Minister of Culture and Equality

Minister of Culture and Equality of Norway
Kultur- og likestillingsministeren
Incumbent
Lubna Jaffery
since 28 June 2023
Ministry of Culture and Equality
Member of Council of State
Seat Oslo
Nominator Prime Minister of Norway
Appointer Monarch
with approval of Parliament
Term length No fixed length
Constituting instrument Constitution of Norway
Precursor Minister of Church Affairs and Education
Formation 14 October 1981
First holder Lars Roar Langslet
Deputy State secretaries at the Ministry of Culture and Equality
Website Official website

The Minister of Culture and Equality (Norwegian: Kultur- og likestillingsminister; sometimes just kulturminister or likestillingsminister depending on context) is a councilor of state and chief of the Norway's Ministry of Culture and Equality. The ministry is responsible for the government's policy related to culture, church affairs, religion, media, sports and gambling. Subordinate agencies include the Gaming and Foundation Authority, the National Archival Services, the National Library, the Arts Council and the Media Authority. The portfolio includes issues related to the Church of Norway.

The position was created as the Minister of Culture and Sciences in 1981, resulting in a split of the responsibilities of the former Minister of Church Affairs and Education, where issues related to culture and research were moved to the new post. Science issues remained part of the portfolio until 1989, when they were swapped with religious issues with the Minister of Education and Research, creating the Minister of Culture and Church Affairs. This lasted for a year, when church and religious affairs were again resumed by the Minister of Education, Research and Church Affairs. This situation was retained until 2001, when the portfolio again became the Minister of Culture and Church Affairs. From 2009 the "Church Affairs" was transferred to the Ministry of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs as minister Anniken Huitfeldt was not a member of the Church of Norway. Issues related to religion remained within the portfolio.

When Solberg's Cabinet took office in 2013 church affairs was again included in the title and portfolio but with less significance than previously due to the increased autonomy given to the Church of Norway in 2012.

The current minister is Lubna Jaffery who took the position in June 2023.

Key

The following lists the minister, their party, date of assuming and leaving office, their tenure in years and days, and the cabinet they served in.

  Centre Party
  Christian Democratic Party
  Conservative Party
  Labour Party
  Liberal Party

Ministers

Photo Name Party Took office Left office Tenure Cabinet Ref
Lars Roar Langslet Conservative 14 October 1981 9 May 1986 4 years, 207 days Willoch I-II
Hallvard Bakke Labour 9 May 1986 16 October 1989 3 years, 160 days Brundtland II
Eleonore Bjartveit Christian Democratic 16 October 1989 3 November 1990 1 year, 18 days Syse
Åse Kleveland Labour 3 November 1990 25 October 1996 5 years, 357 days Brundtland III
Turid Birkeland Labour 25 October 1996 17 October 1997 357 days Jagland
Anne Enger Lahnstein Centre 17 October 1997 8 October 1999 1 year, 356 days Bondevik I
Åslaug Haga Centre 8 October 1999 17 March 2000 161 days Bondevik I
Ellen Horn Labour 17 March 2000 19 October 2001 1 year, 216 days Stoltenberg I
Valgerd Svarstad Haugland Christian Democratic 19 October 2001 17 October 2005 3 years, 364 days Bondevik II
Trond Giske Labour 17 October 2005 20 October 2009 4 years, 4 days Stoltenberg II
Anniken Huitfeldt Labour 20 October 2009 21 September 2012 2 years, 335 days Stoltenberg II
Hadia Tajik Labour 21 September 2012 16 October 2013 1 year, 26 days Stoltenberg II
Thorhild Widvey Conservative 16 October 2013 16 December 2015 2 years, 61 days Solberg
Linda Hofstad Helleland Conservative 16 December 2015 17 January 2018 2 years, 32 days Solberg
Trine Skei Grande Liberal 17 January 2018 24 January 2020 2 years, 7 days Solberg
Abid Raja Liberal 24 January 2020 14 October 2021 1 year, 263 days Solberg
Anette Trettebergstuen Labour 14 October 2021 28 June 2023 1 year, 257 days Støre
Lubna Jaffery Labour 28 June 2023 present 188 days Støre