Minutes of the 42nd meeting of the Museum Council, May 18, 2005, 1:00 PM-1:15 PM,
The Herring Museum, Siglufjörður and July 5, 2005, 11:30-13:00, National Gallery of Iceland, Laufásvegur 12, 101 Reykjavík.
Present at the first part of the meeting (May 18) were: Ólafur Kvaran, Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir, Jón Gunnar Ottósson, Sigrún Ásta Jónsdóttir, Gísli Sverrir Árnason, Álfheiður Ingadóttir and Rakel Halldórsdóttir.
Present at the second half of the meeting (July 5) were: Ólafur Kvaran, Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir, Jón Gunnar Ottósson, Sigrún Ásta Jónsdóttir, Gísli Sverrir Árnason and Rakel Halldórsdóttir.
First part of the 42nd meeting, May 18th at 1:00 PM -1:15 PM:
1. Comment on the application of the Bustarfell Museum for a government grant to build service premises. The application of the Bustarfell Museum for a construction grant according to Article 11 of the Museums Act was discussed. It was agreed not to comment on the existing cost estimate or premises with regard to its expected use in the museum's operations.
2. Comment on the application of the Aviation Museum in Akureyri for a state grant for the construction of service premises. Opinions have been received from the curators of the National Museum of Iceland and the Icelandic Archaeological Museum regarding the preservation suitability of the proposed premises for museum objects. The Icelandic Archaeological Museum does not comment on the premises. A curator from the National Museum of Iceland comments on the proposed temperature control and the proposed glass wall. It was agreed not to comment on the existing cost estimate. It was agreed to direct the Aviation Museum to seek advice from the curators of the National Museum of Iceland regarding the design of the premises with regard to the preservation of museum objects. The Museum Council considers it urgent that an overall policy be formulated for the preservation of cultural heritage related to aviation.
Second part of the 42nd meeting, July 5th at 11:30-13:00:
3. The signing of the minutes of the 41st meeting will be completed at the next meeting.
4. Report of the Managing Director. ? The Chairman of the Board of Directors had a meeting with the Director of Nonnahús where the activities and future vision of Nonnahús were discussed. ? A press release regarding the Museum Council's field trip in spring 2005 was published in Morgunblaðið on May 25. ? The proportion that the Museum Conservation Committee uses of the total budget for operations was discussed. This is a higher proportion than the Museum Council is expected to use this year if publications (other than Churches of Iceland) are included. ? There are few people in Iceland who have completed a university degree in museology, but it is likely that this group will grow in the coming years. Are these parties, including the Chairman of the Board of Directors, now considering the establishment of the Icelandic Society of Museum Scientists? ? The Director General visited museums and centers in the West Fjords (with the exception of Snæfjallaströnd and Strandasýsla) on June 16 and 19. ? Terry Gunnell, associate professor of ethnology at the University of Iceland, contacted the President to request cooperation between the Museum Council and the Faculty of Museum Studies at the University of Iceland on the expansion of the department. Terry requested that the Museum Council attend a meeting where the President, the heads of the main museums, and Guðný Gerður Gunnarsdóttir, who has been in charge of the Faculty of Museum Studies at the University of Iceland, met to discuss the possible strengthening of the department. It was agreed to meet and discuss the matter in general terms. ? Icelandic Museum Day is the second Sunday in July each year. The Museum Council agreed at its 41st meeting that the main museums would take on the task of raising awareness of museum activities with a joint advertisement on Icelandic Museum Day. After discussions between the main museums, the Icelandic Museum Day preparatory committee was formed, which included the chairperson of the Museum Council, the head of the main museums, the chairman of FÍSOS and a representative from ICOM. The committee approved a similar arrangement to last year, i.e. a large joint advertisement in the Icelandic Gazette in which museums and centres were invited to participate.
5. Application forms and advertisement for applications to the Museum Fund 2006. Application forms were approved with some changes and an advertisement for applications to the Museum Fund 2006. Emphasis will be on the internal work of museums in granting project grants, registration, research and preservation of the collection. The application deadline will expire on November 1st and application materials will not be accepted after that time. The change to the application form this year is that there will be two forms, one for project grants and one for operating grants.
6. Challenge from the board of the Húnvetningar Regional Museum regarding the 2005 reallocation and a letter from Pétur Jónsson, the museum's director. The museum board discussed the challenge. A response to Pétur's letter was approved.
7. Resolution from the Museum Committee of the Snæfellsjön and Hnappdæla Regional Museum regarding the 2005 allocation. The Museum Council discussed the resolution.
8. Letter to the Minister of Education regarding the interpretation of the Museums Act with regard to the operational form of museums. It was agreed to send the Minister of Education a letter requesting his ruling on the interpretation of the Museums Act with regard to the operational form of museums.
9. Amendment to the Museum Act No. 106/2001. A proposal was submitted to amend the Museum Act. It was agreed that the councillors would study the proposal more closely and that a consultation meeting would be called on the matter on August 15th.
10. European Museum Forum v. European Museum of the Year Award 2006. EMF's submission requesting that the Museum Council support a visit by a representative from the EMYA 2006 jury to this country to evaluate the National Museum of Iceland for the competition following the Museum Council's nomination. It was agreed that an agreement would be made between the National Museum of Iceland and the Museum Council – but according to that agreement, the National Museum will cover the costs of the visit by the jury.
11th Museum Council 2005 Symposium on the Educational Role of Museums. The symposium was discussed. The date has been set for Friday, October 21st. Two foreign speakers have agreed to give a talk at the symposium, David Anderson, Director of Learning and Visitor Services at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. He wrote a national report on the educational role of museums in the UK, which was published in January 1997. Also Helene Illeris, Associate Professor at The Danish University of Education. Her expertise includes education in art museums and art exhibitions. The National Museum of Iceland will lend its conference room to the symposium. Work will continue on organizing the symposium.
12. Next meeting and other matters.
Other issues:
· FÍSOS's report regarding the 2004 Farskóli settlement: The 2004 Farskóli settlement of FÍSOS reveals a deficit of ISK 104,529 from the operation of the mobile school. In accordance with the decision of the Museum Council at its 35th meeting on December 13, 2004, the Museum Council will pay off the deficit as a partner of FÍSOS and the National Museum of Iceland in the mobile school.
The next meeting according to the meeting schedule is August 25th.
A consultation meeting will be held on August 15th regarding a proposal to amend the Museums Act.
There was no further discussion and the meeting adjourned at 1:00 PM/RH.