Overview of museum activities in Iceland

The Three Main Collections

National museums are owned by the state and are centers of museum activity in their respective fields. They are established by law, which specifies their operations in detail. There are three national museums: the National Gallery of Iceland, the National Museum of Natural History of Iceland, and the National Museum of Iceland. They advise other museums and shall promote cooperation among museums and a coordinated museum policy each in its respective...

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Association of Icelandic Museums and Museum Professionals – FÍSOS

FÍSOS was founded in 1981 to promote cooperation and education among those working in art, museum, and natural history museums in Iceland.

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International Council of Museums - ICOM Iceland Chapter

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) serves society and its development by safeguarding cultural heritage and cultural products. ICOM operates through national and professional committees that focus on specific areas of museum work. The Icelandic Section of ICOM was founded in 1985 as a professional forum for Icelandic museum professionals and as a liaison to the international organization. Website of the Icelandic Section of ICOM

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Museum Studies Program at the University of Iceland

A degree program in museology began at the University of Iceland in 2009. Museology is now taught as a BA minor, as a master's degree program, and as a doctoral program. Museum Studies is inherently interdisciplinary, as its various academic fields are connected to the work of museums. These include history, archaeology, art history, folklore, anthropology, literary studies, and linguistics. Also included are the natural sciences, such as natural history…

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The Bureau of Statistics

The Central Bureau of Statistics of Iceland collects and publishes various statistical information on collecting activities in Iceland. The datasets can be found here.

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Icelandic Museum Day

Every year, International Museum Day is celebrated on May 18 in collaboration with FÍSOS and the Icelandic chapter of ICOM. The goal of the day is to promote and strengthen museum work in Iceland, and museums are encouraged to host events and even offer free admission for the occasion. As this is an international event, the day's participants are …

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The Icelandic Museum Awards

The Icelandic Museum Awards are presented every other year and are intended to highlight the good work being done at Icelandic museums. They are also intended to foster professional ambition and serve as an encouragement to present the nation's culture in a progressive and interesting way. The Museum Awards are organized by the Icelandic chapter of ICOM and the Association of Icelandic Museums and Museum Professionals (FÍSOS). …

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