Nordic Watercolour Museum

The Nordic Watercolour Museum (Swedish: Nordiska Akvarellmuseet) is a museum, artist workshop, and research facility located in Skärhamn on the island of Tjörn in Sweden. Opened in 2000, it is dedicated to examining watercolour technique from the perspective of contemporary and modern art within the tradition of watercolour painting. The institution has no permanent collection; instead it presents six to eight new exhibitions annually, with a focus on contemporary art. It serves as a significant cultural venueoulos institution in the Nordic region for the study and presentation of watercolour as a medium.

The museum was established in 2000 through a foundation created by the Nordic Watercolour Society and Tjörn Municipality. Berndt Arell served as its first director from 2000 to 2002, after which Bera Nordal succeeded him. In 2010 the museum was named Swedish Museum of the Year, and in 2011 it shared the 2010 Swedish Arts and Business Awards with the newspaper Göteborgs-Posten for their marketing collaboration. The museum celebrated its fifteenth anniversary in 2015 and launched a new book series, Vattenkonst Nordiska Akvarellmuseet. The institution also awards an annual art grant, 7 Days, to professional artists.

The Nordic Watercolour Museum does not maintain a permanent exhibition. Its programming emphasizes contemporary art, with six to eight new exhibitions presented each year. Since its founding, the museum has exhibited works by artists including Salvador Dalí, Bill Viola, Louise Bourgeois, Elsa Beskow, Anders Zorn, Mats Gustafson, and Lars Lerin. The museum's mission is to examine watercolour technique through the lens of contemporary and modern art, situating it within the broader tradition of watercolour painting. Beyond exhibitions, the museum conducts educational activities, cultural events, and research and development projects.

The museum has produced several publications that reflect its scholarly engagement with the medium. These include Anders Zorn: Watercolours (2004), Bera Nordal's Children's Picture Books: The Contemporary Story (2007), and Mark Dean Johnson's Pacific Light: A Survey of Californian Watercolour 1908-2008, published in both English and Norwegian (2008). The museum grounds also feature public artworks: on a small islet near the building stands The Lighthouse of Green Drinking Trays by the German artist duo Winter/Hörbelt, and on the bridge surrounding the museum is the sculpture Singing Residents by Gunilla Hansson.

The museum building was designed by Danish architects Niels Bruun and Henrik Corfitsen, who won the commission through an international competition. The structure is painted in the traditional Puritan red (Falu red) typical of Swedish architecture. In 2012, a 400-square-metre extension was added, designed by Anders Tengbom. The building houses exhibition halls, workshops, an auditorium, and a restaurant. Adjacent to the museum on Bockholmen are five guest studios used for artistic development and available for rental when not in use for museum programs.

The Nordic Watercolour Museum is located in Skärhamn on the island of Tjörn in Västra Götaland County, near the city of Gothenburg. The institution is owned and managed by the foundation established by the Nordic Watercolour Society and Tjörn Municipality. In addition to its exhibition program, the museum offers guest studios for artists and the general public, supporting artistic collaboration, public programs, study courses, publications, lectures, and studio visits. The museum's website is www.akvarellmuseet.org.