Norwegian applied arts has a proud tradition of high standards dating back to the early medieval period. Among the most important items in the collections of Norwegian applied arts museums are textiles, and metal and wooden objects from the Viking period (c 800 to c 1200 CE). This period was marked by the rise of Christianity in Norway and many outstanding pieces with Christian content were produced, such as the famous Baldishol tapestry hanging in National Museum of Applied Art in Oslo (National Museum of Art).

Despite the thousand year tradition, contemporary Norwegian applied arts have been influenced more by international trends rather than by its own domestic inheritance.

Artist working within the field of applied arts wanted to establish a reputation for themselves as fine artists, rather than crafts people engaged in traditional crafts called husflid (domestic crafts).

The Norwegian Association for Arts and Crafts (Norske Kunsthaandverkere) was established 1975 to represent the interest for the applied artists. As a result of the radical artist demonstrations in 1974 for better living conditions, the Norwegian state set up working and study grants for arts and crafts makers, recognizing their work on the same level as fine artists such as painters and sculptors.

The textile artist Frieda Hansen, who had her main productive years in the period between 1900 and 1950 is considered to be the first 'applied artist' in the modern sense of the word. Many more followed in her footsteps, creating a career for themselves such as jeweller Tone Vigeland, ceramicists Søren Ubisch, Torbjørn Kvasbø and Ole Lislerud, to mention a few. Renowned Norwegian textile artists include Trine Mauritz Eriksen, Bente Sætrang, and Marit Eken Kallager.

The Association for Arts and Crafts has about 800 members, and runs an extensive exhibition activity throughout the world. The annual Arts and Crafts exhibition in Oslo, as well as the different county exhibitions, are the main shows within the field of applied arts.

The Norwegian Association of Arts and Crafts receives funding from the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs. During the last couple of years the association has also administered the funding for exhibitions abroad on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Association publishes the quarterly magazine Kunsthåndverk ('Arts and Crafts') and runs two galleries for contemporary arts and crafts, the FORMAT Gallery, Bergen and the FORMAT Gallery, Oslo.