Future Library (Stiftelsen Framtidsbiblioteket) is a Norwegian non-profit foundation established in 2015 to provide long-term stewardship for the public artwork Future Library. The foundation was created to ensure that the artwork can exist, be maintained, and be responsibly managed over an extended, intergenerational timeframe.
Initiated in 2014, the Future Library project is a long-term work of public art designed to unfold over a century. The foundation was formally created to serve as the legal and organizational body responsible for the artwork’s care and oversight, responding to the need for institutional continuity beyond individual lifespans, funding cycles, and shifting partnerships. The foundation is registered as an independent non-profit organization in Norway and operates within the non-profit cultural sector.
The foundation’s purpose, as set out in its statutes, is straightforward: to ensure the continued existence of Future Library. In practice, this means taking responsibility for the artwork as a whole, its physical presence, its intellectual framework, and the institutional structures that allow it to endure over time. The foundation does not carry out commercial activities and works solely in the public interest.
Since its creation, the foundation has focused on what is required to support a project of this scale and duration. This has meant putting in place and maintaining a clear legal and administrative framework, ensuring regular financial reporting, and working closely with cultural institutions and professional partners involved in the realization of the artwork. The foundation’s role is not to produce programming, but to provide continuity and long-term responsibility for an artwork designed to extend far beyond typical organizational timelines.
The foundation is governed by an international board with experience in literature, culture, and the arts. It operates without salaried staff, relying instead on governance structures and external professional services, including accounting and auditing, in line with Norwegian regulatory requirements.
Looking ahead, the foundation’s role remains the same as when it was established. Its work continues to focus on stewarding and safeguarding Future Library over the course of its intended lifespan, responding to change when necessary while remaining anchored in the original mission. The aim is simply to ensure that the artwork remains intact, cared for, and accessible as a public cultural resource for generations to come.
