Haugar Art Museum is located in the former Sjømannskolen – college of nautic professions – right in the centre of Tønsberg. The impressive building was designed by the architects Bjerke and Eliassen, and was erected in 1918 –21. Four years later it was awarded the A. C. Houen Prize for outstanding architecture. The façade was designed in close cooperation with the sculptor Wilhelm Rasmussen (1879-1965), who embellished it with 12 Karyatides in local granite, Larvikitt, conveying some of the exotic peoples that seafarers would encounter on their voyages to faraway shores. The location is beautiful as well as historic, with the museum enthroned in the parkland between the site of the ancient assembly of Haugating and two viking-mounds. The Islandic historian Snorre supports the theory that these mounds hold the bodies of Olaf and Sigrød – sons of Harald Hårfagre – who were buried here after being killed by a third brother – Erik Blodøks – at Haugar in the spring of 934. The name "Haugar" probably dates back to the Iron Ages. The museum was established as a foundation by Vestfold county and the city of Tønsberg. From its opening in September 1995 until January 1 1998, the museum was run by a board of trustees. As of date the museum was taken over by the county, whereas the foundation remains the owner of the collection. From 1. july 2009 the museum became a part of Vestfoldmuseene IKS. The city of Tønsberg contribute an annual amount of approximately 25% of the running costs. The Haugar collection comprises about 160 works. When the museum was established, there were no public collections that could be transferred to the foundation and provide the basis for further development. The collection is thus the result of donations from the Norwegian Council of the Arts, from the Friends of Haugar, from local artists and collectors, but also to a certain extent aquired by the museums´s own funds.
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