Minutes of the 41st meeting of the Museum Council, April 28, 2005, 10:00-12:10,
National Museum of Iceland, Suðurgata 41, 101 Reykjavík
Present were: Ólafur Kvaran, Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir, Jón Gunnar Ottósson, Sigrún Ásta Jónsdóttir, Gísli Sverrir Árnason and Rakel Halldórsdóttir.
1. The minutes of the 38th, 39th and 40th meetings were approved and signed.
2. Report of the Managing Director. In the Museum Council's reasoning to Nonnahús, the council invited the institution's representatives to a meeting to discuss the institution's role and future vision. The director of Nonnahús has accepted the invitation to the meeting. The managing director was instructed to meet with the director of Nonnahús. Following the approval of the last meeting, the managing director examined the possibility of a document processing system for the Museum Council. It became clear that participation in the archive system of the National Gallery of Iceland would involve too much integration and difficulties in this regard if the Museum Council's office were moved. Hópvinnukerfi ehf. made the Museum Council an offer for a Focal archive system. The offer is based on the limitations of the archive system considering a small operation, although the possibility of additions is within the picture. In view of the legal obligation regarding the preservation of public records, the Museum Council agreed to accept the offer. More submissions have been received regarding the allocation, which have been responded to. Discussions following the allocation and the Minister of Education's positive comments in Morgunblaðið on April 22 were discussed. It was agreed to check the progress of the report dated November 18, 2004, in which the Museum Council proposes to the Ministry of Education that a working group be established to review the agreement on admission fees to state museums.
3. Museum Council field trip to Northwest Iceland and Museum Council meeting 17 – 18 May 2005. It was agreed that the trip would take place.
4. Challenge from the Stranda County District Committee regarding reallocation. The Museum Council discussed the matter.
5. Challenge from the Icelandic Section of ICOM regarding Icelandic Museum Day. The Icelandic Section of ICOM has so far managed the promotion of Icelandic Museum Day. It was agreed that the main museums would take on the task of raising awareness of the activities of the museums through a joint advertisement by the main museums on Icelandic Museum Day.
6. Amendment to the Museums Act No. 106/2001. The Director-General submitted a proposal for an amendment to the Museums Act. The proposal was discussed. The Director-General was instructed to make a new proposal that would provide for the revival of a system similar to that in force under Regulation No. 334 on the Preservation of National Monuments. The system involves dividing the country into eight monument areas, with each area having an intermediary between the main museums and museums throughout the country. These intermediaries would receive salary subsidies from the State Treasury and would supervise and monitor the preservation of monuments in their area of responsibility. They would also make proposals for grants from the Museums Fund to institutions engaged in museum work in their area of responsibility.
7th Museum Council 2005 Symposium on the educational role of museums. The issue was briefly discussed. It will be a one-day symposium with 2 foreign speakers and an Icelandic analysis of the topic with 1-2 Icelandic speakers. A panel discussion will follow the lectures in the afternoon. It was discussed to have the Minister of Education and Culture give an address at the beginning of the symposium and to request that the Minister of Education and Culture host a cocktail party after the symposium. Work will continue on organizing the symposium.
8. Next meeting and other matters.
Other issues:
· Resolution of FÍSOS regarding allocation from the 2005 Museum Fund. The content of the resolution was discussed.
· Comment on the application of the Aviation Museum in Akureyri for a building grant according to Article 11 of the Museums Act. The Board of Trustees was instructed to seek the opinion of the curators of the National Museum of Iceland and the Icelandic Archaeological Service regarding the preservation suitability of housing for museum objects. The Museum Council believes that there is a need for a comprehensive strategy in the field of preserving aviation artifacts in the country. This is a type of preservation where the cost and space requirements are high, and it is therefore imperative that cooperation and optimization are guided by before major construction projects are undertaken. The report will be discussed at the next meeting.
There was no further discussion and the meeting adjourned at 12:10/RH.