The Nobel Peace Center provides information on the various Peace Prize laureates and their activities as well as on Alfred Nobel and the Nobel framework, and seeks to shed light on relevant issues in relation to war, peace and the resolution of conflict. A combination of rotating exhibits, distinctive digital solutions and engaging films and lectures all serve to make a visit to the Peace Center a multifaceted, exciting experience, with something to offer everyone. Since the Peace Center opened its doors on 11 June 2005, over 100 000 people have visited the modern facility housed in the old Vestbane railway station next to Oslo City Hall.
The Nobel Peace Center is designed to promote reflection on and commitment to activities relating to peace. The installations cover a wide variety of topics: The Main Hall and Gallery are the sites for the Center’s temporary, rotating exhibits, which in 2006 included “Children of Abraham” by Iranian photographer Abbas. The Nobel Field, lit with a thousand fibre-optic lights, presents all the Peace Prize laureates in an memorable audiovisual framework consisting of evocative music and close to a hundred movement-triggered computer screens. The Nobel Chamber holds the magical, fascinating interactive book about Alfred Nobel, which gives readers an extraordinary reading experience. The Wall Papers form a digital newspaper, offering close to 3 000 articles about the Peace Prize laureates, the Nobel Year and peace-promoting activities. The Eye cinema features a permanent repertoire of mini-documentaries about the Nobel Peace Prize laureates as well as a variety of other documentaries and films.
Internationally renowned David Adjaye and his London office are the architects behind the untraditional spatial solutions and colours used at the Nobel Peace Center. US video designer David Small, British artist Chris Ofili and Slovenian artist Marjetica Potrc have also all helped to turn the Peace Center into a unique cultural facility for all ages.
The first Sunday of each month is family day, featuring activities especially targeted toward children. Guided tours on special topics and lectures for school classes may be booked on demand. A variety of educational resources have been designed for school classes of all ages. During the winter season, scheduled guided tours are available on weekends (Norwegian language only). During the summer season (1 June – 15 September), guided tours are scheduled daily in Norwegian and English. Tours are included in the admission price. Guided tours in other languages or at other times may be booked separately.
The gift-shop, a study in red, sells a wide array of speciality gift items and products. The gift-shop also offers a large selection of books on peace activities and conflict resolution for children and adults.
The Cafe de la Paix, operated by Pascal bakeries, offers a delicious menu of food items, beverages, chocolates and sumptuous cakes and pastries. Enjoy the Thursday special, a bowl of hot soup served before and after the scheduled mini-lecture or film series.
National and international media have given the Peace Center rave reviews. Norwegian daily newspaper Verdens Gang gave it top marks, calling it “A world class message of peace. The Center is characterized by fascinating and user-friendly technology, excellent spatial design and top-notch architectural solutions. The New York Times called the Peace Center “an illuminating window on Norway's image of itself as peace broker to the world,” and the Guardian stated that the Peace Center “...could become a pacifist pilgrimage site for the world,” calling it “a triumph of technology and MTV style.”
By the Norwegian Nobel Institute