will be to participate in or lead work within the commissioned archaeological activities in Norrbotten County. The assignments include both investigations and surveys. In addition to this, work with the archaeological collection may also be relevant. The Cultural Environment Department at Norrbotten Museum works with assignments within the cultural environment area, knowledge building, research, consultancy and public activities within archaeology, settlement and ethnology.
We offer seasonal positions with a tentative start in April/May. The number of positions depends on how many assignments come in and the position is based on full-time with working hours 08.00:17.00-XNUMX:XNUMX, daytime. Selection and interviews take place on an ongoing basis and the position can be filled before the application deadline.
Norrbotten Region applies individual salary setting according to collective agreements.
We work to have employees with knowledge of Sweden's minority languages and therefore value your knowledge of Sami, Meänkieli, Finnish, Romani Chib and Yiddish. We work actively for an even gender distribution and see diversity as a strength. We welcome employees with different backgrounds and work to ensure that our workplace is accessible to everyone.
Welcome with your application!
Welcome to Norrbotten Museum! With us you can help highlight Norrbotten's rich history, both the one we know and the one that is still waiting to be discovered.
Through exhibitions, programming and digital media, we want to arouse interest in Norrbotten's history and culture and create an inspiring museum experience for both children and adults, county residents and visitors. We are now looking for a program producer who wants to be part of our creative team and contribute to making history come alive for more people.
We are looking for someone with a relevant education in, for example, cultural production, cultural history, journalism or other equivalent education/background. You have experience from similar tasks, preferably in a cultural history or public context. You have very good knowledge of Swedish and English and good communication skills. You are practical and used to working in M365 or equivalent. We would like you to have some technical and digital expertise as the work involves sound systems, computers and software during lectures, as well as participation in recordings and streaming together with a digital producer. It is advantageous if you have a degree in the above-mentioned educational areas, education in project management, production or economics, and experience in digital mediation and public digital tools. If you also have experience in leading others and knowledge of additional languages, we see it as a plus.
We place great importance on your personal qualities. As a person, you have good collaboration skills, are responsive and communicate constructively and have good ability to lead others. With your holistic view, you look after the best of the entire business in your actions and decision-making. You are structured, plan and prioritize your work effectively and meet deadlines. At the same time, you are flexible, adapt to changes and see opportunities in new conditions.
As a program producer at Norrbotten Museum, you will play a central role in developing the museum into an inspiring meeting place where history, culture and social issues are brought to life. Together with committed colleagues, you will have the opportunity to create programs that engage, touch and attract new visitors with an extra focus on children and young people. In this creative and varied role, you are the one who plans, structures and develops our program offering, from lectures and exhibitions to interactive activities and digital events. Your workplace is both in our premises in Luleå and out in the county, where you will collaborate with knowledgeable lecturers, networks and civil society to make our activities accessible and relevant to more people.
Here you will have the chance to work both strategically and operationally. From developing ideas and budgeting, to implementing, following up and further developing our program offering. You will drive and manage the work, write contracts, book travel and ensure that everything runs smoothly. In addition, you will have the freedom to shape work processes and routines to lift our business to the next level.
The position is a permanent full-time position with access by agreement. Working hours are usually weekdays during the day, but work in the evenings and weekends occurs frequently. The position involves travel within the county and a B driving license is therefore a requirement.
Norrbotten Region applies individual salary setting according to collective agreements.
We work to have employees with knowledge of Sweden's national minority languages and therefore value your knowledge of Sami, Meänkieli, Finnish, Romani Chib and Yiddish. We actively work for an even gender distribution and see diversity as a strength. We welcome employees with different backgrounds and work to ensure that our workplace is accessible to everyone.
We welcome calls from those of you who are interested.We are happy with the job, but we refrain from direct contact with staffing and recruitment companies and the sale of additional advertisements.
Welcome with your application!