Minutes of the 100th meeting of the Museum Council – January 27, 2011, 1:00 PM – 3:00 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).
1. Issues for discussion and decision:
1.0. Minutes of the 99th meeting approved and signed.
1.1. Report of the Managing Director: Rakel Halldórsdóttir requested to remain on a part-time basis for an additional 6 months (or until October 2011) and exercise her right to parental leave in return. The Chairman will review the matter and provide a response before the next meeting. Handout regarding the import and export of cultural property: It was agreed to review the leaflet and ensure that its text is neutral in the event of a change in the law, as the implementation of the Act on the Import and Export of Cultural Property is transferred from the Museums Council. It was agreed to print 10,000 copies of the leaflet (possibly with additions). The importance of seeking bids for the printing of the leaflet and ensuring that the selected printing house is a party to the State Procurement Framework Agreements was emphasized. Report on the use of grants: Several museums still have to submit reports on the use of grants in 2010. The Sigurjón Ólafsson Art Museum applied for a deadline for the use of the grant. The deadline has been granted. Budget 2011: The museum fund will receive 96.3 million in the 2011 budget, an increase of 11.3% from the previous year (94.4 million in 2010). Coordinated museum visitor survey: The results of the second part of the survey have been published on the museum council's website. The museum directors will decide on the continuation with a steering group. Lecture at the University of Iceland: In line with previous years, RH gave a lecture in January on the museum fund, museum council and museum law in the course Professional Work of Museums in Museology at the University of Iceland. Copyright issues: A consultation meeting between the Museum Council and the National Gallery of Iceland on copyright issues in museums will be held at the National Gallery of Iceland on February 16th from 10am to 12pm. At the meeting, the museum council's directors, representatives of the National Gallery of Iceland and other art museums in the country will discuss electronic image publishing. Alternate for the Association of Icelandic Local Authorities: JLE will seek the nomination of an alternate from SÍS and submit that nomination to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The 2011 Museum Book: An agreement has been signed. Applications for the 2011 Museum Fund: A proposal for allocation is being prepared. The directors of the museums held a meeting using EC software where problems that have arisen were carefully reviewed and solutions discussed. Spring meeting of the main museums 2011. It was agreed to hold the spring meeting of the main museums 2011 on May 3rd and 4th. Common issues such as museum councils, museum law and museology will be discussed together, in addition to the main museums discussing issues in their own fields. An announcement regarding the meeting will be sent to the Museum List. It was agreed that museums would be given the opportunity to apply for a travel grant to the meeting, one grant per museum.
1.2. Meeting schedule 2011: The meeting schedule for 2011 was approved. It was agreed that the council's meetings will generally begin at 12:15 and end at 2:15. Meeting notices will also be sent out with a diary entry.
2. Papers for discussion and decision.
2.1. Application by Guðrún Sveinbjarnardóttir for an extension of the permit to export textiles for research abroad. Comments were sought from the National Museum of Iceland and the Icelandic Archaeological Conservation Agency. The comments were positive. An extended permit has been issued.
2.2. Sigurjón Baldur Hafsteinsson's application for a grant for a Master Class in Museology. It was agreed to refer to the main museums in this context.
2.3. Application by Väla Garðarsdóttir for temporary export of animal bones for research purposes. Comments were sought from the National Museum of Iceland and the Icelandic Archaeological Conservation Agency. Comments were positive. Permit has been issued.
2.4. Requested nomination of a representative of the Museum Council to the board of the Research Center for Museology. It was agreed to nominate Margréti Hallgrímsdóttir, chair of the council (until a change of chair occurs).
2.5 Articles of association reviewed for confirmation by the Museum Council. The matter adjourned.
3. Other issues
3.1. Next meeting: The 2011 allocation meeting was set for February 24th at 12:15-17:15.
There was no further discussion and the meeting adjourned at 3:00 PM/RH.