214th Museum Council Meeting

Wednesday, June 9, 2022 – 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Museum House

Present: Vilhjálmur Bjarnason, Chair; Gunnhildur Ásta Guðmundsdóttir; Hlynur Hallsson; Inga Lára Baldvinsdóttir; Sigurður Trausti Traustason (substitute for FÍSOS); Anna Katrín Guðmundsdóttir (on behalf of the National Museum of Natural History of Iceland), Ágústa Kristófersdóttir, Björn Steinar Pálmason (on behalf of the National Gallery of Iceland), and Þóra Björk Ólafsdóttir, Executive Director.

1. Presentation case

  1. Overview of the council's activities since the last meeting.
  2. The Executive Director reported on a work trip to Athens for the MOI! project.
  3. Emergency plans for cultural property. Iceland will soon ratify the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. In light of this, cultural institutions are to establish response plans in case of danger, and Iceland will use this opportunity to elaborate and expand this project to address the threats that clearly pose a risk to Icelandic cultural heritage, such as geological hazards, weather hazards, and climate change. The Museum Council will manage this project for accredited museums, and the project is expected to be underway next year.
  4. Draft of the 2021 Annual Report of the Museum Council was presented.
  5. The 2022 Annual Report of Accredited Museums was discussed.
  6. The personnel matters of the board of trustees were discussed.

2. Matters for decision

  1. A proposal regarding the members of the Action Plan Working Group was approved. On behalf of the Board of the National Gallery of Iceland: Þóra Björk Ólafsdóttir and Helga Lára Þorsteinsdóttir. From accredited museums: Hólmar Hólm and Hjörtur Þorbjörnsson. On behalf of the National Gallery of Iceland: Harpa Þórsdóttir, on behalf of the National Museum of Natural History of Iceland: Snæbjörn Guðmundsson, and on behalf of the National Museum of Iceland: Ágústa Kristófersdóttir.
    The group will begin work at the end of August.

3. Other issues

  • Discussion about the Reykjanes Regional Museum's culling plan.

Meeting adjourned at 2:40 PM /THB