Culture & history
Art galleries and museums
Top-class art galleries and museums where art from Småland meets international works – a must for art lovers!
Virserum Art Museum
Virserum’s Art Museum always has several exhibitions running simultaneously, each with a slightly different orientation to suit different tastes. If you want to recognise your own life and experiences and see an exhibition that deals with the lives and circumstances of everyday people, a visit to Virserum’s Art Museum is the perfect place to do so. At the same time, Virserum is an art museum in a rural district, challenging the perception that art and culture exist only in big towns and cities.
Virserum’s Art Museum sees itself as an eco-museum and as part of the life of the district and its social-democratic and economic development. In an area that once was the centre of the furniture trade, forestry and timber have been and still remain an important part of Småland’s economy. Timber and forestry are also important to the sustainable society. Every third year, Virserum’s Art Museum places extra focus on how we can live sustainably – not just from an environmental perspective, but also economically and socially.
Kalmar Art Museum
One of Sweden’s most talked-about art museums is found in the heart of Kalmar. A cutting-edge museum that aims to explore questions that affect people’s futures and the challenges facing the region. The exhibitions, which change regularly, often feature items from the collections and treasures of Designarkivet, an archive of Swedish design established in 2006. Concurrently, the museum regularly showcases contemporary art from both Sweden and the countries and cultures with which the Kalmar district has had contact through the centuries – in war and in peace.
Ljungbergmuseet
Beautifully situated by the Lagan beach in the heart of Ljungby, Ljungbergmuseet is the visual arts museum for the county of Kronoberg and a cultural meeting place. The museum is home to a permanent exhibition of drawings, paintings, graphics and books by Swedish artist Sven Ljungberg and the artistic works of his wife, the author and artist Ann Margaret Dahlquist-Ljungberg. There are always also different temporary exhibitions of works by major Swedish and Nordic artists. Website in Swedish
Vandalorum
Vandalorum embraces art and design by both local and international artists, designers and fashion designers. Since its opening in 2011, the museum has attracted much attention and grown, and now comprises a main building plus three barns containing exhibition halls. There are always several different exhibitions running concurrently, featuring a deliberate mix of art and design and staged in close collaboration with artists, designers and the local creative industry.
And not to forget...
Oskarshamn’s Art Gallery
Oskarshamns Konsthall is an art gallery within Oskarshamn cultural centre, a building complex typical of the 1960s and 70s centrally located in Oskarshamn. The art gallery concentrates on art and handicrafts, but also hosts exhibitions focusing on cultural history, photography and topical themes. (Website in Swedish)
Oskarshamns Konsthall
Växjö Art Gallery
Växjö Konsthall is a municipal art gallery with exhibitions of works by Swedish and international artists. Alongside exhibitions, there’s an extensive programme of events including conversations with artists, cultural evenings, lectures, concerts, workshops and other happenings. There’s always something exciting going on!
Växjö Konsthall
More on art and design
Design Hotels
With the Kingdom of Crystal and furniture district in the heart of Småland, you will of course find a range of design hotels too.
Parks and gardens
Parks and well-designed gardens are a pleasure for the soul. Here are our tips on beautiful parks and gardens in Småland.