183rd Board of Trustees Meeting

183rd Board of Trustees Meeting – Work Session and Orientation Trip in Akureyri

Monday, June 3 – Field trips to museums in Eyjafjörður

Present: Ólafur Kvaran, Chair; Anna Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir, Vice Chair; Haraldur Þór Egilsson; Helga Lára Þorsteinsdóttir; Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir; Hilmar Malmquist; and Þóra Björk Ólafsdóttir, Executive Director. Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir and Harpa Þórsdóttir were unable to attend.

Visited:

  • Akureyri Art Museum
  • Akureyri Aviation Museum
  • Akureyri Industrial Museum
  • The Museum of Contemporary Art on the Svalbard Coast

Tuesday, June 4, 2019, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: The Museum of Iceland in Akureyri and Hotel KEA, Akureyri

Present: Ólafur Kvaran, Chair; Anna Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir, Vice Chair; Haraldur Þór Egilsson; Helga Lára Þorsteinsdóttir; Sigríður Björk Jónsdóttir; Harpa Þórsdóttir; Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir; Hilmar Malmquist; and Þóra Björk Ólafsdóttir, Executive Director.

The meeting began with a presentation on the operations of the Museum of Cultural History in Akureyri, both at Davíðshús and at the museum itself.

1. Presentation case

    1. Overview of the council's activities since the last meeting.
    2. The Executive Director reviewed the role of the collection council in accordance with Regulations on museum law no. 141/2011 and the status of projects related to each role individually.
    3. Discussion on the strategic direction of the museum council for museum operations, developed in cooperation with the principal museums (see b-item of Article 7 of the Museum Act). Discussion on the focus areas of the strategic planning process. The discussion will be continued at the next museum board meeting, and a work session is scheduled for this coming November.
      The Collections Council and the Head Collections are preparing the work to be carried out with the advice of the Advisors. The proposal is submitted for approval as item 2.3.
    4. At the end of May, the museum board learned that in item C-14 of the 2018-2024 development plan, which was approved in June of last year, 22.5 million krónur are allocated to strengthen museum work in the country. The Ministry of Education and Culture sent a letter to the Regional Associations of Municipalities regarding this, in which they are asked to conduct a „feasibility study on increased cooperation or merger of museums in their region in cooperation and consultation with a national museum and an accredited museum, with reference to Article 13 of the Museums Act, No. 141/2011, as well as the Museum Council. The success of the project will be measured by the number of museums that begin cooperation or merge.“ (quote from the letter). The Museum Council discussed this matter in the context of the provisions of the Museum Act, adopted as item 2.4.
    5. The evaluation report of the working group on accreditation and grant types was presented, and the group's draft recommendations were put forward. The recommendations were discussed and amended, and the evaluation report and recommendations will be presented for approval at the next Council meeting.
    6. The tasks of the collection council from fall 2019 to the end of 2020 were discussed. Moved for approval as item 2.5.
    7. Other matters for presentation that were discussed are
      • Presentation of the Board of Trustees for the 2019 school year
      • Job Evaluation and Impact on Professional Work in Museums
      • Safety and rescue plan from the Skagfirðingar Regional Museum. Adopted as item 2.6.

2. Matters for decision

  1. 2017 Grant Utilization Reports Approved
    Operating grants. This is the first year that grant recipients have been required to submit reports for operating grants, and this is for the 2017 operating grants. 38 museums received operating grants, and 38 reports have been received. The Museum Council confirmed receipt of the 38 reports.
    Project grants. In 2017, 72,229,000 kr. were awarded to 86 projects in the main allocation, and according to the Museum Act, grant recipients must submit reports on the use of the grants within two years. 80 reports on the use of 2017 project grants have been received; an updated report is required for 2 projects, one museum was granted an extension for one project due to illness (the project is, however, complete), and three recipients have been granted an extension for their grant use or have requested one. The Council of Museums confirmed receipt of 80 reports.
    Continuing education grants. 35 continuing education grants were awarded in 2017. 33 reports have been received and 2 grants declined. The Board of Trustees confirmed receipt of 33 reports.
  2. Starting with the 2018 grant year, project grant recipients must submit an interim report to the Collections Council for grants of 1,500,000 kr. or higher. 23 projects received a grant higher than 1,500,000 kr. in 2018. One grant was declined, and that funding will be used for the 2019 supplemental allocation. 1 grant declined, 7 final reports received (a progress report is not required), 14 progress reports received, and one report has not been submitted due to the director's leave. The Museum Council confirmed receipt of 7 final reports and 14 progress reports.
  3. Regarding item 1.3. The proposal from Sjá Consulting for consulting services on strategic planning for the collection was approved.
  4. Regarding item 1.4. It was agreed that the Council of Museums and the principal museums will send a letter to the ministry regarding this matter, which will be accompanied by a previous letter on depository collections from the Council of Museums and the MMRN.
  5. Regarding item 1.6, for projects from fall 2019 – end of 2020. The Council on Museums approved holding a symposium in spring or fall 2020 on natural heritage and its protection, with reference to Article 1, Section 1, and Article 3, Section 2 of the Museums Act. It was agreed that the Council of Museums would seek ways to present and compile information on foreign funds that museums can apply for. Cooperation will be sought with partners within the museum community for this purpose.

3. Other issues

Other issues not discussed.

Meeting adjourned 3:50 PM / THB