The artist-run gallery Verkligheten is situaded in an old tram-factory on the east side of Umeå, in between Bildmuseet and the Art Academy. The gallery started in 2001 by 6 local artist as a way of increasing local artists´ influence on the Umeå art-scen. We felt that Umeå needed a space that was not so fixed and clean, a space for artistic experiments.

One strategy of ours is to mix local art with national and international, the un established with the well known and to support the artists as much as possible, both economically and practically. We exhibit art that we are curious about, art that we want to see ourselves. We do not, however, exhibit our own work.

Verkligheten collaborates with galleries abroad and the different art institutions in Umeå and is part of the Umeå Iaspis group. There is always one member on the committee that is a graduating student at the Art Academy. After finishing school he/she is offered a one-year employment at the gallery.

In the autumn of 2011 the gallery exploring, regional and local cultural policy in the project GTW initsierat by Camilla Phålsson. The gallery also works with a cultural exchange with Riga.