Museum association urges Reykjavík to reverse layoffs

The Association of Icelandic Museums and Museum Professionals has condemned recent layoffs at museums and other cultural institutions and urged Reykjavík City to reverse recent job cuts at its museums, mbl.is reported.

The association said museum owners should not let short-term considerations drive cost-cutting decisions, and should protect museums’ core work. It warned that weakening their capacity for research, cataloguing and preservation would undermine other activities as well.

Staff at Reykjavík City Library were recently told that its budget must be cut by 85 million Icelandic krónur, or 5 per cent, next year. Five positions will be eliminated: one employee has been dismissed, while two others will continue working reduced hours.

In its resolution, the association said museums rely on five interconnected functions: collecting, preservation, cataloguing, research and communication. Without research and work with collections, it said, exhibitions, events and museum education cannot take place. It also cited the International Council of Museums’ definition of museums as permanent, non-profit institutions that serve society and are open and accessible to the public.