Bergen Kunsthall was originally founded as a Kunstverein in 1838 by the painter J.C. Dahl with the aim to present and raise interest in contemporary art. The institution is organized as a private member association with a two-tier board system. The Kunstverein is one of the oldest institutions for art in Norway and trough its founding years it has presented artists from Edvard Munch to Paul Klee, as well as being an important exhibition space for local Bergen artists. In recent years, the institution has undergone a number of changes with respect to its profile and public role. Since 2000, the name “Bergen Kunsthall” has been used in order to better describe the activities in the institution, and to connect the program to relevant and similar practices globally.