Agder Kunstakademi is produced by KORO – Art in Public Space and developed in close dialogue with Agder Prisons directorate and labour operations. Agder Kunstakademi is a relational art project, consisting of an independent, versatile, high-quality art education over the course of three years; from spring 2021 to the end of spring 2023. The art project is initiated by the curators Kristine Jærn Pilgaard and Thora Dolven Balke based on an idea that surfaced during a meeting with Frank Johansen, director of Agder Prison; Berit Johnsen, head of research at KRUS; and Jon Erling Lystad, in charge of the building project for the new prison, representing KDI.

Agder Kunstakademi’s pedagogical model and programming is developed by The Academy Council (Akademirådet), consisting of main artists Hege Nyborg, Dag Erik Elgin and Sverre Gullesen, in addition to the two curators and art teacher in the prison, Solfrid Kjetså. At the end of the project’s three year period, the aim is for Agder Prison to implement the art school into its educational programming.