Article 1.
Scope and objectives.
This regulation applies to the accreditation of museums, the manner in which such accreditation is granted, how to apply for accreditation, and the requirements that museums must meet to be accredited.
Article 2.
Award of accreditation and rights of accredited museums.
The Minister grants recognition to a museum upon the recommendation of the Museum Council. All museums, except for principal museums, must apply for recognition if they wish to fall under the provisions of this regulation.
An accredited museum is entitled to use a specific emblem, which is prepared by the museum council.
An accredited museum can apply for grants from the museum fund.
It is permissible to grant a certified museum a subsidy from the national treasury to cover start-up costs.
Article 3.
Application process for accreditation.
An application for museum accreditation shall be directed to the Museum Council.
The application shall include information on the scope of activities, form of operation, ownership, financing, and annual operating costs, along with the founding document, organizational charter, or the museum's bylaws, and any other accreditation requirements specified in the museum act and in these regulations.
Article 4.
Conditions of approval.
In order for a museum board to make a recommendation to the minister for the recognition of a museum, it must meet the following requirements:
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A museum shall be owned by a public entity, a non-profit organization, a society or a company that ensures the financial basis for the museum's normal operations and appoints a board of directors. A museum shall not be operated for profit.
The financial foundation for a museum's normal operations is defined as enabling the museum, by its own resources, to support professional activities in accordance with the requirements of the applicable regulations for museum accreditation at all times. -
A museum shall have an independent budget, separate from the owner's other operations. The museum's accounts shall be audited by a certified public accountant. It shall annually submit a report on its activities and a financial statement to the museum board. The museum board will issue guidelines on the report's content.
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A museum shall operate in accordance with a founding document, an organizational document, or a bylaw that the museum board has approved in accordance with the provisions of the museum act. The founding document, organizational document, or bylaws shall specify, among other things, the museum's subject matter and scope of operations, and how the provisions of the Museums Act will be met in the event of the cessation of operations and the disposition of assets and collections. The charter or bylaws of a recognized museum shall be published in the B-series of the Government Gazette.
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The museum shall operate in accordance with the museum board's terms regarding:
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Housing:
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The museum shall have an operating permit from the health authority and provide a copy of it to the museum board upon request.,
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The fire safety inspection shall conduct regular inspections of the museum's premises and shall submit a copy of such inspections to the museum board upon request.,
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Exhibition and storage facilities shall be designed to ensure the long-term preservation of artifacts.
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Security issues:
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The museum shall have proper security systems, i.e., alarm systems for fire, burglary, and moisture. Confirmation of the effectiveness of the security systems shall be submitted to the museum board upon request.,
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The museum shall monitor the light, temperature, and humidity levels in its facilities, and measurements shall be recorded regularly and information about them submitted to the museum board upon request.,
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The museum shall have an emergency plan for staff, visitors, and collections, and shall submit a copy of it to the museum board upon request.
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Collection object registration system:
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Systems used for data registration at accredited museums must, at a minimum, meet the Museum Council's requirements for registration systems as they appear on the Museum Council's website. If a registration system does not meet the Council's requirements, the museum shall submit a timeline for remediation to the Council for its consideration.
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Professional activities shall be conducted as follows:
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Collection: The collection shall operate according to a collection policy that is publicly published.
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Cataloging: The collection shall follow the main repository's guidelines for cataloging.
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Preservation: The collection shall follow the guidelines of the parent institution regarding preservation and preventive conservation.
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The collection shall submit a strategic plan for its activities to the main collection every four years.
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A museum shall be open to the public during advertised opening hours.
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Information about registered artifacts in the custody of a museum shall be accessible to the public.
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The museum shall also conduct research and disseminate information about its collection and activities, and participate in cooperation at regional, national, and international levels.
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The museum shall provide school students who visit the museum on organized educational trips with free admission.
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Accessibility to museum premises shall be in accordance with laws and regulations and take into account the needs of people with disabilities as much as possible.
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A museum shall operate in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and the provisions of law.
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The director of a museum must have education in the museum's field of responsibility or have acquired equivalent qualifications in another way.
Article 5.
Revocation of accreditation.
The Minister may revoke the recognition of a museum upon a recommendation from the Museum Council if the Council determines that the museum no longer meets the conditions for recognition.
A museum that has been accredited may not use the insignia of accredited museums.
Article 6.
Entry into force.
This regulation is issued pursuant to the authority in the Museums Act No. 141/2011.
The regulation takes effect immediately.
Ministry of Education and Culture, October 7, 2013.
Illugi Gunnarsson.
Ásta Magnúsdóttir.