Minutes of the 63rd meeting of the Museum Council, October 22, 2007, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
National Museum of Iceland, Suðurgata, 101 Reykjavík
Present were: Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir, chairman, Halldór Björn Runólfsson, Helgi Torfason, Karl Rúnar Þórsson, Sveinn Kristinsson, Anna Þorbjörg Þorgrímsdóttir
1. Minutes of the 62nd meeting approved and signed.
2. Director's reportThe Chairperson reported on the work of the last meeting.
? The Accessibility for All consultation project. The aim of the project is to improve access to the country's museums. Working groups will be formed around the country to examine the access of selected special groups to several museums. The working groups will present the results of their work at a symposium to be held in Reykjavík in the spring of 2008. The lectures will be published by the Museum Council. At the address http://www.kulttuuriakaikille.fi/se.php?k=“11481 you can read about the results of a visit by 3 blind/visually impaired children to the main exhibition of the National Museum of Iceland. The Museum Council approved that the Hon.
? Museums Council websiteWork is underway on the website and it is hoped that a new look and www.safnastarf.is/ (Opens in a new browser window) will be put into use soon. The Museum Council agreed to secure the domain for the council: www.safnaráð.is (Opens in a new browser window).
? Export of cultural relics from Hrísbrú. Jesse Byock has been granted permission to transport cultural relics for research at the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. All relics from Hrísbrú that have been transported abroad in recent years are to be returned to Iceland no later than 1 September 2008. A report on the returned antiquities is to be received by the Office of the Museums Council by the same date. The Museums Council agreed that the Minister of Culture should call a meeting of representatives of the National Museum, the Archaeological Conservation Service and the Institute of Natural History to discuss the implementation of issuing permits for the export of cultural relics.
3. Changed Museum Council meeting times and meeting schedule for 6 months. Following the discussions at the last meeting about the Museum Council's meeting times, it was decided to approve a new trial meeting time of 15:00-16:30. The new Museum Council meeting schedule for the next 6 months was set as follows: Monday 12 November, Thursday 13 December, Tuesday 15 January 2008 and Thursdays 14 February, 13 March and 17 April. The allocation meeting was set for Friday 1 February 2008 at 12:00-17:00.
4. Summary of the working meeting. Summarized the main points of the discussions that took place at the Museum Council working meeting earlier in the day. The Minister was tasked with preparing proposals for procedures that will be presented to the Museum Council at future meetings.
5. Message from the Ministry of Education. Charter for the Icelandic Design Museum in Garðabær. The Museum Board discussed the matter and approved the charter.
6. Lecture – Icelandic Technical Museum, preparatory committee. Valdimar Össurarson sought the opinion of the Museum Council on an idea for the Icelandic Technology Museum. The Museum Council discussed the matter and the chairman was instructed to write a letter of response stating that the Museum Council believes that the proposed Technology Museum is classified as an institution or exhibition and suggests that a name be chosen for the activity that reflects the planned activities.
7. Presentation from Myndstefi on the involvement of the Museums Council in the drafting of a basic agreement on copyright issues for Icelandic museums.. The Museum Council discussed the issue, which it considers urgent. It was decided to direct the Ministry of Education to formulate a policy on copyright issues in museums and that the ministry appoint a working group to discuss the issue, consisting of representatives from the ministry and the relevant institutions concerned. The Director General will be responsible for this.
8. Next meeting and other matters.
? Membership of the Museum Council in ICOM. The Museum Council has received a positive response from the Ministry of Education and Culture to an inquiry regarding the Museum Council's membership in ICOM. It was decided that the Museum Council will apply for membership in ICOM.
The next council meeting will be held, in accordance with the meeting schedule, on Monday, November 12th at 3:00 PM-4:30 PM.
There was no further discussion and the meeting adjourned at 16:15/AÞÞ