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About Bruynzeel
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Highlights
Norway
Anno Museum
Anno Museum is an organisation of 29 museums in the Hedmark region of Norway. The network includes both small local museums and institutions with national responsibilities, such as the Norwegian Forest Museum, the Norwegian Women’s Museum and the Immigration Museum. Together, they preserve and share a broad range of cultural and historical heritage.
For many years, all 29 museums shared the ambition to improve storage conditions for their objects and photographs. Collections were dispersed across multiple locations, often in spaces not designed for long-term preservation. This led to the development of a centralised, purpose-built Collection Care Centre, bringing the collections together under one roof.
A Collection in Motion
Anno Museum manages approximately 175,000 art and cultural-historical objects and around 5.5 million photographs. The core role of the Collection Care Centre is to preserve these collections and provide access to curators, researchers and the public. Access is facilitated through a digital database as well as on-site appointments.
Since opening in 2022, objects and photographs have been gradually transferred from the individual museums to the new centre. The team describes this process as a continuous flow, with some objects moving directly into storage while others first require conservation treatment, improved packaging or photography.
Over time, each object is assigned a designated location within the facility. The 5,500 square metre building has been designed in accordance with recognised collection management and preventive conservation standards, ensuring both long-term preservation and efficient access.
Storage Tailored to Material and Climate
The facility is divided into different climate zones, ensuring that each object is stored according to its material and environmental requirements. Within each zone, objects are further organised by size and handling needs. This approach guarantees safe access, efficient workflows and optimal use of space.
The diversity of the collection requires a wide range of specialised storage solutions. Art racks are used for long objects such as cross-country skis, while pallet racking accommodates large items like horse wagons and sleighs. Static shelving provides safe storage for delicate objects such as glass, and deep drawer systems are designed to house banners, flags and other large flat objects.
To support these objectives, Bruynzeel Storage Systems was selected as the storage partner. The system provides adaptable, high-density solutions that maximise the available space while maintaining stability, accessibility and long-term care for the collections.
“We are very happy with the solutions we got. They allow us to store our objects properly and make the best possible.”
Improved Accessibility and Control
The new storage facility has significantly improved both preservation and accessibility. Each object is assigned a unique code and fixed storage location, allowing staff to quickly retrieve items for research, exhibitions or other uses.
Currently, the depot is approximately one-third filled. Around 27,000 objects have already been relocated, with long-term plans to house between 100,000 and 120,000 objects in the centre.
The structured storage system ensures clarity and control, simplifying collection management across all 29 museums.
Preserving Heritage for Future Generations
The Collection Care Centre is more than a storage building. It represents a long-term commitment to safeguarding heritage. By providing optimal environmental conditions, clear organisation and efficient access, Anno Museum ensures that its collections remain available for study, interpretation and reuse.
The collaboration with Bruynzeel has resulted in a solution that addresses today’s storage challenges while offering flexibility for future growth.
With this new centre in place, Anno Museum has taken a decisive step in protecting its collections for generations to come.
