Minutes of the 105th meeting of the Museum Council –
September 14, 2011, 12:15 – 2:15 PM, meeting room in the National Museum tower
Present: Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir, chairman, Helgi Torfason, Halldór B. Runólfsson, Guðný Dóra Gestsdóttir, Jenný Lind Egilsdóttir, Rakel Halldórsdóttir. Guest at the meeting: Þóra Björk Ólafsdóttir, master's student in museology at the University of Iceland (internship with the museum council during the period).
1. Issues for discussion and decision:
1.0. Minutes of the 104th meeting approved and signed.
1.1. Director's report: Coordinated museum visitor survey 2011. The situation was reviewed, the survey was submitted in July, good participation among museums. Results expected in the fall. Museum Council contacts in rural areas. Agreed at the 104th meeting to consider whether cultural representatives in rural areas could take on this role, dialogue between the cultural councils and the museum council needs to be strengthened. Cultural representatives have responded positively to the issue. Requested information from the Industrial Museum. The Akureyri Industrial Museum has submitted the requested information that was a condition for the processing of an operating grant to the museum. Signing of an agreement with the Directorate of Customs. MH and RH attended a meeting with the Director of Customs on July 6, 2013, where MH and the Director of Customs signed a cooperation agreement regarding the control of the export and import of cultural property. New alternate for the Association of Icelandic Local Authorities on the Museum Council. A new alternate member of the Association of Icelandic Local Authorities, Guðmundur Ingi Gunnlaugsson, local council representative in Rangárþing ytra, has been appointed to the museum board as of June 30, 2011. Arrangements at the Museum Board office. Ágústa Kristófersdóttir will step down as a replacement at the end of August and RH will then take over full-time. It was agreed that ÁK will still be the project advisor for the Museum Council, and will handle projects on museum copyright issues and coordinated museum visitor surveys. Icelandic Museum Day 2011 – resultsAdvertising was done through classified ads in Rúv and Bylgjann, press releases were sent out, and the website www.sofn.is (Opens in a new browser window) opened with information about the participants. There was a good discussion about museums. A rock museum abroad. The Museums Council received information that a rock collection containing about 300 Icelandic rocks had been exported to Gimli, Manitoba, Canada. The Icelandic Institute of Natural History granted permission for the export of the collection in accordance with Act No. 105/2001. Bruun Rasmussen – export of cultural property. The Danish auction house Bruun Rasmussen held an appraisal day in Iceland, as it did a year ago, on May 5th. The company subsequently requested that the museum board review the artifacts that were scheduled to be exported from the country. RH, together with experts from the National Gallery of Iceland (Ólafur Ingi Jónsson), the National Museum (Lilja Árnadóttir) and the National Library (Örn Hrafnkelsson), examined the artifacts. No comments were made regarding the export of artifacts or books/publications related to the National Museum and the National Library. A comment was made regarding the export of several works of art and the company was informed that it would be necessary to apply for a permit to export them in accordance with the law. Bulletin of the Museum Council and partners regarding the export and import of cultural propertyThe flyer has been distributed to the following locations: Customs stations throughout the country, National Museum of Iceland, Tourist Information Centre – Geysishúsi, City Library, Reykjavík Art Museum – Hafnarhús, Reykjavík Art Museum – Kjarvalsstaði, National Museum of Iceland, Fold Gallery, i8 Gallery, Morkinskinnu, Stúdío Stafn, Akureyri Museum, Westfjords Museum, Skógasafn, Tourist Information Centre – Akureyri – Hof, Lighthouse – reception point for cruise ships in Akureyri. New Museum Act – progressThe Museum Council and the Board of Trustees met with the Education Committee of the Althing on August 17 and 19 regarding the Cultural Heritage Act and the Museum Act. At the meeting, the Museum Council explained its comments on the Act. Vocational training of Þóra Björk Ólafsdóttir. A collaboration agreement has been signed between the Department of Museology at the University of Iceland and the Museum Council regarding the internship of Þóra Björk Ólafsdóttir, and Þóra will begin her internship in the fall.
1.2. Proposal for a Museum Council field trip in 2011A proposal was presented for a 2011 museum board field trip to western South Iceland. It was agreed to plan for the field trip in the near future.
1.3. Copyright issues of museums – possible comprehensive agreement of museums under the supervision of central museumsThe matter was reviewed. The next step is for the museums that will be party to the agreement to send a joint statement to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports regarding the ministry's financial support for resolving the matter.
1.4. Website – service provider and new look: EC software services have been lacking. A bid was sought from another party. Transferring services is extremely costly and time-consuming. An attempt will be made to obtain EC software to improve the service before that option is chosen. New ideas from the designer for the new look of the Museum Council website and the söfn.is site were presented. A proposal for a new map of Iceland was approved. It was approved to request minor changes to the look so that the name of the Museum Council is more prominent at the top of the website.
1.5 Advertisement for applications for the 2012 museum fund. An advertisement has already been published in the Local Government Gazette. It will be published in Morgunblaðið and Fréttablaðið as soon as the electronic application form has been improved by EC software.
1.6 Changed arrangement of direct budget allocations: This summer, the Althingi announced changes to the arrangement of direct allocations in the budget, but according to the announcement, the money that has gone to cultural activities through direct grants from the Budget Committee will go through statutory funds, regional cultural agreements, ministries and other similar channels. A letter to the chairman of the Budget Committee was approved in which the Museum Council expresses satisfaction with the changes in question, which are a huge step towards more professional methods.
2. Papers for discussion and decision.
2.1. Message from the Industrial Museum – request for a project grant to be shifted. The Akureyri Industrial Museum requested a deferral of project funding. Approved in accordance with the application. Approved to request information from the museum's board about the future of the museum following the resignation of the director.
2.2. Westfjords Regional Museum – changed layout – comments requested. A submission was received from the Westfjords Regional Museum requesting the museum board's opinion regarding proposed organizational changes at the municipality that affect the museum. The opinion was approved.
2.3. Michele Hayeur Smith's application for the export of textile samples for research abroad. The comments from the National Museum and the Icelandic Archaeological Conservation Authority on the proposal were positive. Permit issued.
2.4. Sigurjón Ólafsson Art Museum's request for a change in the use of project funding. Discussed the presentation by the Sigurjón Ólafsson Art Museum on the changed use of project funding. The presentation was approved.
2.5. Request by the National Museum of Iceland for permission to temporarily export artifacts for exhibition abroad. MH left the meeting while the matter was discussed and dealt with. Agreed to recommend export to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, but according to Article 7 of the Museums Act, the Minister grants final approval for export.
3. Other issues
Other issues:
1) Sagnheimar, Westman Islands Historical Museum, new operator. An agreement between Vestmannaeyjar Town and the Vestmannaeyjar Research Center on the operation of Sagnheimar, the Vestmannaeyjar Historical Museum, was presented.
Next meeting according to the meeting schedule 29.09. 2011 at 12:15, meeting adjourned at 14:15/RH