May 15, 2014, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Museum Board office on the 4th floor of the National Museum of Iceland
Present: Ólafur Kvaran, chairman, Anna Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir, Haraldur Þór Egilsson, Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir, Anna Lísa Rúnarsdóttir, Halldór Björn Runólfsson, Hilmar Malmquist and Ágústa Kristófersdóttir, acting chairman. Guðbrandur Benediktsson, announced his absence.
Minutes of the 130th and 131st meetings signed.
Presentation case
1. Summary of activities since the last meeting.
2. The annual report of the museums to the museum council was discussed and it was agreed to have staff from Statistics Iceland review it and make suggestions.
3. Article 3 of the Museums Act – discussion on topics for the coming years discussed and agreed to investigate whether there is a basis for the relationship between museums and tourism to be discussed. The Executive Committee will prepare a memorandum on the subject for the next meeting.
4. Discussed the planned Museum Council symposium on museum research on November 6th and presented the status of the preparatory research for the symposium.
Matter for decision
1. Re-instatement of the Council's proposal to the Minister to refuse recognition to the Bustarfell Museum. Approved to propose to the Minister of Education and Culture that the museum be recognized under the Museums Act, as agreements have been reached on the financing of its operations.
2. Re-instatement of the Council's proposal to the Minister to refuse recognition to the Sheep Museum in Strandir. Approved to propose to the Minister of Education and Culture that the museum be recognized under the Museums Act, as agreements have been reached on the financing of its operations.
3. Re-instatement of the Council's proposal to the Minister to refuse recognition to the Museum of Icelandic Art. Approved to propose to the Minister of Education and Culture that the museum be recognized under the Museums Act as its finances now meet the Council's criteria.
Other issues:
1. It was agreed that the Museum Council would review the current Museum Act and evaluate the experience of the Museum Council's work after its entry into force.
2. A resolution of the board of the Þingeyingi Cultural Center was presented, which regrets that the museum will no longer receive a higher operating grant from the museum fund due to the merger of museums.
3. Agreed to begin reviewing the allocation of operating grants from the museum fund and to submit a memorandum from the executive director no later than the August council meeting.
4. Proposal that the next meeting be held on June 12th from 11-13.
No further discussion and the meeting adjourned at 12:50/AK