Kalmar konstmuseum

About the museum

Kalmar konstmuseum (Kalmar Art Museum) is a contemporary art museum that wants to raise and explore questions about people's future and challenges. The museum's international profile has attracted great attention, and it is counted as an important Swedish art institution. The principal is Kalmar konstförening (Kalmar Art Association), founded in 1917, and operations are run with the support of Region Kalmar län and the Kulturrådet (Swedish Arts Council).

The museum building in the Stadsparken was designed by Tham & Videgård arkitekter and inaugurated in 2008. In the same year it was awarded the Kasper Salin Prize, the Swedish Association of Architects' prize for high architectural quality.

The collection has grown through donations and purchases since 1917, with significant gifts from, among others, Ivar Kreuger, Consul John Jeansson and Bessie Kreuger. It consists of three partly overlapping parts: Swedish Romanticism and modernism, regional art from Kalmar county, and contemporary art. It comprises more than 3,000 works, which are also available on DigitaltMuseum. Works from the collection are shown in changing exhibitions and lent to public places in the county.

The museum also arranges artists' talks, lectures, seminars and educational activities for children, young people and adults, and it is the principal of the Designarkivet (Design Archive), one of the most important collections of Swedish design.

Highlights

• Contemporary art and changing exhibitions, including the salon Sydosten
• An art collection of more than 3,000 works, from Swedish Romanticism to contemporary art
• A building by Tham & Videgård that was awarded the Kasper Salin Prize
• Free admission every Friday
• Restaurang Byttan in the Stadsparken

Founded

1917

Operated by

Kalmar konstförening

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission for everyone on Fridays; students have free admission on Wednesdays.

Free admission every day for members of Kalmar konstförening. The Kalmarpasset and the Svenskt kulturarvskort give 50% off admission. A Kompiskort from Kalmar Municipality gives the cardholder and a friend free admission.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The building is designed to be fully accessible, with door openers to the entrance and the exhibition halls, a lift to all floors, and large toilets with changing tables on floor 1 and the entrance level. The whole building can be reached by wheelchair and powered wheelchair, but no wheelchair can be borrowed. From 26 October 2026 the lift is out of service for maintenance work, expected to last until 30 October; in the meantime the exhibitions can be reached only by stairs. Two signposted disabled spaces in the Slottsallén outside the entrance. Induction loops are in the library and the exhibition halls; magnifying glasses and a head torch can be borrowed at reception, and audio-described, tactile and sign-language tours can be booked.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Baby changing facilities

Konstlabbet (Art Lab), family clubs and holiday programmes for children and young people, and school programmes. Changing tables are in the large toilets.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the Stadsparken in Kalmar.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Restaurang Byttan in the Stadsparken serves lunch; the museum has a shop and a reception.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

A conference room can be hired.

Plan your visit