February 13, 2014, 12:00-14:30
in a meeting room on the 6th floor of the National Museum of Iceland
Present: Ólafur Kvaran, chairman, Anna Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir, Guðbrandur Benediktsson, Haraldur Þór Egilsson, Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir, Anna Lísa Rúnarsdóttir, Anna María Urbancic in the absence of Halldór Björn Rúnarsson, and Ágústa Kristófersdóttir, acting chairman. Hilmar Malmquist announced his absence.
Minutes of the 127th and 128th meetings reviewed and approved.
Presentation case
1. The Chairman introduced changes to the composition of the Museum Council. Ragna Árnadóttir has resigned and in her place Anna Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir has been appointed by the Minister of Education and Culture without nomination and is the Vice-Chairman of the Council. Anna Lísa Rúnarsdóttir is currently attending the Council meeting due to her position as National Monuments Curator in the absence of Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir. They were welcomed to work. The Managing Director gave an overview of the activities since the last meeting, the reception of applications for the Museum Fund and work on the annual report and accounts for 2013, which will be completed before the next Council meeting.
2. The Minister's decision on the recognition of museums was announced, it was in line with the Museums Council's proposal from December 18, 2013. Letters to museums regarding this decision will now be sent out and a list of recognized museums will be published on the Council's website.
3. The status of the policy work was reviewed and it was decided to entrust the chairman with further elaboration of the next steps.
4. The Museum Council's project plan for 2014 was reviewed, with particular discussion on shaping the Council's supervisory role and the Council's organization of a symposium in the fall of 2014.
5. The organization of the evaluation of applications for the 2014 museum fund was discussed and applications will be submitted to the council members for evaluation next week. The evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the council's approved procedures.
Matter for decision
1. A proposal for the operating budget of the Museum Fund for 2014 was submitted and approved, subject to the final settlement for 2013 and the allocation of funds to a symposium on the status of research in museums organized by the Council.
2. Proposal for applications to the 2014 museum fund to be rejected approved with one amendment.
3. Disqualification of trustees in evaluating applications for the 2014 Museum Fund – applications to the fund were reviewed and trustees withdrew from discussing those applications that they considered unqualified to discuss. Haraldur Þór Egilsson withdrew from discussing all applications, Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir withdrew from discussing applications from museums owned by Hafnarfjörður Municipality, and Guðbrandur Benediktsson withdrew from discussing applications from the Reykjavík Museum and ICOM. It was agreed to seek the replacement of the HÞE to participate in the evaluation of applications.
4. A proposal to process an application for deferral of the use of a grant from the Hafnarfjörður Regional Museum was submitted, and it was agreed to reject the request due to lack of justification.
Other issues:
Proposal that the next meeting, an allocation meeting, be held on March 13th from 12-4 p.m.
No further discussion and the meeting adjourned at 14:30/AK