Minutes of the 88th meeting of the Museum Council
October 29, 2009, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM, National Museum of Iceland
Present: Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir, chairman, Sveinn Kristinsson, AlmaDís Kristinsdóttir, Georg Friðriksson, Rakel Halldórsdóttir.
1. The minutes of the 84th, 85th, 86th, and 87th meetings were approved and signed.
2. Report of the Managing Director.
The last meeting of the newly formed museum councilThis is the last meeting of the newly formed museum council, which is appointed until November 1, 2009. The Minister of Education and Culture notified the Ministry of Education and Culture of the need to consider appointing a new council by e-mail on September 30. Invitation to the Living Art MuseumThe representatives of the Contemporary Art Museum invited the museum board to visit on the occasion of the museum's move to new premises at Skúlagata 28, where the Frón biscuit factory was previously located. It was agreed to request that the visit be moved to the end of the year. Hjörleifur Kvaran Museum. Following an inquiry regarding the Hjörleif Kvaran collection, a response is still being sought from the lawyers of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science regarding the interpretation of the value provisions of Act No. 105/2001 on the export of cultural property in cases where it is planned to move entire collections abroad. It was agreed to reiterate the inquiry. Visit from ABM-utvikling in Norway. Eleven representatives of ABM-utvikling, which handles the public affairs of Norwegian museums, visited Iceland to learn about museum work in Iceland from 13 to 16 October. On 15 October, the representatives met with the chairman and vice-chairman of the Museum Council at a meeting at the National Museum of Iceland, as well as the directors of several Icelandic museums and two representatives of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The guests received a brief introduction to the activities of the Museum Council and referred their questions to the representatives of museum work in Iceland present. The guests then received a guided tour of the National Museum's exhibitions offered by the museum and lunch at the museum offered by the Museum Council. Progress regarding environmental damage at the Sigurjón Ólafsson Art Museum. The Museum Council reviewed the progress of issues related to environmental damage and soil disturbance in the immediate vicinity of the Sigurjón Ólafsson Art Museum. A resolution on the matter was reached at the Museum Council meeting on June 15th. A new resolution on the matter was approved. The resolution will be confirmed by email. Coventry church glass in Iceland. The matter was reviewed. Comments have been received from the Bishop of Iceland, the National Gallery of Iceland, in addition to a verbal comment from the National Museum of Iceland. In light of the comments, the museum board sees no reason to respond to the matter. However, it was agreed to check for possible loose glass from the church in Coventry that may be preserved in Áskirkja. Teigarhorn – stone theft. In light of the provisions of Act No. 105/2001 on the export of cultural property and the return of cultural property to other countries, a discussion was held on the theft of stones that has taken place at Teigarhorn, where a collection of radiolarians has been stolen. It was agreed to request a general comment on the matter from the Icelandic Museum of Natural History and to monitor the progress of the case. Possible theft of cultural property from a shipwreck Pourquoi Pas? In light of the provisions of Act No. 105/2001 on the export of cultural property and the return of cultural property to other countries, information was discussed regarding the possible theft of cultural property from the wreck of the ship Pourquoi Pas? off the coast of Iceland. The Icelandic Archaeological Conservation Authority is reportedly planning to send divers down to the wreck to investigate the matter. It was agreed to request that the Icelandic Archaeological Conservation Authority be allowed to monitor the progress of the case. Development of museum affairs in Höfn in Hornafjörður. Hjalti Þór Vignisson, mayor of Höfn, met with the chairman and the board of directors regarding the development of museum affairs in Höfn and the surrounding area. These are interesting ideas and a strong willingness to consult with the museum board at all stages of the development. Museum Fund – Budget Proposal 2010. The 2010 budget proposal was reviewed with regard to the museum fund. This is an 11.7 million. kr. decrease from the previous year, or 11%. A resolution to the Parliament was approved in which the Museum Council endorses the views expressed in the National Audit Office's report to the Parliament from May 2009 "Icelandic Museums and Antiquities, Treatment and Use of State Funds" on the importance of the state's funding for museum work increasingly being channeled through professional channels, such as through the museum fund. The resolution will be confirmed by email. Media monitoring of museum affairs. The idea has been raised that the Museum Council should manage media monitoring for museum work. Offers for media monitoring in print and broadcast media were reviewed. It was agreed to undertake the project. Further information will be sought on certain aspects of the offer before the next meeting. Media monitoring will be paid for by the Museum Council and available to those museums that are listed on the Museum Council's information page on museum work in the country. www.safnastarf.is (Opens in a new browser window). Copyright issues of collectionsThe matter was postponed until the next meeting. State-owned banks' art holdingsDiscussion was postponed until the next meeting. Course on electronic administrationThe Minister of Public Administration will attend a course on electronic administration of administrative matters organized by the Continuing Education Institute of the University of Iceland, the Institute of Public Administration and the Prime Minister's Office. Applications for the 2010 Museum Fund. However, some problems have arisen with the use of the Museum Council's new, electronic application form for applications to the museum fund. In light of the technical difficulties we are facing in this context, it was agreed to extend the application deadline for the museum fund by two weeks, to November 15th. The extension will be announced on the Museum List, the email list of collectors. The conference Innovation and Creative Work in the Hands of Young People, December 2-4. Preparations for the conference are underway. Ms. M. will chair a meeting on museum issues on December 2 at the conference and will also oversee a visit to the museum on December 3. The National Gallery of Iceland has undertaken to prepare a special event for the visit of conference guests to the museum on that day. Deputy CEO due to maternity leave. A replacement has been appointed for the Managing Director who is on maternity leave next year. This is Ágústa Kristófersdóttir, curator at the National Museum of Iceland and former chair of the Association of Icelandic Museums and Museum Owners. Ágústa is scheduled to replace the Managing Director from 1 April – 31 October 2010 (for 7 months).
3. Ágústa Edwald's application for the export of cultural property from archaeological excavations at Hornbrekka, Höfðaströnd. The Museum Council received an application from Ágústa Edwald requesting permission to export cultural property from an archaeological excavation at Hornbrekka, Höfðaströnd. Comments have been requested from the National Museum of Iceland and the Icelandic Archaeological Conservation Agency. The Icelandic Archaeological Conservation Agency has no comments on the export. The National Museum of Iceland believes it is appropriate that the artifacts be pre-registered at the museum before export, to ensure monitoring. The applicant has been informed of the National Museum's comments. The matter has been referred to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, which believes it is appropriate that the artifacts be pre-registered to ensure monitoring, if there is a precedent for such a thing. The National Museum of Iceland will decide on the registration of the artifacts. A permit for export will be issued when the artifacts have been pre-registered at the museum.
4. Application for export of bone samples from an archaeological excavation in Reykholt, Borgarfjörður, for research purposes. The Museum Council received an application from Guðrún Sveinbjarnardóttir for the export of two bone samples from an archaeological excavation in Reykholt, Borgarfjörður, for research purposes. Comments have been requested from the National Museum of Iceland and the Icelandic Archaeological Service. The permit will be processed once comments have been received if no objections are made to the export.
5. Application for export of charcoal samples from the archaeological excavations in Ögur near Ísafjarðardjúp, for research purposes. The Museum Council received an application from Margrét Hermann Auðardóttir, for permission to export charcoal samples from an archaeological excavation in Öguri near Ísafjarðardjúp, for research purposes. A comment was requested from the Icelandic Archaeological Service. A comment has been received and no comments have been made on the export. The export has been authorized.
6. Applications for the export of cultural property to auction at the Danish auction house Bruun Rasmussen. Following the assessment day of the Danish auction house Bruun Rasmussen in Iceland, in collaboration with the Embassy of Denmark in Iceland, the Embassy, on behalf of the auction house, began the search for permission from the owners of selected works to export cultural property for the purpose of sale at auction at the auction house abroad. The Museum Council has sought comments from the National Museum of Iceland, the National Gallery of Iceland, the National Library of Iceland - University Library, the National Archives of Iceland and the Design Museum of Iceland. The Museum Council and experts from the aforementioned commenters examined the artifacts in question at the Embassy of Denmark on 24 September with regard to the provisions of Act No. 105/2001 on the transfer of cultural property from the country and on the return of cultural property to other countries. Seven owners of artifacts have already been granted permission to export, Applications from eight additional owners were discussed. Export was approved taking into account the comments.
7. Next meeting and other matters. The next meeting of the Museum Council according to the 2009 meeting schedule is November 26th, 3-5 p.m. This meeting time will be held unless there are delays in appointing a new Museum Council.
Other issues:
Formation of a new museum council: The directors of the main museums are statutory representatives on the museum council and will therefore continue to sit on the new council as the main representatives of their institutions. The Association of Icelandic Municipalities will nominate SK to continue to sit on the council as the main representative of the association. This will involve the nomination of a new representative of the Association of Icelandic Museums and Museum Owners. ÖlmaDís Kristinsdóttir was warmly thanked for her good work on behalf of the museum council.
Application from the Archaeological Institute of Iceland for the temporary export of cultural property for safekeeping abroadThe Museum Council received a report from Guðrún Ölda Gísladóttir at the Archaeological Institute of Iceland regarding the temporary export of cultural property from four archaeological excavations of the Archaeological Institute for safekeeping abroad. It was agreed to request comments from the National Museum of Iceland and the Archaeological Conservation Agency.
There was no further discussion and the meeting adjourned at 17:00/RH