Minutes of the 99th meeting of the Museum Council –
December 3, 2010, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM, National Museum of Iceland
Present: Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir, chairman, Halldór B. Runólfsson, Helgi Torfason, Guðný Dóra Gestsdóttir, Jenný Lind Egilsdóttir, Rakel Halldórsdóttir and Ágústa Kristófersdóttir (executive directors of the museum council). Guest at the meeting: Sigurjón Baldur Hafsteinsson
1. Issues for discussion and decision:
1.0. Minutes of the 98th meeting approved and signed.
1.1. Report of the Director: Rakel Halldórsdóttir back to work: Rakel Halldórsdóttir has returned to work part-time as the Director of the Museum Council. New computer equipment: The laptop, screen and printer in the Museum Council office have been renewed. Report on new language grants: An announcement will be made after the report in early December. Budget bill: the bill is still in the 1st reading. Coordinated museum visitor survey: the second part of the survey has been completed and the results will be published on the Museum Council website. The continuation of this work must be closely monitored with the steering group that was formed for the project. The Museum at Hnjót: Developments regarding the aviation relics at Hnjót are being monitored. A letter will be sent to the owners of the museum where their role and responsibilities are reiterated. Copyright issues: inquiries have been sent to selected museums in Europe and the United States, the matter will be continued when more answers have been received. Alternate member of the Association of Icelandic Local Authorities: JLE will seek from SÍS that an alternate be nominated and that nomination be submitted to the Ministry of Education and Culture. Committee fees for representatives of FÍSOS and SÍS: a request will be sent to the Ministry of Education and Culture that representatives of FÍSOS and SÍS be paid meeting fees for attending meetings in 2010.
1.2. The 2011 Collection Book: Agreement ready for signing.
1.3. Meeting schedule 2011: Meeting schedule for 2011 submitted.
1.4. Applications for the 2011 Museum Fund: Several problems have arisen with the electronic form, these will be discussed at a meeting with EC software. It is unacceptable that the same problems have arisen two years in a row.
1.5. Distribution label for the transport of cultural property between countries: The distribution label is now ready for printing. Check whether it is appropriate to make a poster at the same time. The distribution of the label must be considered so that it is distributed as widely as possible. Also check whether it is appropriate to purchase advertising, for example on board airplanes.
1.6. Agreement between the Director of Customs and the Museums Council on the control of the import and export of cultural property in accordance with Act No. 105/2001: Draft agreement presented and discussion on a course for customs officers.
1.7. EMYA 2012 calls for nominations: Nominations have been requested from the National Museum of Iceland, the Art Museum of Iceland, the Natural History Museum of Iceland, ICOM, FÍSOS and the Icelandic Society of Museum Studies.
2. Papers for discussion and decision.
2.1. Presentation of the Research Center for Museum Studies at the Institute of Social Sciences, University of Iceland: Guest at the meeting is Sigurjón Baldur Hafsteinsson who will present the project. This is a research center that conducts research in the field of museum studies, such as visitor surveys, assessments, etc. The center is to be formally established on December 17th and the Museum Council will be requested to nominate a representative to the board. The Museum Council welcomes the initiative. The Chairman of the Museum Council asks whether it is not right for the main museums to nominate a representative to the board. A formal request for nomination will be sent to the council.
2.2. Application by Guðrún Ölda Gísladóttir for a permit to export slag particles. Confirmed, after receiving comments from the National Museum of Iceland and the Archaeological Conservation Agency.
2.3. Ágústa Edwald's application for an extension of the permit to export cultural property. Confirmed, after receiving comments from the National Museum of Iceland and the Archaeological Conservation Agency.
3. Other issues
3.1. Museum policy in the field of national heritage conservation for the years 2010-2014: Still awaiting confirmation, but the document can be submitted as a current policy.
3.2. Museum Council Travel and Continuing Education Grants 2010: Implementation of the decision of the 95th meeting. Those museums that received an allocation from the fund in 2010 will receive a letter announcing these grants. Each grant can be up to 25,000 and is awarded upon presentation of receipts for travel and/or course costs.
3.3.The next meeting was scheduled for January 27, 2011.
Ágústa Kristófersdóttir Acting Managing Director