Institutional Convergence and Divergence in Norwegian Cultural Policy. Central Government LAM-organization 1999 – 2019

Abstract

This article raises the question of why ABM–u was not continued as a cultural policy instrument for the LAM sector. The question provides a basis for elucidating conditions for state governance in the cultural heritage area, contributing to the academic and professional discussion of organizational and governance models in the public sector and reorganization processes in Norwegian public administration. Also, the chapter is a contribution to the international literature on institutional convergence in the LAM field. Convergence in the LAM sector concerns co-location, forms of collaboration, and digitalization. The article describes the process from the establishment of ABM–u in 2003 to reorganization and closure in 2010. An underlying and central issue in the process was the importance of digitizing cultural heritage and whether a separate coordination body was appropriate to achieve this.