Minutes of the 76th meeting of the Museum Council
January 29, 2009, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Setberg, National Museum of Iceland
Present: Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir, chairman, Halldór Björn Runólfsson, Helgi Torfason, Sveinn Kristinsson, AlmaDís Kristinsdóttir and Rakel Halldórsdóttir.
1. The minutes of the 75th meeting were approved and signed.
2. Report of the Managing Director. Outsourcing of projects related to museum operations. The Museum Council sent an information letter to local governments that own and/or operate museums in December regarding the operational form and organization of museums with regard to outsourcing of projects related to their operations. The letter was sent because there have been cases where municipalities have outsourced such projects or are considering it. The letter pointed out the importance of the museum council and the relevant holding museum being informed of such decisions and having the opportunity to provide comments on changes in operations, preservation of artifacts and other matters before agreements are concluded, but according to Article 3 of the Museums Act No. 106/2001, the museum council monitors museums that receive government grants. Reports on the use of grants from the Museum Fund 2008. In December, the Museum Council requested reports from museums on the use of the grants that were awarded from the Museum Fund in 2008. All museums have submitted reports, which will be taken into account when allocating funds in 2009. European Museum Prize 2010 (European Museum of the Year Award 2010). The Museum Council requested proposals from the main museums, the Association of Icelandic Museums and Collectors and the Icelandic Section of ICOM for the nomination of a museum for the European Museum Award 2010. No responses have been received. The matter will be taken up at the next meeting. Commentary on the bill on the National Library of Iceland – University LibraryThe Museums Council received a request from the Alþingi for the Council's comment on the bill for the National Library of Iceland - University Library. The Council submitted a comment, but no substantive comments were made to the bill. Committee salaryThe Museum Council has requested a calculation by the Ministry of Education's Remuneration Committee of committee salaries for representatives of interest groups on the Council (the Association of Icelandic Museums and Collectors and the Association of Icelandic Municipalities) for the period May 2007 – December 2008. Introduction to the History Museum's PlaywritingThe Museum Council received a letter from the Ministry of Education requesting that the council introduce the services of the Icelandic Museum of History's Play Production, Perlann, to museums in the country. The Museum Council agreed to send a letter to the Director of the Play Production and point him to the Museum List, an electronic communication platform for museum members, as a platform for such introductions.
3. Budget and museum fund. In 2008, the Museum Council repeatedly requested authorization from the Ministry of Education and Culture to hold a meeting with the Budget Committee. In light of the circumstances in society, the Chairman of the Museum Council (MH) was granted authorization by the Ministry for such a meeting at the end of November. The Chairman and Managing Director (RH) met with the Budget Committee on December 5, 2008 and spoke in favor of strengthening the Museum Fund and the importance of the State Treasury's budget allocations for museum work being made on a professional basis. The budget allocation for the Museum Fund in the approved 2009 budget is ISK 105.9 million. This is an increase of ISK 18.2 million from the previous year (ISK 87.7 million in 2008).
4. Museum Council meeting schedule 2009The Council's meeting schedule for 2009 was reviewed but not finalized.
5. Service Agreement and Operational Plan of the Museum Council 2009The Museum Council has entered into a service agreement with the National Gallery of Iceland for the continued lease of office space in the museum's office building at Laufásvegur 12, the agreement is valid until December 31, 2009. The Museum Council's operating plan for 2009 was approved.
6. Textile exports from Reykholt research. At the end of 2008, the Museum Council received an application from Guðrún Sveinbjarnardóttir, the supervisor of the archaeological section of the Reykholt Research, for permission to temporarily export all textiles from the Reykholt Research, for research purposes. The Museum Council requested comments from the Icelandic Archaeological Service and the curator of the National Museum of Iceland on the application. Both comments were positive with regard to the temporary export of the artifacts. The Museum Council granted permission for the export in accordance with the application.
7. Service agreement between the 1627 Historical Center and Vestmannaeyjar Town for the operation of the Vestmannaeyjar Historical MuseumThe Museum Council received, for review, a draft service agreement between the 1627 History Center and the Town of Vestmannaeyjar regarding the operation of the Vestmannaeyjar Historical Museum. The Council agreed to point out a few points that could be clarified in the agreement.
8. Applications for the Museum Fund 2009Applications for the Museum Fund for 2009 were briefly reviewed. The fund received a total of 52 applications from 52 museum institutions. 50 applications were received for operating grants and 42 applications for project grants.
9. Next meeting and other mattersThe next meeting, the 2009 allocation meeting, was set for February 12th.
There was no further discussion and the meeting adjourned at 17:00/RH