05.03.2015 11:00-13:00
in a meeting room on the 6th floor of the National Museum of Iceland
Present: Ólafur Kvaran, chairman, Haraldur Þór Egilsson, Guðbrandur Benediktsson, Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir, Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir, Halldór Björn Runólfsson, Hilmar J. Malmquist and Ágústa Kristófersdóttir, executive director. Absent: Anna Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir
Minutes of the 138th and 139th meetings signed.
Presentation case
1. Summary of activities since the last meeting.
2. Discussion on the strategy of the Museum Council. It was agreed that the strategy of the Museum Council, according to Article 7(b) of the Museum Act, is about choosing paths towards a future vision that is based on the legal role of the Council, as well as building on the museum policies of the main museums in their respective fields. The result will be a mission statement that is composed of a strategy regarding internal aspects of the operations, those aspects over which the Council has direct control, and external aspects over which the Council does not have direct control but which are emphasized in the museum policies of the main museums.
3. Status of registration in recognized museums presented. The analysis will be published in the Museums Council's annual report.
4. Status of the Icelandic Museum of Natural History. HJM responded to the Museum Council's question about the museum's ability to fulfill its obligations as the main museum in the field of natural history according to the Museums Act. HJM believed that the museum was fulfilling its role, but not with the dignity that should characterize that work. The Museum Council agreed to send a question to the Minister of Education and Culture regarding the museum's status as the main museum and its ability to fulfill its legal obligations.
5. The findings of the working group on responsible collections were presented orally and will be sent to the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture for review.
6. An opinion survey that will be presented to directors of recognized museums following the allocation of funds from the museum fund has been introduced.
Matter for decision
1. Proposal to the Minister of Education and Culture for a working group on copyright issues approved.
Other issues:
The next meeting of the Museum Board will be on April 13. No further business and the meeting adjourned at 1:00 PM/AK