Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Meeting place: 5 Austurstræti, 4th floor
Present: Vilhjálmur Bjarnason, Chair; Guðrún Dröfn Whitehead; Gunnhildur Ásta Guðmundsdóttir, Vice Chair; Jóhanna Erla Pálmadóttir; and Hlynur Hallsson.
The meeting was attended on behalf of the principal museums: for the National Gallery of Iceland: Ingibjörg Jóhannsdóttir; for the National Museum of Natural History of Iceland: Ragnhildur Guðmundsdóttir; for the National Museum of Iceland: Harpa Þórsdóttir.
Staff of the Board of Trustees: Thóra Björk Ólafsdóttir, Executive Director, who writes the minutes, and Klara Þórhallsdóttir.
1. Matter for presentation
- An overview of the council's activities since the last meeting. It was also announced that the Museum Council will hold two events at the upcoming Winter School in October.
- We have received written confirmation from the Ministry of Culture that the National Endowment for the Arts will receive a promised supplementary grant of 15 million, which will be received by us this fall. The fund faced an unusually large cut between 2024 and 2025, and this grant will help offset it.
- The first consultation meeting of Logi Einarsson, Minister of Culture, Innovation, and Higher Education, and professional associations in museum work, as specified in Article 7 of the Museum Act No. 141/2011, was held on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM at the premises of the National Museum Council, Austurstræti 5, 4th floor.
The Minister, the Director General, the Director of the Culture and Creative Industries Office, and 2 specialists from the ministry attended on behalf of the ministry, but on behalf of The meeting of the Museum Council and the principal museums is attended by council members, the directors of the principal museums, and representatives of their staff: the National Gallery of Iceland, the National Museum of Natural History of Iceland, and the National Museum of Iceland.
The chairs or heads of the following organizations were invited to the meeting: FÍSOS, the Association of Icelandic Museums and Museum Professionals, the Icelandic Section of ICOM, the Association of Archaeologists, the Historical Association of Iceland, the Association of Folklorists in Iceland, Association of Icelandic Naturalists, Art History Association of Iceland, Association of Icelandic Museum Professionals, NKF-Iceland – Association of Nordic Conservators in Iceland, Museum Studies Program at the University of Iceland, and SÍM – Association of Icelandic Visual Artists.
The discussions were good, and the minutes will be published on the council's website once they are approved. - Staff members of the National Heritage Fund traveled abroad on separate trips: Þóra to Japan with Íslandsstofa, and Klara to a meeting in Latvia for the response plan project.
The trip to Japan was from May 26 to June 4 and was organized by Íslandsstofa to coincide with both the World Expo in Osaka and the Taste of Iceland festival in Tokyo. Mrs. Halla Tómasdóttir was the guest of honor, along with the mayor, Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir. Various events were attended, most notably Iceland's National Day at the World Expo in Osaka, a press reception with the President of Iceland as the guest of honor, and a diverse cultural program in Tokyo. including an art exhibition organized by the Art Center, musical events, and literary events.
Klara will tell about her trip at the next council meeting. - The provision of statistical data that the Council for the National Archives collects from accredited archives for the research of master's students was discussed.
- The council's information technology matters were discussed, including both the transition of the older document system to SharePoint and a new application system for the Collections Fund.
- The annual symposium of the National Council for the Arts, ICOM Iceland, and FÍSOS was held on May 21st at the National Museum, where topics included museums in the context of social division, their future prospects, and their potential for impact. What meaning do museums hold when society is divided and polarization is increasing? What responsibility do cultural institutions bear towards the public as relationship-building centers of knowledge and community hubs? How are museums shaped by their environment, as well as by external pressure and demands for neutrality?
The agenda for the symposium was as follows; a recording can be found on the council's website.
1:00-1:05 PM – Hlynur Hallsson, Moderator – Opening of the Symposium
1:05 PM - 1:20 PM – Hólmar Hólm, Chairman of the Icelandic Chapter of ICOM - Address: „Tackling the Rift“
1:20-1:45 PM – Jón Ólafsson, Professor of Cultural Studies at the University of Iceland – „The Museum as a Forum for Conflict“
1:45-2:10 PM – Dr. Guðrún Dröfn Whitehead, Lecturer in Museum Studies at the University of Iceland – „Are Icelandic Museums Afraid of the Vikings? Vikings as Cultural Heritage or Tourist Merchandise“
2:10 PM - 2:30 PM – Coffee break
2:30-2:55 PM – David Anderson, Professor at Cardiff University – „From the American Alliance of Museums Conference“
2:55-3:20 PM – Bjarndís Helga Tómasdóttir, Chairperson of Samtök ’78 – „Culture Wars and Minority Groups“
3:20 PM - 4:15 PM – Panel discussion
4:15 PM - 5:00 PM – Symposium concludes with light refreshments
2. Matters for Decision
- The appointment of the Museum Council to the Heritage Council of Reykjavik and Surrounding Area was approved.
Appointment on behalf of the Board of Trustees:
Guðný Dóra Gestsdóttir, Curator of Gljúfrasteinn – Principal
Guðbrandur Benediktsson, Director of the City History Museum – Alternate Member
3. Other matters
- Timing of the next board of trustees meeting
- Suitable dates for the fall trip
Meeting adjourned at 1:00 PM / THB